It seems like a joke, doesn't it? A ridiculous, almost cartoon-like synth rock band with an overly charismatic lead singer that you love the hate. Catchy pop tunes to make the girls swoon-- and some of the guys. Sounds like a bad TV-movie parody. Maybe something out of Josie and the Pussycats. Regardless of the connotations that surround Huey Lewis and the News, no one can deny the band had something special. That they had talent and a knack for making some really classic pop music. I bought Sports, the band's breakthrough record, in the used section of the local CD store. I had the cassette already, but I really only had it to listen to one or two of the singles. I also had one of the band's greatest hits records on CD; recently, over the past year, I've learned to dislike compilation mixes, giving the artist the respect they deserve and listening to their album cuts. Most of the time, as with Blondie and Kate Bush, I'm remarkably pleased.

Sports was no exception. It was 1983 when this album dropped onto store shelves, the album jacket depicting a bunch of guys at a Cheers-type sports bar in front of a pool table, relaxing. The message was that this band was a representation of the common man. The man with blue jeans, t-shirts, and worked with his hands. Eventually, this would become a caricature of their intended image, but for the time being, Huey Lewis was the everyman's man. On Sports, we get a lot of bluesy rock music with an 80s synth twist. The recipe for the sound on this record seems to be a quarter B.B. King, a quarter Steve perry, a quarter Bruce Springsteen, and a quarter Belinda Carlisle, which is the strangest combo ever. The ending result is some great music. The Heart of Rock & Roll is the one song that has stood the test of time, becoming the band's signature track. The song is an anthem with catchy hooks and a real strong presence. Huey's voice is intense and gruff, as it growls and wails through the clever lyrics. I must say that it was might smart of the band to have a chorus comprised of just city names: this way, people are going to buy the single to hear their hometown. At least, I get giddy when he punches the melody with a loud BOSTON! (..and a Baton Rouge...).

This album proved to be a strong single's record with the doo-wop dripped If This Is it, which showed versatility in Huey's voice; and then there's I Want a New Drug, a song better known for being ripped off by Ray Parker Jr. for the Ghostbusters theme song. Both are classic News, both are which are songs that you hear and say, "Oh! That's Huey Lewis? I love this song, I didn't know it was them!" The only single that seems poorly chosen was Walking On A Thin Line, a mediocre song with a weird synth backbeat. The chorus is catchy and enjoyable enough, but it's really just fluff. Instead, I turn to the track Heart and Soul, which was the lead-off single. This song embodies all that's great about this band: amazingly catchy hook, awesome chorus, and simple (yet appropriately matching) lyrics. The melody is one that you won't get out of your head the entire day.

Other tracks include the bluesy Bad is Bad, a song that tells a story of man (named as Huey in the track) who finishes watching his cousin play a show Uptown, grabbing a late dinner, then comes home and pieces together that his girlfriend is cheating on him. The song lurks and keeps its very cool pace. There's no strong climax on this track, and the mood is very personal. Finally Found a Home proves to be more filler in the vain on Thin Line, while the album closer Honky Tonk Blues is easily the worst track on the record. For such a fun and cool album, it sure does end of a very sour note. While it certainly fits the on-going "classic rock and roll" theme, it's just a bad song. Sorry, Hank, I'm just not a fan.

For an album with only nine songs, it's a very good ratio when I like eight of them. While two are straight up filler and one is downright album, it's still a very well thought-out record that packs in a lot of fun.

TRACKLIST (with newly improved star ratings!)

01. The Heart of Rock & Roll (5 Stars)
02. Heart and Soul (5 Stars)
03. Bad is Bad (5 Stars)
04. I Want a New Drug (4 Stars)
05. Walking On A Thin Line (3 Stars)
06. Finally Found A Home (3 Stars)
07. If This Is It (5 Stars)
08. You Crack Me Up (4 Stars)
09. Honky Tonk Blues (1 Star)

Overall: 4 Stars

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving