Back On Track [CD]

Her latest album, "Back on track," is certainly aptly titled. Only her third album in about twenty years, this follows 1993's "Independence" and 2002's "Together" by showing how versatile this star is, and that she's not afraid to push the envelope and embrace new styles. From her R'n'B tinged early recordings to the bubblegum pop of the late sixties; the TV light entertainment star of the seventies; actress and musical stage star of the eighties; disco diva of the nineties; Lulu has come full circle with this album of new songs and rediscovered her rock 'n' roll roots.

Many of the songs on this new CD are written by the Scottish lass herself, with a variety of other writers on board, and the production varies from different contributors, yet despite this inconsistency there is a really strong evenness in the quality of the work and sound of the artist. Opening with the upcoming single, "Keep talkin'.... I'm listening," the rocky number sets the stage for the remaining 11 tracks which includes ballads, blues and a remake of her 2000 hit, "Where the poor boys dance." The 2002 CD "Together" was diluted for me by the inclusion of some insipid tracks that suited the talents of the guest artists better than Lulu herself, and I'm thrilled that that mistake has not been made twice. I was also fearful that this would be a retread of the abandoned recordings from an earlier self-penned project, but thankfully that's not the case. Every track here holds it's own and is worthy of its inclusion.

It's great to see Lulu hitting a new high and 'back on track' so late in her illustrious career. Her contemporaries could do very well but to try and emulate such a polished album.

Her latest album, "Back on track," is certainly aptly titled. Only her third album in about twenty years, this follows 1993's "Independence" and 2002's "Together" by showing how versatile this star is, and that she's not afraid to push the envelope and embrace new styles. From her RnB tinged early recordings to the bubblegum pop of the late sixties, the TV light entertainment star of the seventies, actress and stage musicals of the eighties, disco diva of the nineties, Lulu has come full circle with this album of new songs and rediscovered her rock n roll roots.

Many of the songs are written by the Scottish lass herself, with many other writers on board, and the production varies from different contributors, yet despite this inconsistency there is a really strong eveness in the quality of the work and sound of the artist. Opening with the upcoming single, "Keep talkin'... I'm listening," the rocky number sets the stage for the remaining 11 tracks which include ballads, blues and a remake of her 2000 hit, "Where the poor boys dance."

The 2002 CD "Together" was diluted for me by the inclusion of some insipid tracks that suited the talents of the guest artists better than Lulu herself, and I'm thrilled that that mistake has not been made twice. I was also fearful that this would be a retread of the abandoned recordings from an earlier self-penned project, but thankfully that's not the case. Every track here holds it's own and is worthy of its inclusion.

It's great to see Lulu hitting a new high and back on track so late in her illustrious career. Her contemporaries could do very well but to try and emulate such an inspired album.