Earthshaker
Koko Taylor's second Alligator album from 1978 features  eight blues standards  and one self-composed number. As the title implies, the tempo is  up. Subtle  nuances give way to raw power. There's a remake of Taylor's only  major R&B;  hit, "Wang Dang Doodle," amid like-minded floorshakers ("Let the  Good Times  Roll," "Spoonful," "Hey Bartender," and "You Can Have My  Husband,") The  band is very much in tune with the stated goals, and the solos are  short and  to-the-point. It has to be said that this music works better in  concert than  on record, but Taylor's protean energy goes a long way toward  compensating for  the inherent sterility of records.--Colin Escott