RUBEN BLADES, Escenas (Elektra): Ruben Blades has been a busy guy lately. Aside from graduating from Harvard Law School and considering a run for the presidency of his native Panama, Blades has boosted his American visibility with a starring role in ”Crossover Dreams” and a prominent spot in the ”Sun City” project. Now comes ”Escenas,” an alluring collection of the synthesizers and enlightened lyrics that have revolutionized salsa. Don`t speak Spanish? Sit down, browse the provided translations and then let Ruben Blades` sweet voice tell you stories of life on the hard streets.
MARVIN GAYE, Romantically Yours (Columbia): As one of the first black singers to take active control of his music and career, Marvin Gaye spent long hours experimenting with various styles before arriving upon classics like
”What`s Going On.” So you can`t call it anything but grave-robbing when Columbia releases ”Romantically Yours.” Though not as obviously private as last year`s ”Dream of a Lifetime,” these gooey ballads certainly aren`t anything Gaye wanted released. If Columbia must cash in on this great artist`s memory, why not a live set from his final tour? Or better still, why not the kind of intelligent, sensitive series of re-issues that RCA devoted last year to Elvis Presley?
MINK DEVILLE, Sportin` Life (Atlantic): Play a Mink DeVille record for a friend, and invariably he or she will dig Willie DeVille`s gritty vocals and vintage R&B stylings. But–not unlike fellow white soulster Southside Johnny
–Mink DeVille`s smoldering records never seem to catch commercial fire.
”Sportin` Life,” yet another solidly soulful collection, probably won`t either.
BAD COMPANY, 10 From 6 (Atlantic): Perhaps it`s the Firm`s less than amazing success that has Paul Rodgers looking back to his glory days with Bad Company. Whatever the reason (money to finance a Firm follow-up?), Rodgers has assembled 10 cuts from that legendary late `70s combo`s six albums. All the rockin` biggies are here: ”Feel Like Making` Love,” ”Rock `N` Roll Fantasy,” ”Can`t Get Enough,” ”Movin` On,” ”Bad Company” and more.
HERMAN ZE GERMAN AND FRIENDS, Herman Ze German And Friends (EMI): Herman is Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell. His friends include Don Dokken, Ratt`s Bobby Blotzer and Juan Croucier, Humble Pie`s Steve Marriot, Great White`s Jack Russell and Phil Spector`s Darlene Love. Rarebell–who has been working on this project for three years during breaks from the Scorpions` heavy recording and touring schedule–uses the album to play a funkier brand of metal than you`d ever find on a Scorpions record. For a prime example, check out the wild drumming on the cover of the Surfaris` classic ”Wipe Out”
(complete with Surfaris bassist Randy Nauert).
I HOPE YOU GUESS MY NAME: The Rolling Stones debut on Columbia, ”Dirty Work,” is slated for February release. Described as a ”Keith Richards record” (much of the groundwork was laid while Mick Jagger was off shilling for ”She`s The Boss”), ”Dirty Work” isn`t likely to be a hit with Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center. It`s said to contain–gasp
–suggestive lyrics. . . . Smokey Robinson`s ”Smoke Signals” hits stores Jan. 14 and features a song written with Stevie Wonder as well as Smokey`s first collaboration with the Temptations since 1970`s ”Tears of a Clown.”