His studio toys are more sophisticated now, but Dave Edmunds' energy is just as vital as on his last DIY outing, Rockpile (1972). That jewel, with Edmunds handling all instruments and vocals, featured the nifty "I Hear You Knocking," a Dave Bartholomew remake that sparked Edmunds' career as a canny retro rocker. On Plugged In, an Otis Redding rarity ("I Got the Will"), a Jerry Reed workout ("The Claw") and "One Step Back," co-written by ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, all get good-naturedly pummeled. Edmunds even goes six-string ballistic on Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. High spirits are this lad's calling card, and while the one-man-band approach has long lost novelty, his joy in dancing with himself shines through. (RS 691)

PAUL EVANS