RAUL MALO You're Only Lonely

by LES EVERETT

THIS solo effort from the front man of The Mavericks opens in brilliant style with the title track, the wonderful Herb Pederson original.

On my first listening I felt the rest of the album tended to veer a bit too closely to the dangerous middle-of-the-road position. But really Malo's wonderful singing is the saviour here and in general his choice of material is good.

Taking something from out of the Bee Gees catelogue was a fine idea but 'Run To Me' was covered recently by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs so I would have picked up something else from the brothers Gibb. (My dream is for someone to let rip with 'I Held a Party' or 'Sea of Smiling Faces' from the under-appreciated 'To Whom It May Concern' album that also contained 'Run To Me'.

Other 'You're Only Lonely' highlights include the original 'For You' with its Latin feel and Ron Sexsmith's 'Secret Heart'. I feel his rendition of the Everly Brothers' 'So Sad' is a bit slow but it might catch up with me.

As for the sleeve that includes two photos of a woman 'seductively' holding a cigarette - come off it Raul she might be pretty but she'll stink the house out.

21 November 2006

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