To Helen With Love

Album Review

This album is an effort and expression of love for the memory of Helen Wheels. Other than the opening number (a spoken dedication) and the closer (a Bob Dylan piece), all of the songs performed here were co-written by the late entertainer. The music here ranges from a punkish sort of no-frills rock & roll style to a considerably intricate and hard-rocking texture in the vein of Blue Öyster Cult. The BOC sound is certainly understandable, as many of the musicians present have been involved with that group: Albert Bouchard (the Brain Surgeons' drummer), his brother Joe, Buck Dharma, and Sandy Roeser. Other notables among the cast of musical contributors include Neal Smith and Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper). All in all, this is an entertaining album with some very strong material. It should appeal both to fans of Wheels and the Blue Öyster Cult vein of music. More importantly, though, this is a tribute to an artist. Helen, hopefully you heard.