Stephanie Mills

"STEPHANIE MILLS." Stephanie Mills. MCA. A new Mills album these days doesn't raise with the same anticipation that greeted her James Mtume/Reggie Lucas-produced records of the late '70s. That producer/songwriter team had a clearer understanding of her gutsy strengths as an R&B/pop singer. They also had more consistent hit-making instincts than any of the guys who've been working with Mills lately.

There are other R&B performers who can get the same type of frenzied reaction from an audience that Stephanie Mills can draw--but in order to get it they generally sing with a flat-out, blood-vessel-popping intensity.

There are other R&B performers who can get the same type of frenzied reaction from an audience that Stephanie Mills can draw--but in order to get it they generally sing with a flat-out, blood-vessel-popping intensity.

On the current album "If I Were Your Woman," Stephanie Mills returns to the type of music she performs best: unfiltered R&B. And it's paid off. The album has gone gold, and it's spawned two Top 10 black hits: the gospel-edged "I Feel Good All Over" and the funky, dance-oriented "Puttin' a Rush on Me."

On the current album "If I Were Your Woman," Stephanie Mills returns to the type of music she performs best: unfiltered R&B. And it's paid off. The album has gone gold, and it's spawned two Top 10 black hits: the gospel-edged "I Feel Good All Over" and the funky, dance-oriented "Puttin' a Rush on Me."

'Box With God' Gets Rematch: "Vinnette Carroll's Your Arms Too Short to Box With God," a gospel celebration starring Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass, has been booked for a seven-performance return engagement at the Wiltern Theatre April 10-14. The Broadway musical sold out during its original Wiltern run earlier this month.

Scouts' Honor: Michael Jackson will get an award for being a good scout. Walt Disney Co. Chairman Michael Eisner will present Jackson with the "Michael Jackson Good Scout Humanitarian Award" on behalf of the Los Angeles Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, during a Sept. 14 dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel. The award was created and named for Jackson to recognize his humanitarian efforts, which embrace the principles of the scouting program.

I would like to congratulate the NAACP for its stunning presentation of the Image Awards on Jan. 6 which celebrated the positive contributions of so many talented black artists. With appearances by such highly respected artists as Spike Lee and Sidney Poitier and special tributes to Oprah Winfrey and Sammy Davis Jr., as well as performances from Stephanie Mills and MC Hammer, this broadcast had wide appeal for audiences of all ages and interests. However, NBC chose to air it at 11:30 p.m. Why were the Image Awards denied the audience they so richly deserve?

It appears that Mr. Hunt hasn't done his homework. The outstanding rhythm and blues singers of today are alive, well, recording and performing under the names of Patti Austin, Angela Bofill, Jean Carne, Miki Howard, Phyllis Hyman and Stephanie Mills. Much like Laverne Baker, these performers grace the stage with vocal talent equivalent to some of the early greats. Mr. Hunt, there are many great R&B singers around today. You just failed to mention them. GUY V. DE ROSA West Hollywood

The city's Municipal Communications Studio in West Hollywood Park will open at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Singer Toya Ann Brown will perform in the park auditorium, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. An open house of the studio, where West Hollywood's Citychannel 10 cable television show is produced, will begin at 5 p.m. Brown, who sings jazz and contemporary music, has performed locally and recorded with Ramsey Lewis, Stephanie Mills and Nancy Wilson. The event is free. For more information, call 854-7388.

"STEPHANIE MILLS." Stephanie Mills. MCA. A new Mills album these days doesn't raise with the same anticipation that greeted her James Mtume/Reggie Lucas-produced records of the late '70s. That producer/songwriter team had a clearer understanding of her gutsy strengths as an R&B/pop singer. They also had more consistent hit-making instincts than any of the guys who've been working with Mills lately.

Ken Harper, 48, producer of the smash Broadway musical "The Wiz" which opened in 1975, ran for more than 1,600 performances and won seven Tony awards, including best musical. It was Harper who came up with the idea of a contemporary black musical based on "The Wizard of Oz." He hired Charlie Smalls to write the score and Geoffrey Holder to direct. The musical starred Stephanie Mills as Dorothy and Andre De Shields as the title character.

Name-brand soap opera stars from both coasts will put on an evening of comedy, song and dance at the Comedy Store tonight to benefit the Actors' Fund of America's AIDS Initiative. Among many participating: Susan Lucci, Robin Strasser and Stuart Damon. Tickets are $55. . . . A Santa Monica company, Calliope Media, won the top honor for a software CD-ROM title, "ScruTiny in the Great Round," at the annual international Publishing and New Media Market Conference in Cannes on Sunday.