Maybe It's Live finds blue-eyed soul singer Robert Palmer in a holding pattern. Six of the ten tracks were recorded at the Dominion Theatre in London a year and a half ago, while the remaining four are recent studio recordings in the electrosoul vein of Palmer's last LP, Clues. It's a strange mix, but it works.

The live material is drawn from the grab bag of genres that Palmer has explored over the course of six studio albums, including the New Orleans funk of "Sneakin' Sally through the Alley," the soft-core reggae of "Best of Both Worlds," the glossy pop of "Every Kinda People" and the walloping hard rock of "Bad Case of Loving You." Of the four new tunes, the real gem is "Maybe It's You," which features a gritty rockabilly guitar riff and a powerful, desperate vocal from a singer who's often too reserved. Robert Palmer may not cover any new ground on Maybe It's Live, but the album is a good introduction to where he's been so far. (RS 374)

MICHAEL GOLDBERG