POP MUSIC SPECIAL : The Record Industry’s Big Push

The fall season is always the most active time for pop record releases, as the music industry gears up for its November-December season, during which nearly a third of all records, tapes and CDs are sold. But that can mean confusion for even the most serious music fans, as old favorites compete with newcomers for consumers’ attention.

These are the albums expected to generate the most critical and commercial interest of all the post-Labor Day releases during the hectic year-end rush. The selections, presented in alphabetical order, cover all parts of the pop music spectrum, from heavy-metal fathers (Aerosmith) and sons (L.A. Guns) to rap innovators (the D.O.C., Young M.C.); from rock kings on the rebound (Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones) and pop queens living the lush life (Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand) to country chartbusters (Randy Travis) and folkie mavericks (Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked).

The comments are by the Times pop writers indicated, but the star ratings (one is poor, five a classic) sometimes reflect additional pop staff input.

The reviewers are Robert Hilburn, Dennis Hunt, Mike Boehm, Richard Cromelin, Jonathan Gold, Steve Hochman, Connie Johnson, Craig Lee, Kristine McKenna, Randy Lewis, Don Snowden, Chris Willman, Paul Grein, Duff Marlowe and Don Waller.

*** BABYFACE, “Tender Lover,”Solar. Some of the cuts on this album are as chart-worthy as hits he and producing/writing partner L.A. Reid have supplied for Bobby Brown and others. As a singer, Babyface has a suave way with cool tunes but he can also go for broke. He’s this year’s new black-music heartthrob. (Johnson)

** REGINA BELLE, “Stay With Me,” Columbia. While she’s not quite on the Anita Baker level, Belle is good enough to leave other talented young thoroughbreds stalled at the starting gate when she wraps her formidable, velvet-edged vocal cords around a song that’s worthy of her. But most of the tracks here--particularly the up-tempo ones--are way too pedestrian. (Johnson)

*** MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY, “Silky Soul,”Warner Bros. The title track is a tribute to the group’s first mentor, Marvin Gaye, and the title itself aptly describes Maze’s own ultra-mellow, signature sound. Maze’s approach is always predictable, but there’s comfort to be found in its brand of low-key, musical consistency. (Johnson)

*** TINA TURNER, “Foreign Affair,”Capitol. This doesn’t wield the fleshed-out character, drama and thematic power of “Private Dancer,” but it does offer a pretty specific view of a rock ‘n’ roll woman of “a certain age.” Turner still manages to retain a firm grip on her “grande dame of rock” crown. (Johnson)

Coming Up:

Other albums scheduled for release in the coming weeks include:

ABC, Art of Noise, Basia, Bobby Brown (dance mixes), Club Nouveau, Phil Collins, Erasure, Gipsy Kings, Ofra Haza, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Joan Jett, Quincy Jones, Kid Creole, Kris Kristofferson, Yngwie Malsteem, Roches, Shinehead, Keith Sweat, Tiffany, the Time, Jody Watley (dance mixes), Whitesnake and Peter Wolf.