What's worst about having a once-in-a-lifetime hit is that you get only one. Ask John Waite. His "Missing You" had an emotional immediacy and sonic impact (the latter especially after John Luongo elevated it to remix heaven) that transcended the rest of Waite's career. All of Mask of Smiles is listenable, and much of it is better than that – only a well-intentioned but ultimately empty cover of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" fails – but even the best of it falls short when the inevitable comparisons to "Missing You" are made.

The album's opener, "Every Step of the Way," is the most transparent of the album's "Missing You" rewrites. It's also the most successful and the most likely to follow its predecessor into the upper reaches of the charts. Waite sings with the song, instead of grating against it as he often does, and the crack rhythm section of bass player Joey Vasta and drummer Frankie LaRocka locks into a tight, firm groove. Eight songs similar to "Every Step of the Way" follow: none of them are embarrassing; nor are they special. John Waite raised the stakes immeasurably with "Missing You"; it remains to be seen if he can win it all. (RS 461)

JIMMY GUTERMAN