Tommy Page

Tommy Page's 1988 debut album consists of high-energy dance tracks dripping with synthesizer, mild techno beats and the occasional ballad (three to be exact). Those who only know him for his '90s pop music might be surprised to hear this early record -- it's filled with the kind of sound that his later material shows only traces of. It is a consistent and upbeat blending of songs, and even though it hits a couple of dead notes, such as the bland "Making My Move," there is an ambitious energy penetrating the album as a whole. The standout tracks include "A Zillion Kisses," "I Think I'm in Love" and the soaring, splendid, Arif and Joe Mardin-produced "A Shoulder to Cry On," which has a message and orchestration equal in beauty.