Cheryl Wheeler
Thanks to this 1986 disc, her full-length debut, Maryland-born but Massachusetts-based Cheryl Wheeler burst on the singer-songwriter scene in a big way. Produced byJonathon Edwards, for whom she once played bass, this robust offering features a full band and outright rock tunes such as "Lethal Detective" (with a screaming electric-guitar solo byJohn Jennings) that will scare or amuse fans of her ensuing solo-oriented work. Filled with new-wavy accents like cheesy keyboards and radio-ready multitracked vocals, this disc is rescued to a degree by first-class songs, including "Addicted" (which was a No. 1 country hit forDan Seals), "Behind the Barn," and "Arrow." Listen forMary Chapin Carpentersinging background vocals.--Robert Baird