Did some more LP digitising on the old computer today. This time it was the Dancing For Mental Health album by Will Powers from 1988. This is one of those albums I bought back in the day then got rid of during the Great Record Buyoff of 1990, silly me. I recently re-acquired a copy from the fabulous Dixons Records Emporium, because I wanted it back. I just did side one, and it was a treat. Such an interesting and unusual album. Masterminded by one-time Bruce Springsteen squeeze Lynn Goldsmith, it features a who’s-who of stars who contributed, including Todd Rundgren, Meatloaf, Steve Winwood and Carly Simon. The concept is a kind of community service for self actualisation. Lynn’s slowed-down and processed voice acts as a commentator for various self improvement concepts, such as Opportunity, Kissing With Confidence and the power of a Smile. The song Kissing With Confidence was the single and is probably the highlight. It’s the one that features an uncredited Carly Simon. I guess the album could be seen as new-age self improvement bullshit. That conservative wellness crap that puts the blame on the individual and not the system that usually makes me wanna puke. But there’s a sly humour throughout it, a sense of poking fun at itself that makes me think this album is pushing satire more than seriousness. I like its positive vibes. I’ll bet Oprah Winfrey loves it. Who is the woman doing the ‘bag lady rap’ at the end of Smile? She’s amazing.