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"Tommy Tutone," the band that
once took its dating tips from the bathroom wall, has emerged
from under the weight that goes along with the title "one
hit wonder" to release its third "official" album,
"Tutone.rtf." The reference above is to a song you've
all heard, "867-5309/Jenny," whether on the radio back
in the early 80's, or on countless "Biggest Hits Of The
80s!" compilation discs. As the computerized title (.rtf
stands for Rich Text Files, a document format) suggests, the
band has left Jenny behind and stepped into the 90's.
Well, almost. Apparently, "Tommy Tutone,"
which is really vocalist/guitarist Tommy Heath and a large rotation
of guest musicians, couldn't resist returning to the scene of
the big hit and giving us an update on the girl that made his
career. It's not a particularly happy update, though. Apparently
Jenny got caught up in the fast lane, and now she's got a tale
of woe in "Jenny's Calling."
To focus on that link to the past, however,
would be to sell short a really good album. Somewhere between
Heath's imperfect, wry, vocal delivery, the generally subdued,
almost resigned tones of the songs, and lyrics ranging from tales
of young love to a blue-collar man's lament, to a defiant tale
of vindication, "Tutone.rtf" succeeds in delivering
a lite rock gem.
"Lite rock" is definitely the
operative term here, since most of the songs are delivered in
a medium tempo, rarely falling into typical balladry, but never
really cutting loose. For some reason, I keep hearing shades
of "Deep Purple" in a number of solos, as if the guitarist
were emulating Ritchie Blackmore, without ever approaching the
heavy metal thunder that man can deliver. "A Little Bit
of Heaven (and a whole lotta hell)" also approaches territory
covered by a rock giant, in this case a countrified "Stevie
Ray Vaughn," before stepping back from the brink.
The best songs on the album are the aforementioned
"Jenny's Calling," "The Grifter's Prayer"
and "Happy Birthday, Anyway." The last of these spotlights
a guy struggling with life, depressed and facing the prospect
of turning yet another year older. ". . .you finally realize/
Sunrise helps you carry on." The lyrics are a friend's point
of view, telling the depressed guy that his problems are just
a part of regular life. Heath's wry, resigned vocals are put
to their best use on this song, when delivering the chorus, "Happy
Birthday, anyway/ Don't let the little people ruin your day."
It's the most emotional song on "Tutone.rtf," although
"The Grifter's Prayer" comes close.
The grifter is a guy looking, ultimately,
for love, praying for a little assistance from above, without
much hope of either. "I know where I come from/ Blue Collar
Drinking Man/ And I'm gonna get me some/ Jesus, open your passbook/
I know I've never made a deposit/ But I need to make a withdrawal
tonight." You're kind of forced to offer up a prayer of
your own, hoping the grifter gets his answered.
The album closes with "Everybody Else
Is Wrong." I'm not sure what Heath is talking about on this
one. It could well be "Tommy Tutone's" status as a
"one-hit wonder." Either way, I'm glad Heath and his
friends took this shot at getting past being forever pegged as
that "phone number band." |
