Shine On

By the late '70s, the members of this veteran English group knew they didn't want to be a blues band, but they didn't know where they wanted to go. The first three songs point the way toward low-key pop epitomized by "When Talking Is Too Much Trouble." There's a bit of funk here and an album-closing nod to the band's blues-based past with "Champagne and Rock 'N Roll." The guitar of Colin Haycock and sax of band founder Colin Cooper are underused, a problem that would continue to dog the band as they sought a new identity. ~ Mark Allan