Weird how some great records go under-recognized, time after time, year after year. Eddy Grant's single Electric Avenue was an alternative radio/dance hit in 1982, strong enough for him to be selected by Michael Douglas to write the theme for "Romancing the Stone" the following year. But it's this album right here that rocks -- "Killer on a Rampage" strikes a bold groove from the opening track (Electric Avenue) and rocks steady thence forward, pounding and swaying through tracks fast and mellow.

As I recall, Eddy Grant was born in Barbados and went to London to become a star. He came close as lead singer of the early multi-racial group The Equals (cited here at Amazon by Andy Partridge of XTC as the best group to get people dancing), and they had a pretty big hit called "Baby Come Back." Grant struck out on his own, for both better and worse: he's a multi-instrumentalist, and an egomaniac, so while he plays all or most of the instruments on his records, on many of his efforts his self-absorption gets in the way. On the "Killer" album things balance out, and though there's the occasional slip-up ("Funky Rock'n'Roll" is completely expendable) for the most part he justifies his self-confidence.

It's hard to pick a favorite from this disc -- "It's All in You" and "Too Young to Fall" are very cool, "War Party" is an anti-imperialist rant equal to Bob Marley's best, the wry rhythms of "Latin Love Affair" are quirkily enjoyable, and the frank horniness of "Drop Baby Drop" is beyond repoach ("I love you like a mango" rates as a great line -- try it in a Samoan pub sometime). But maybe the best, on a par with "Electric Avenue", is "Killer on a Rampage" -- aggressive/protective in the same breath, a drum-tight arrangement pulsing under a smooth synth texture and savage vocal.

Still not convinced? Tim Cahill tells of being shot at by guerrillas in a Central African country, and barely noticing because he had "Killer on a Rampage" turned up so loud. Now that's a recommendation!

Don't have much use for the DVD, but I'm so glad this deluxe reissue included the 12" mixes, which, as far as I know, were never on CD before. I've been wanting Eddy's only U.S. Top 10 hit, Electric Avenue, in it's extended form on CD for decades, and it's a treat to also get the overlooked second 12" single, "I Don't Wanna Dance," as well. I only hope the same treatment will be given to Eddy's mainstream follow-up "Going for Broke", because I'd really love to at last have the 12" mix of Romancing the Stone on CD!!! Track times:

1 Electric Avenue 3:48

2 I Don't Wanna Dance 3:40

3 It's All In You 4:26

4 War Party 3:54

5 Funky Rock 'n' Roll 4:28

6 Too Young To Fall 4:30

7 Latin Love Affair 4:18

8 Another Revolutionary 5:16

9 Drop Baby Drop 3:33

10 Killer On The Rampage 3:32

11 Electric Avenue (Extended Version 6:20

12 I Don't Wanna Dance (Extended Version 5:42

13 War Party (Bajan Remix - Extended Version 8:28

Live In Havana, Cuba: March 1986

DVD-01 Intro: Living On The Frontline

DVD-02 Killer On The Rampage

DVD-03 Too Young To Fall

DVD-04 War Party

DVD-05 Say I Love You

DVD-06 I Love To Truck

DVD-07 Curfew

DVD-08 I Don't Wanna Dance

DVD-09 Jamaican Child

DVD-10 Hello Africa

DVD-11 Another Revolutionary

DVD-12 Electric Avenue

DVD-13 Baby Come Back

DVD-14 Romancing The Stone

DVD-15 Do You Feel My Love