Sweet Pea Atkinson

For all intents and purposes, this is a Was (Not Was) record: It features the band's lead singer, much of the material was written by Don and David Was (who also produced), and the tracks are played by "the Was (Not Was) Orchestra." Tracks like "Dance or Die" are typical of Was (Not Was)'s approach of ironic lyrics and dancefloor beats. Sweet Pea Atkinson proves a good frontman in the husky soul-man mold, especially when he's given more typical soul-pop fare like General Johnson's "Don't Walk Away" or the Bacharach/David chestnut "Anyone Who Had a Heart." But mostly this record has the same sarcastic undercurrent of most of Was (Not Was)'s product, especially "Girls Fall for Me," no matter how sincerely Atkinson sings lines like: "In the smart cafes/Husbands chain their wives to the tables/That enables me/To eat in peace once in a while." ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide