aaamusic | On 21, Oct 2012

Dionne once sang a fine, spontaneous tribute to Count Basie the day he sadly passed away and an adoring audience at the New Theatre, Oxford, including me, showed their love and appreciation of this legendary female artist. As a  soul and R&B American singer she’s also been an actress, TV show host and global ambassador. Next to Aretha Franklin she’s the most charted female vocalist with 56 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 through to 1998.

 

Her album Now is released on 22nd October on H&I Music. It looks at some of  Dionne’s most well known and instantly recognisable songs. It’s now half a century since Bacharach & David’s Don’t Make Me Over and she’s celebrated by re-recording some of her classic numbers.

 

There’s still  great joy to this wonderful soul singer with an exquisite husky voice. She’s always been honest and outspoken and  her moving songs have become the soundtrack of decades past. She’s now older and wiser and these mature songs will have meaning to a new generation in a year in which she’s experienced great family tragedies.

 

Track list: 1. Always There To Remind You 2. Is There Anybody Out There 3. Say A Little Prayer 4. Love Is Still The Answer 5. Be Aware 6. Like A Song 7. Make It Easy 8. 99 Miles 9. Are You There With Another Girl 10. Don’t Make Me Over 11. Breathe 12. Reach Out.

 
★★★★★
 

Anthony Weightman