It didn't take
MTV
very long to make rock, pop and R&B a lot more visual. It was founded in 1981, and before you knew it, the music world was becoming increasingly looks-conscious and image-minded. In 1982 and 1983, looking great in a video certainly didn't hurt, although it didn't guarantee success either. Great looks didn't mean commercial success for
Girls Can't Help It
, a female vocal trio that came out of England in the early 1980s.
Billie Adams
,
Jacqueline Bucknell
, and
Samantha Spencer-Lane
-- collectively
-- were blessed with cover-girl looks but didn't get very far commercially.
Pure Wild
, the British singers' debut EP, fell through the cracks, although it's a decent collection of R&B and dance-pop along the lines of
the Mary Jane Girls
and
Vanity 6
.
"Rhythm of the Jungle,"
"X Marks the Spot,"
and the rap-minded
"Baby Doll"
are likable funk-dance workouts, and
"Jelly Baby"
is a seductive slow jam that should please anyone who spent a lot of time listening to
'
"All Night Long"
back in 1983. Although not perfect,
is a fun record that deserved more attention than it received. ~ Alex Henderson