Consumer Guide Album

Danny O'Keefe: O'Keefe [Signpost, 1972]
Arif Mardin has neutralized O'Keefe's folk-Muzak potential by embellishing it--better his studio-rock "Good Time Charlie" than Ahmet's folkie-rockie-with-flute one, and not just because it got O'Keefe on the radio. In a neon romantic like O'Keefe--who sounds most at home telling junkie stories or covering "Honky Tonkin'"--spectral percussion, a steel guitar mixed for eerieness, even a clarinet function as intelligent new-schlock shading that acknowledges his fundamental commercialism. And commercial he is--just about every song has a melodic hook. Though we'd be better off without one on "Shooting Star" ("the morning is waiting for Electra"?) and "The Valentine Pieces" (don't ask). B