by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Four Chords & Several Years Ago is a set of well-performed R&B covers by Huey Lewis & the News. While it lacks the polished energy of their Sports-era hits ("The Heart of Rock & Roll," "I Want a New Drug," "The Power of Love"), the album is filled with pleasant, professional performances that proved the band still knew how to construct a hit single -- both "(She's) Some Kind of Wonderful" and "It's Alright" were minor hits. Even though it's a well-crafted record that manages to avoid the group's tendency for bombast, Four Chords & Several Years Ago never manages to be a compelling listen; it sounded better on the radio than it does on the stereo.