RICHARD MARX “Rush Street” Capitol * *Marx...

RICHARD MARX “Rush Street”

Capitol * *

Marx exhibits some good instincts on this album. A longtime R&B; fan, he invites Luther Vandross to contribute soulful sweetening to two cuts. However, Marx misses a golden opportunity by having a great singer like Vandross on the premises and not featuring that silky voice more prominently.

Without a superlative voice to back them up, the songs Marx writes have to be above average to hold your attention. Most of the songs here aren’t; two are, including the driving rocker “Hands In Your Pocket.” In it Marx makes this bruising observation: “We put people in power / But we fight our wars alone / They take such good care of the rest of the world / But what about the folks at home?”

The album’s closer is a more gentle, but equally effective father-to-son love song entitled “Your World,” in which Marx’s paternal concerns cause him to sing: “It’s up to me to leave you more than my name.” A tender line like that and other strong points on this album should please Marx’s fans. Overall, though, this album isn’t strong enough to satisfy those who don’t already fall into that category.