Dancin' On The Boulevard (RCA, 1997)

Once an act has maintained megastar status for several years, there is the temptation to cut an album that indulges the personal tastes of the act at the expense of their core audience.Reba did it with "Starting Over." It's Alabama's turn here.

"One More Time Around" is the album's only country song, and Jeff Cook doesn't even pick up the fiddle on this album. The opening cut "Dancin' Shaggin' On The Boulevard" is Alabama's tribute to its early days playing clubs on the Beach Music circuit. "Calling All Angels" attempts to recall the feel of Carolina shag music. So does a cover of "Hey Baby" (with guest vocal by Bruce Channel), but both are too sterile to hit the mark. They even cover the Temptations' "My Girl" but bring nothing fresh to the approach. "Sad Lookin' Moon" and other self-penned songs would never be cut if they hadn't been written by the band members.

This album is the recording industry equivalent of putting your feet up on the desk.