A SMPLE MAN....LOBO

Kent Lavoie was never much to look at. A fact he acknowledged on one of his song, ' You'll never look my way, I know I'm ain't much to look at...'. But as Lobo, he sure was hot in the 70's. His early album shots were either scenery or side shot of him, never a full frontal shot. Anyway what he lack in looks, he more than make up for it with his talents for singing and composing perfect love songs that know just the right strings to tug at your heart. I saw him live in 2011. He looks old and frail. He can't even remember his own lyrics. It pains me to see Lobo a shadow of his former self.

THE BEST OF  LOBO : Lobo first bursted on the scene with 'Me And You And A Dog Named Boo'. That and the later 'I'd Love You To Want Me' were hits in America, his native land. The rest of his songs, however were criminally overlooked by the Americans. We, the Asians lapped it all up totally. In the early 70's, Lobo was king here in Asia.. I know of a friend of my cousin who cut and displaced his hair cut proudly as the Lobo look. Favorites here are, the above mentioned two songs, 'Don't Expect Me To Your Friend', the soft and gentle 'How Can I Tell Her' and 'Don't Tell Me Goodnight', his last hit before he slipped into oblivion. DOP : 15th December 1991.

THE BEST OF LOBO II :  This CD filled up the gaps from the first collection. ' Daydream Believer', the old Monkees; hit is the best version of this song, in my opinion. 'Armstrong' was a tribute to Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. On top of these, you'll get 'Rock 'n' Roll Days', 'Stoney' and a few songs from his later albums that are as great as it get. DOP : `15th December 1991.

LOBO CLASSIC HITS : This is a remake CD. As a rule I don't usually like remake albums. They more often than not usually messed them up but this is a different matter. I actually love this. His take on the old Bobby Darin's classic 'Dream Lover' was stunning. Even better than the original. Then you have 'Whispers In The Wind' based on the music of an old Malay song. Elsewhere, there are remakes of his old hits. Not necessarily better but nevertheless still enjoyable. DOP : 16th August 1995.

JUST A SINGER / A COWBOY AFRAID OF HORSES : During my record buying days, I only have one Lobo's album and that's "Just A Singer". I got my diet of Lobo from EPs and SPs. "Just A Singer" was an album of Lobo's personal favorites songs that he could have written himself. This was the last Lobo album that generated the kind of successes that he have enjoyed so far. The subsequence albums have somehow lost their charms for me. I've always love this album and was on the look out for it. I saw this and I bought it. I don't care much for ' A Cowboy Afraid Of Horses"  thought it does have the occasional nice songs. After "Just A Singer", I've outgrown Lobo. DOP : 20th February 2011.

 Well, to those who have been living under a rock and have not heard of Lobo, do yourself a favor, go look him up. You will not regret it. Much like Michael Learned To Rock but with more heart.