ENGELBERT HUMPERDINK
It's All In The Game (Hip-O)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Yes it's that Humperdink fella, and if ever there was a time for the Las Vegas veteran, the time is now. When shmaltzy faux world beat and insipid boy bands dominating the charts, who better to step in and show the rookies how it should be done? Englebert starts with a fiery flurry, zipping through a saucy version of "Dance the Night Away", complete with bongos and maracas awash in a sea of spicy horns. The George Hamilton of music (always tanned and looking marvellous), Englebert has managed to keep his thunderous pipes in excellent condition, belting out ballads the Backstreet Boys are not fit to listen to. And baby, when he tears in to a techno/salsa version of "Strangers in the Night", ol' blue eyes is gyrating in his grave. To keep the geriatric set on board, Englebert slips in a nice live six pack at CD's end: "Release Me", "Spanish Eyes", "After the Loving", ... you know the score.

© 2001 - John Sekerka