Ooooooweeee!!!

by Bruce EderSpringfield's second U.S. album is another hybrid work, but for different reasons. The tracks, of which two ("You Don't Own Me," "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes") are repeated from her debut, were cut in London and in Nashville, the latter under the direction of Shelby Singleton Jr. The Singleton-produced numbers, except the girl-groupish "Now That You're My Baby," are better R&B, more raw and less dignified in their playing (Springfield in the early days had to fight to get the sound she wanted from her backing musicians), and mix well with the London-based material. In fact, "Lovelight" works better here than it did on the earlier album, for Ooooooweeee!!! is overall a more soul-oriented album. The bonus tracks are a significant enhancement -- "Go Ahead On," cut by Springfield backed by the Echoes is a fine piece of Brit-beat R&B; her version of Aretha Franklin's "Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" is a harbinger of Springfield's real musical direction, while "I Will Always Want You" is a throwback to the sound of her first album, in a broad, big-voiced, heavily orchestrated style.