P564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:11/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new album ———————————————————— 1/9 GUY — GUY III (MCA) It's been 10 years coming, but here is an album that truly separates the guys from the boys. The return of the legendary US trio should send shivers down the spines of all the waste-of-space wannabes. The types who in recent years have hijacked the R&B bandwagon to make a quick killing With inferior tunes. This is the sound of three men working together in perfect harmony — three men who probably think a bum note is a letter from a down-and-out. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— See: www.bbc.co.uk/entertainmentnews Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:13/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new album ———————————————————— 2/9 GUY — GUY III (MCA) Guy's main man Teddy Riley got into the New Jack Swing of things back in the late 80s before forming Blackstreet. Now re-united with Aaron and Damion Hall, he has set the benchmark for the rest in the noughties, with a heady brew of R&B, hip-hop, funk and swing. Guy III kicks off with the compelling We're Comin' — sublime rapping with a swingbeat so morish you'd need concrete boots to keep you off the dancefloor. Giving more than a passing nod to No Diggity, it's a tough act to follow. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— See: www.bbc.co.uk/entertainmentnews Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:17/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new album ———————————————————— 3/9 GUY — GUY III (MCA) A large part of the album is occupied by gentle, slow-paced R&B reflections. Although it's not everyone's cup of tea (and I don't normally take mine this sweet), you can't help but be moved by the likes of Rescue Me and Why You Wanna Keep Me From My Baby. But it's when they choose to Jack it up that Guy come into their own. The funk-driven Dancin' and the sexy sounds of Don't U Miss Me cavorting from speaker to speaker are worth the entrance fee alone. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— See: www.bbc.co.uk/entertainmentnews Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:04/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new album ———————————————————— 4/9 GUY — GUY III (MCA) If there is one criticism of Guy III, it's that there are too many tracks. This is born out by the plea on Someday (No 16) for everyone to "listen very very carefully", as if they are aware attention spans may have wandered. Trim it down a bit and you still won't hit the perfect 10, but you'll be close Finally, a message for all the young upstarts collecting No 1s in the absence of any serious competition — every dog has its day, but the good guys always win in the end. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— See: www.bbc.co.uk/entertainmentnews Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:13/57 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S N/T —— new single ——————————————————— 5/9 THE BETA BAND: TO YOU ALONE/SEQUINSIZER (Regal) It appeared for one agonising moment last year that The Beta Band were going to eat themselves whole. After dismissing their debut album as "crap" (and in fairness it didn't live up to the hype), some feared it could be the beginning of the end. Fortunately, it warn't and they're back with two blinding tunes — the first a blessed-out Stone Roses, the second a magical mystery tour to oblivion with burbling bass & mind-numbing ramblings. Happy now, guys?! —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— See: www.bbc.co.uk/entertainmentnews Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:10/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new single ——————————————————— 6/9 GABRIELLE — RISE (Go Beat) She may have lost the disco eye-patch, but the vision for the future is brighter than ever. Gabrielle has for some time been one of Britain's top female vocalists and this epic track should catapult her into the singers' super-league. Using a beat-propelled sample of Bob Dylan's Knocking On Heaven's Door, gospel backing and a lush string arrangement, her soaraway voice leaves you hanging on to every last word. Just watch her go. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— Showbiz 566 Pop Quiz 562 Top 40 565 Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:06/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new single ——————————————————— 7/9 BYRON STINGILY — THAT'S THE WAY LOVE IS (Manifesto) Now I've heard of trying to sell a record (a re-released record at that, but this is ridiculous. This song apparently "features in just about everyone's Top 10 records of all time". Hang on, it gets worse.... "Anyone who has been to a club in the past 10 years undoubtedly has their own great club story that happened while one of Byron's records was playing". Er, either I'm completely barking or Byron's press people had a VERY good New Year. Answers to the usual address. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— Showbiz 566 Pop Quiz 562 Top 40 565 Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:20/27 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new single ——————————————————— 8/9 UTAH SAINTS — LOVE SONG (Echo) The Saints come marching back with a killer tune — it's as if they've nuvrr been away. Owing much to Underworld's Cowgirl, the robotically-enhanced vocals, pounding drumbeat and in-yer-face piano loop could see them back in the Top 10 after a seven-year absence. FRED & ROXY — SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND (Echo) Once you get past the shaggy blonde perms, this sister act aren't half bad. Although it won't win any prizes for songwriting, this is better than your average pop tune. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— Showbiz 566 Pop Quiz 562 Top 40 565 Top 40 Lottery Main Menu ShowbizP564 CEEFAX 2 564 Fri 21 Jan 22:17/57 —— ——————————————— WHAT'S HOT & WHAT'S NOT —— new single ——————————————————— 9/9 LIVE — THE DOLPHIN'S CRY (Radioactive) They say there's going to be a big Rrrrrrock revival in the UK this year and Live are dipping the first tentative toe into boy band water;. This is trademark stuff from the American superstars — soft choirboy verses building up into blood, guts and thunder choruses. Not a patch on I Alone, but rock fans will love it. MINT ROYALE (WITH LAUREN LAVERNE) — DON'T FALTER (Faith & Hope) One of the top tunes of the year thus far. The former Kenickie girl returns and the result is a Primitives-like anthem. —————————— by Chris Charles ——————————— Showbiz 566 Pop Quiz 562 Top 40 565 Top 40 Lottery Main Menu Showbiz