reinforced with supreme confidence.

On Busy Body, Vandross' third and best solo album, the singer brings a few changes to his favorite role. The silky, Boz Scaggs-like title cut spells out every aspect of his woman's unfaithfulness; then, on the jaunty "I'll Let You Slide," he becomes testy in a jovial way. "If we do it twice in the mornin'," he bargains, "I'll let you slide tonight." He shows an unlimited patience in the extended, daring (for a man) and brilliant rendition of Leon Russell and Bonnie Bramlett's "Superstar," which closes the album. The I'll wait-forever passion of that song is topped only by the exuberance of "For the Sweetness of Your Love," in which Vandross vows, "I'll even wrestle Mr. T!" What more could a lover ask?

Throughout the album, Vandross is the vocal maestro, enlisting as backup singers such first-rate talent as Darlene Love, Cissy Houston, Patti Austin, David Lasley and Chic's Alfa Anderson. And he coaxes a superb performance out of Dionne Warwick on their torrid duet "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye." Musically, Vandross relies on a crack crew of musicians, including the fine keyboardist arranger Nathaniel Adderley Jr. and his all-purpose right-hand man, Marcus Miller, whose popping bass and synthesizer wizardry are as crucial to Vandross' sound as his own irrepressible scat singing. Among pop-soul ensembles at the moment, they're my idea of the A-Team. (RS 415)

DON SHEWEY