BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE ALBUM?
Sometimes a movie uses a well-known covered by someone younger, hipper, or more relevant. Eddie Murphy’s 2003 comedic romp The Haunted Mansion used “Somebody’s Watching Me” as covered by… Morris Day? Without The Time, no less?
Rockwell was (or is, I guess, since he’s still alive) the son of Motown’s Berry Gordy. I’m sure that in no way helped him get a record deal or convince Michael Jackson to be a guest vocalist.
Listening to this album, I’m kind of surprised Rockwell didn’t manage another hit. This is some seriously good synthpop. But other than Michael Jackson’s cameo, the album lacks a truly strong vocal hook. And he falls kind of flat on his cover of “Taxman.” Then again, George Harrison fell kind of flat on the original “Taxman.” Why do people like that song?
I could do without the awful ballad, “Knife,” but this was the 80s, and I think Reagan had passed into law a requirement that every album include an awful ballad.
FINAL VERDICT:
I think it’s time for a Rockwell revival. Someone (other than Morris Day) needs to cover his music for today’s kids. “Foreign Country” needs to be adopted by politicians to tout their foreign policies (“No Culture Club or Adam Ant” succinctly describes what’s wrong with North Korea). Write to your local congressman and ask, nay, demand, a Rockwell Appreciation Day.
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