... The Last LP John Spencer's Louts (Beggar's Banquet BEGA 3) It is to be hoped that the title of this album is not to be believed, because Spencer, a somewhat eccentric graduate of the folk scene, mainly at the Half Moon, Putney, is a remarkably facile songwriter and performer, seemingly able to find himself in any style, from rockabilly to country to satirical rock. His equally versatile ...

... DISC DATA Greatest Hits -Steely Dan (ABC ABCD6I6) An excellent two-record compilation of what can now be seen as one of the most significant bands of the present decade, built around the very considerable songwriting and vocal abilities of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Judged in total, one can appreciate the careful merging of influences to produce something individual in rock and also ...

... THE SINGERS COMPANY La Perichole LAST JUNE a new, small-scale opera touring ensemble made its debut with a bright production of Cosi fan tutte at Riverside Studios. It has now acquired a name as well as a new production. The Singers Company and founder-singer-director-librettist Peter Knapp in particular has mined its way into Offenbach to come up with a gleaming La Perichole. This has ...

... Alicia Bridges (Polydor Super 2391 364) It comes as something of a sur prise to discover from the album sleeve that Alicia Bridges is white, for her style is strongly black. Even more surprising is to find that her ability does not end with that great disco track I Love the Nightlife, for the songs, all by herself and Susan Hutcheson, are of exceptional quality in a raunchy, semi-feminist ...