Jackie DeShannon
Album: Jackie DeShannon - Four albums on two discs
Label: BGO
Tracks: 48
Website: http://www.bgo-records.com/

Jackie DeShannon is one of pop music's most enduring and endearing singer/songwriters. Now in her early 70's, this double CD highlights four of her earlier albums. This really does represent a walk down memory lane or in my case a limp, having just undergone a hip replacement operation.

This digitally remastered double CD includes the albums "In the wind" (1965) "Are you ready for this?" (1966) "New image" (1967) and "What the world needs now is love" (1968.) All these early career albums highlight Jackie's talents as a singer rather than as a songwriter and only include eight of her own compositions. They do however include songs for other luminaries such as Dylan, David/Bacharach and Goffin/King.

The music is a very eclectic mix of pop, folk, country and show tunes and amply shows what a versatile singer Jackie is or was. One of my favourite all time songs and one which I used to sing and play to my children when they were young, "Puff the magic dragon" is included. It really takes me back to days gone by and makes me feel quite ancient.

Some of the music on here now sounds quite dated but it still demonstrates the clarity and timbre of Jackie's voice. It shines like a lighthouse in the fog showing the way home to other singers and songwriters.

I am not sure why this CD has been realised at this point in time. I have written to Jackie to ask but as yet do not have a reply. One slight disappointment is the exclusion of "When you walk in the room" from the track list. I have written before that my favourite Liverpool group is still "The Searchers" and I would have like to have heard Jackie's version of the song. Still, with forty eight tracks to choose from it is perhaps a bit of a picky complaint. It does include "Needles and Pins" although Jackie did not write that.

Jackie has been married to the very underrated Randy Edelman since 1978. I would hope that their talents have rubbed off on their son. If so, a talented artist is almost assured.

This is a wonderful piece of music history of a truly superb artist and a must for all lovers of late 60's and 70's music. You will hear some unusual versions of standards that you will quite possibly not have heard before unless you are already a devotee of Jackie. I love it!!!

Rory Stanbridge