Ronnie Lane, veteran of the original and irresistible Small Faces as well as the later Rod Stewart version of that band, here presents the music he quit that group to make: often delightful, individual, folk-flavored sounds that sing of the pub, the music hall, the street, the road and the open field. From the sly secularism of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" (which features a wheezing Cajunesque harmonium and Ronnie lovingly enunciating such patois as "souped-up Chevy") to "Stone" (an accessible reincarnation saga), Lane brings out the spice in the material while projecting lots of personal charm. A few of the 13 tunes, including "Blue Monday" and "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," are overly familiar, but they are bearable in the album's sprightly context. Saxophonist Ruan O'Lochlainn and the rest of Slim Chance are indispensable in creating Lane's merry moods, be they oboeflavored psychedelic pastorales, citified fiddle reels or stiff skä shuffles. A great party record for those times when all of life seems contained by one beery wingding. (RS 195)

TOM NOLAN