* * * * <i> Great Balls of Fire</i> , * * * <i> Good Vibrations</i> , * * <i> Maybe Baby</i> , * <i> Running on Empty</i> : EXECUTIVE BEAT

* * * “KEEP YOUR EYE ON ME.” Herb Alpert. A&M.; The record company’s co-founder proves he’s still capable of leaving A&M;’s executive suites and getting funky. Of course, he’s got a lot of help here in the form of the Grammy-winning producing team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, architects of the chart-conscious sound of two of A&M;’s biggest artists, Janet Jackson and Human League.

Alpert, Jam and Lewis is an unlikely alliance, but it’s one that works. Opening with the title cut, an Afro-urban funkathon of hardy proportions, Alpert delivers what is easily one of this year’s most potent dance singles. He sounds as if he hasn’t had this much fun on vinyl since he fronted the Tijuana Brass.

That characteristic lazy drawl of Alpert’s trumpet is also put to good use on “Hot Shot” and “Cat Man Do,” on which keyboards are provided by the E Street Band’s Roy Bittan. Janet Jackson makes guest appearances on the sullenly commanding “Diamonds” (she gives the thumbs-down to any gift that didn’t come from Tiffany’s) and the disarmingly sensual “Making Love in the Rain”--though it’s actually golden-lunged co-lead singer Lisa Keith who makes the song come alive.

Overall, this is a pretty satisfying album, from the sumptuous “Pillow,” which pairs Alpert vocally with his wife, singer Lani Hall, to the evocative update of “Stranger on the Shore,” the 1962 hit by British clarinetist Acker Bilk. Still, it’s that brutally funky title cut that finds Alpert at his brassy best.