Though he's known for his extracurricular "operations" on General Hospital, Rick Springfield is no soap-opera bimbo; he's a seasoned, knowledgeable rock & roller who should be making records better than Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet. Producer Keith Olsen has surrounded Springfield with a milder version of the radio-ripe sound that Pat Benatar has ridden to platinum paradise. But Springfield's self-penned melodies don't grab you by the throat the way Benatar can at her best–possibly because he doesn't have the chops. And from a lyrical standpoint, Springfield's persona is all over the map: in "How Do You Talk to Girls" he's an "aw-shucks" adolescent; but in "I Get Excited" (the "Jessie's Girl" clone here), he's got "an angel who's gonna spread her wings," and by "Tonight," he's a Springsteen-like chronicler of the working class.

That said, it's only fair to note that the record is already a smash, and has enough potential AM hits to keep the car radio going all summer long. And the cover is a riot. C'mon out, Rick, we know you're in there. (RS 370)

CHRISTOPHER CONNELLY