Introducing the ambition of Terence Trent D'Arby

Driving home from DES MOINES in the might-as-well-be-winter darkness, I introduced 80s music aficionado KERSTIN (age 16) to a clutch of songs that mesmerized 80s music aficionado me in 1987 (then age 21 -- yeah, I know).
"INTRODUCING THE HARDLINE ACCORDING TO TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY," an album ROLLING STONE describes as "dripping with look-ladies-no-hands ambition."
"If You Let Me Stay," "Wishing Well," "Dance Little Sister" and the magnificent "Sign Your Name" are among the highlights of a fabulous debut album.
In hindsight, D'Arby never lived up to the expectations he set for himself.
"He was the great post-everything soul hope, a black American living in England with a Napoleonic sense of pop destiny," Rolling Stone writes.
His followup albums couldn't match the virtuosic glory of the debut, though.
So he didn't change music. So what? I defy you to listen to "Wishing Well" today and not want to dance.
It recently happened to me, driving home in the darkness from Des Moines.

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