Lewis,Huey Sports CD

Japanese SHM-CD pressing. Universal. 2015. Picture This found Huey Lewis and the News developing a signature sound, but they truly came into their own on their third album, Sports. It's true that the record holds together better than its predecessors because it has a clear, professional production, but the real key is the songs. Where their previous albums were cluttered with generic filler, nearly every song on Sports has a huge hook. And even if the News aren't bothered by breaking new ground, there's no denying that the craftsmanship on Sports is pretty infectious. There's a reason why well over half of the album ("The Heart of Rock & Roll," "Heart and Soul," "I Want a New Drug," "Walking on a Thin Line," "If This Is It") were huge American hit singles -- they have instantly memorable hooks, driven home with economical precision by a tight bar band, who are given just enough polish to make them sound like superstars. And that's just what Sports made them.

1. The Heart of Rock and Roll 2. Heart and Soul 3. Bad Is Bad 4. I Want a New Drug 5. Walking on a Thin Line 6. Finally Found a Home 7. If This Is It 8. You Crack Me Up 9. Honky Tonk Blues