most inspired moment on Commodores Live is on side four. After a brief and fiery "I Feel Sanctified," the group oozes into the tongue-in-cheek "Brick House." These two songs represent the Commodores at their best: "Sanctified" is unrelenting and raw, while "Brick House" is more melodic and shows good use of a Latin bridge. The songs work well in concert, too, though "Brick House" flags under the weight of corny audience repartee and a length of eleven minutes. Lack of conciseness isn't the only problem (the ballads run seven, eight and ten minutes). "Brick House" and "Sanctified" aside, the lack of melodic concern is wearying, and the record suffers from indistinguishable riffs as well as a lack of any drama or tension. Commodores Live is meant to be a dance album, but for all the good-time veneer, it isn't very much fun. (RS 256)

JOE MCEWEN