Genre: rock
Rating: 2 stars **
Title: Crossfire
Company: Allegiance
Catalog: AV-422
Year: 1984
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: still in shrink
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5473
Price: $
Having spent much of the previous decade working as an A&R man and producer, 1984's "Crossfire" marked somewhat of a comeback for singer/guitarist Spencer Davis. That said, co-produced with Allan McDougall the album was actually far better than I would have expected. One of the bigger surprises (at least for me), were Davis' vocals. Admittedly not the most talented singer you've ever heard and he was occasionally flat (check out the title track), Davis still managed to hold his own on rockers such as '' and ''. Musically the set was somewhat of a stew, taking stabs at a number of genres including blues-rock ('Blood Runs Hot'), AOR ('Don't Want You No More'), and conventional pop ballads ('Love Is On a Roll'). On the positive side, the set was never less than pleasant, though the synthesizer propelled remake of 'I'm a Man' was unnecessary (I actually docked the LP rating star for this travesty) and with the exception of 'It Must Be Love' (which would have made a good choice for a single) the package seldom really caught fire. It also suffered from a dated mid-1980s production feel. Still there were a couple of highlights including 'Such a Good Woman (Proud In the Streets)' and Davis' duet with Dusty Springfield 'Private Number'. Coincidently, Allegiance tapped the latter as a single b/w '???' (Allegiance catalog number 3917).
"Crossfire" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Blood Runs Hot (S. Samsel) - 3:55
2.) Don't Want You No More (Spencer Davis - E. harding) - 4:00
3.) Love Is On a Roll (Roger Cook - K. Prince) - 3:44
4.) Crossfire (J. Carega - R. Holler) - 4:05
5.) Private Number (Booker T. Jones - William Bell) - 4:17
(side
2)
1.) I'm a Man (Spencer Davis - Steve Winwood - J. Miller) -
3:42
2.) No Other Baby (B. Watson - D. Bishop) - 3:21
3.) Mistakes (R.G. Feldman) - 3:19
4.) It Must Be Love (B. McDill) - 3:44
5.) Such a Good Woman (Proud In the Streets) (Roger Cook - J. Cymbal) - 3:14