Huey Lewis Albums (8)
What The Critics Say
Looking at the cover of Huey Lewis & the News' Live at 25, it's hard not to think, "Wow! I had no idea that the News had 25 members!" Of course, the middle-aged men crowding the cover of this 2005 release number a mere nine, which means the one-time sextet has been expanded with a full horn section (original guitarist Chris Hayes has been replaced by Stef Burns and bassist Mario Cipollina has been replaced by John Pierce, as well). New members and a horn section don't change the basic nature of the band, which hasn't changed since the beginning of its career -- no matter what they do, Huey Lewis & the News are a good-time, good-natured, unabashedly fun party band. That served them well at the height of their fame in the mid-'80s, and it serves them well 20 years later, as they do those big hits -- "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "I Want a New Drug," "If This Is It," "Do You Believe in Love," "Hip to Be Square" (subtly changed to "(Too) Hip to Be Square," although the lyrics haven't been altered) -- balanced with covers and newer tunes that sound as if they could have been good album tracks on Picture This. Although the liner notes don't mention the date or location of the recording of Live at 25, the specifics don't really matter since the album is designed to be less a historical document than a nostalgic souvenir for longtime fans, capturing the group at a quarter-century mark. In that respect, it works well: the song selection is good, the band sounds tight and professional, the production is clean and punchy, and while it's never especially engaging, it is an enjoyable performance. Not essential, and certainly not nearly as energetic as the original LPs, Live at 25 is warm, friendly, and fun nonetheless, a perfectly respectable way to celebrate the group's anniversary. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Most artists who show up on Behind the Music have a tragic tale to tell, whether it's drug addiction, the death of a loved one, or a bitter falling out between longtime bandmates. Not Huey Lewis & the News -- the one time they faced tragedy is when they thought Ray Parker, Jr. ripped off "I Want a New Drug" for his theme to Ghostbusters. Apart from that, everything's been pretty great, because they're a bar band (if they'd been from England, you'd call 'em pub rock) that made good and they've always been grateful for their success. When the hits stopped coming sometime during the first Bush administration, they graciously stepped back from the spotlight; during the '90s, they only released one new album, and that was just a covers record. Ten years later, they finally reemerged with Plan B, a record of original material (barring a cover of one of Nick Lowe's best songs, "When I Write the Book") that helped showcase their new, expanded lineup with a full horn section. Some bands might verge on bloat with a new horn section, but not the News -- it just emphasizes that Plan B is a return to their roots, a lean, soul-inflected, driving rock & roll record. And that "Plan B" in the title certainly alludes to the bandmembers' decision to give up any hopes of chart success in favor of just making a record of music they like, and the gambit pays back better than anyone could have hoped. This is an unpretentious, utterly likeable record, filled with clever, catchy songs that would sound great in a packed club on a Friday night. And these are good songs, songs that could hold their own with "Workin' for a Livin'," "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do," and "Some of My Lies Are True" -- they're nearly as memorable and melodic, and easily as fun. It's true that part of the pleasure of Huey Lewis & the News' first three albums was how the records straddled the line between pub rock classicism and post-new wave modernity, and that sound is nowhere to be found here. But the music itself is first-rate, whether it's on the opening track, "We're Not Here for a Long Time (We're Here for a Good Time)" -- which trumps "Couple Days Off" with its casual honesty -- or on the middle-age love duet "I'm Not in Love Yet," which finds Huey and Wynonna trading lines in an absolutely alluring fashion. There's nothing fancy here; as a matter of fact, it's disarming, refreshingly unpretentious, and all the better for it. Even better, this is the first Huey Lewis & the News record that sounds like a Huey Lewis & the News record in ten years, and it's their best since at least Fore!, probably Sports. There's not a chance in hell that it'll burn up the charts like those records, but it's certainly one of their best albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Four Chords & Several Years Ago'
Release Date 5/10/1994
Tracks 17
Label Elektra
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
As the title indicates, Hard at Play is a return to the straight-ahead blues-inflected pop/rock that made Huey Lewis and the News superstars in the early '80s. While the material wasn't as consistently strong as Sports or Picture This, the band rocked with a renewed vigor and a handful of songs, including the anthemic hit "Couple Days Off," were as catchy as their older hits. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Small World was another platinum hit for Huey Lewis & the News, but the album is weaker than their previous three records. Lewis tries to position himself as a socially conscious rocker -- no less than three tracks have the word "world" in their title -- writing songs about the perilous state of the environment and urging everybody to live together peacefully, since "there ain't no livin' in a perfect world." The group also decided to broaden its musical horizons, exploring rootsy American music like the zydeco of "Bobo Tempo" and the bluesy "Old Antone's." Although they're interesting, none of the musical diversions work as well as the bouncy Top Ten hit "Perfect World," but Lewis & the News still can conjure enough charm to get them through the rough patches. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Huey Lewis and the News sound considerably more focused on their second album, Picture This. By incorporating stronger elements of R&B and doo wop (their cover of "Buzz Buzz Buzz" is first-rate) and embracing pop to a much greater extent, the News find their own distinctive sound -- clean-cut, steady middle-class rock & roll. They still suffer from uneven material, but "Do You Believe in Love" is a stunner, a tight set of polished, anthemic hooks that is one of the best mainstream pop singles of the early '80s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Sports was one of the rare mainstream pop/rock albums where everything worked -- the songs were catchy, the sound was inviting, and it all sounded perfect on the radio. Fore! is a reasonably enjoyable facsimile of the pleasures of Sports, yet it lacks the gleeful sense of fun that made that record, as well as portions of Picture This, so enjoyable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Huey Lewis and the News'
Release Date 1/1/1980
Tracks 10
Label Chrysalis
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
For most of their self-titled debut album, Huey Lewis & the News try to carve out their niche. While their basic idea is apparent -- a cross between a driving bar band and catchy pop craftsmen -- the group didn't write any songs to make their concept appealing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
