Bill Wyman (Expanded Version)

Bill Wyman's self-titled 1981 album was further removed from the sound of the Rolling Stones than his two 1970s LP had been, but if anything, it benefited from the distance. Much of the material on those '70s records had sounded like workmanlike R&B/pop pastiches, albeit with a wry if scattershot sense of humor. Here Wyman seemed more like his own man, both as a songwriter and as a singer — he was never going to be a vocalist of distinction, but here he sounds far more comfortable with his voice and its limitations. The fluke novelty hit "(Si, Si) Je Suis un Rock Star" is the most famous track by far, of course, but much of the rest is surprisingly palatable pop/rock that incorporates early-'80s new wave production touches without sounding strained. The droll humor, similarly, is more engaging and unforced than on his previous work, although he manages some accomplished smooth romantic pop tunes like "Ride on Baby" (no relation to the Rolling Stones '60s song of the same name) and "Rio de Janeiro" as well. The historical liner notes on the 2006 expanded Castle CD are welcome, but the four bonus tracks don't really add much, those being "single edits" of "Rio de Janeiro," "Come Back Suzanne," "Visions," and "(Si, Si) Je Suis un Rock Star."