Shake Down Artist : Check List ****<i> Great Balls of Fire</i> ***<i> Good Vibrations</i> **<i> Maybe Baby</i> *<i> Running on Empty </i>

**GREGORY ABBOTT. “I’ll Prove It to You.” Columbia. In 1986, Gregory Abbott became a soul star on the strength of “Shake You Down,” easily one of the creamiest R&B; smoothies of the year. The million-selling single was a tasty throwback to ‘60s soul: polished but not passionless, sweetly simple rather than slick. Nothing else on Abbott’s debut album was as big a delight, but that “Shake You Down” title track was potent enough to make you hope Abbott had a few more good tricks on tap.

On his follow-up album, Abbott can’t resist copying himself a bit. Again, he wants to “shake you down” on the album’s opening number, “Prisoner of Love” (not the classic oldie), and “Let Me Be Your Hero” and “Unfinished Business” also borrow melodically and lyrically from the hit. One of the key pleasures of “Shake You Down” was the way Abbott slid into his upper register to cry, “Hey, baby! “

It’s easy to forgive him for recycling the gambit on “Unfinished Business” because that falsetto emphasis, plus the way he digs deep and does some of his strongest singing, is what makes this song--also the title track of Ronnie Spector’s latest album--one of the best tracks here. Also good is “Crazy For You,” a slow-drag ‘50s-sounding ballad that Jackie Wilson would’ve had a ball recording.

Some have likened Abbott’s silky style to that of the late Marvin Gaye. Gaye, despite his own brilliance at writing and producing classic hits, wasn’t above working with outside composers and producers in order to bring a fuller dimension to his own music. Abbott, who also writes, produces and arranges his material, seems to need that kind of input and broader perspective to deliver the promise that this album just hints at.