Reviewed by Tony Cummings

As any regular Cross Rhythms reader will know, we have long eulogised Dion DiMucci's gospel albums made between 1980 and 1986 where the Bronx doowopper's bluesy tones perfectly suited his self-penned songs of faith. Thanks to re-issue specialists Ace Records, Dion's return to secular music, 'Yo Frankie' released by Arista in 1989, is now available again and pretty good it is too. Britain's Dave Edmunds was recruited to produce the set and with special guests like Bryan Adams, Paul Simon, k d lang, Patty Smyth and Lou Reed this is effectively Dion's rock 'n' roll Hall Of Fame album. The best cut by some way is the opener "King Of The New York Streets", a tongue-in-cheek celebration of his youth on the mean streets ("People call me the scandaliser/The world was my appetiser/I turned gangs into fertiliser/King of the New York streets"). Dion's sandpaper-and-honey tones are perfect for Tom Waits' late night ballad "San Diego Serenade" while Diane Warren's "And The Night Stood Still" would be corny in the hands of a lesser singer but works well here. On the whole I enjoyed Dave Edmunds' production though some critics found the ersatz doowop harmonies a bit too Huey Louis & The News for comfort. But on the whole this is a solid album recorded only a year before Dion's return to Catholicism.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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