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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A cocktail of classics, covers, and new songs, September 2, 2002
One knows the peril of mixed drinks, but mixed songs? Nah, nothing hazardous. How about to bluesy rock, covers of 1950's songs, new songs, and a classic 1950's song? That sounds like a combination to yet another great soundtrack album from the 1980's--Cocktail.Starship's energetic "Wild Again" could feel at home on their No Protection album, as it is typical of their late 1980's pop-rock hybrid. The rocking boogie rock/blues of the Fab T-Bird's "Powerful Stuff" made me remember when I first heard them with "Tuff Enuff." It's perfect for any kind of party. Robbie Nevil's "Since When" has his trademark pinched falsetto with a classic 80's sound. A sharp contrast is the most famous number by the human beatbox himself. Bobby McFerrin's Grammy-winning "Don't Worry Be Happy" began life here before being included on his Simple Pleasures CD. Yes, it's that "song that I wrote, hope you like it note for note. Don't worry, be happy." Another #1 single is the Beach Boys' "Kokomo," proving that they could still make hits two decades after their prime. Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahamas, Key Largo, Montego Bay, Martinique, and Port-au-Prince are the Caribbean places named. No, they haven't changed a bit. Of the cover songs, the Georgia Satellites' raucous cover of Chan Romero's "Hippy Hippy Shake" is the most welcome. They're the perfect 80's band to do a song covered by The Swinging Blues Jeans and yes, the Beatles. John Cougar Mellencamp's cover of Buddy Holly's "Rave On" starts slow but picks up with the folky accordion style from his Lonesome Jubilee album. The original's better, but a good try from JCM. Ry Cooder teases up Elvis's "All Shook Up" with his usual bluesy guitar. Preston Smith's calypso-tinged "Oh, I Love You So" is another good party song, with sounds reminiscent of Jimmy Buffett. And what better way than for Little Richard to finish up with his own "Tutti Frutti," sung with the original "Boy, don't you know what she do to me" lyric? Dessert after cocktails? Definitely!
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