This Church Is On Fire!

CHECK LIST **** Great Balls of Fire *** Good Vibrations ** Maybe Baby * Running on Empty

**THE FOUR TOPS. “Indestructible.” Arista. On its first album for the Arista label, the veteran vocal quartet essayed the collective efforts of seven production teams and nine songwriting outfits--without sacrificing its identity in the process. Partially, this is because lead singer Levi Stubbs douses everything from the title track (and first single) on down with his patented, this-church-is-on-fire! intensity. Partially, this is because everybody involved in the project set out to write and produce something that sounds like an old Four Tops hit anyway. Highlights, such as they are, include the Paul Kelly composition “Change of Heart,” Huey Lewis & the News’ imitation of the Motown house band on “Are You With Me,” the cheap-steak-tough title cut, and an unintentionally hilarious Phil Collins-Lamont Dozier collaboration (“Loco in Acapulco”) in which you can practically see the turistas tossing the umbrellas outta their blue drinks and forming a conga line in the background. Gulp.