Loving & Free [CD]

I bought this album on vinyl in the 70's. This was after seeing Kiki in a night club. I couldn't believe how good she was that night. The album was heavily influenced by her move to Elton John's Rocket label. Two of the songs were written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, three of them being her own work. Other favourites like Free's Travelling in Style and Stealers Wheel's You Put Something Better Inside Me. A classic mixture of ballards and upbeat music.

"Loving & Free", Pauline Matthews' debut album for Elton John's newly formed Rocket Records was issued in December 1973 on Rocket PIGL 5. This June 2008 remaster is the 1st of 6 albums she recorded between 1973 and 1987 being re-issued - and a cracker it is too.

(47:25 minutes)
Two singles came off the album at the time - with one other single issued 3 years later as a belated hit. "Lonnie & Josie" b/w "Last Good Man In My Life" was the first with both tracks written by ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN; it was released in late 1973 on Rocket PIG 2, but unfortunately it went the same way as all of her earlier singles - it didn't chart. The b-side though has long been sought after by collectors as a non-album JOHN/TAUPIN track unavailable anywhere else - it makes its CD debut on this 2008 release. Apparently it was an outtake from the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" sessions.

The second 7" single, however, finally hit pay dirt. "Amoureuse" b/w ""Rest My Head" (both from the album) was UK released in November 1973 on Rocket PIG 4 just before the album's release the following month. A beautiful song - it was an immediate hit with the public. Written by French singer VERONIQUE SANSON, its plaintive melody had lyrics added to it by the British composer GARY OSBOURNE. "Rest My Head" is a Kiki Dee original. "Amoureuse" peaked at Number 13 in the UK and introduced Kiki's great voice to the public. It really was a career-maker.

"Loving and Free" (or sometimes referred to as the "Kiki Dee" EP) was finally released as a 4-track EP in a Picture Sleeve in September 1976 on Rocket ROKN 515. It followed on the back of the huge number 1 success of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", a duet with ELTON that dominated Top Of The Pops for most of June and July of that year. Its 4 tracks are: "Loving And Free", "Amoureuse", "I've Got The Music In Me" and "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am". Why it wasn't released immediately after "Amoureuse" is anyone's guess?

The album's 10 tracks were famously produced by ELTON JOHN with his house band of DAVEY JOHNSTONE on Guitars, DEE MURRAY on Bass and NIGEL OLSSEN on Drums featuring on many of the songs. Elton himself provided Keyboards and Backing Vocals on seven out of the album's ten tunes (he's also on the non-album b-side). GERRY CONWAY and DAVE MATTACKS of FAIRPORT CONVENTION fame filled in the drums on other tracks with LESLIE DUNCAN of "Love Song" fame providing backing vocals on the superb Kiki original "If It Rains". "Travellin' In Style" is a FREE cover, "Song For Adam" is a JACKSON BROWNE cover introduced to Kiki by Elton, while she gives a very soulful rendition of "You Put Something Better Inside Me", a Gerry Rafferty/Joe Egan written STEALER'S WHEEL song. "Supercool" is the third exclusive JOHN/TAUPIN track - a rocker - though not as good as the better b-side "Last Good Man In My Life". The second and last bonus track "Six Days On the Road" is a previously unreleased raucous cover of Dave Dudley's 1963 hit. It's very good too.

The booklet is excellent - rare 7" single sleeves pictured, photos of Kiki from the time, a knowledgeable CHRIS WHITE synopsis of the album - details of the sessions - its far more comprehensive than I thought it would be. Special mention should also be made of the EMI's REMASTERING done by GEOFF PESCHE at Abbey Road Studios. The sound is just GORGEOUS - and I mean that - really clear - and full. "Loving And Free" and its beautiful guitar work by PAUL KEOGH now sounds astonishing - a treat to hear it given the respect it deserves. Penned by her, it's a criminally forgotten classic of the time.

A minor downside to this otherwise superb re-issue is that both "Lonnie & Josie" and "Amoureuse" were released in the States on MCA 40095 and 40157 respectively - and as advance radio promos, both singles sported a mono and stereo mix on either side. It's a damn shame that the exclusive "US Mono Mix" of each single wasn't included on here as bonuses when there was plenty of room. Niggles worth mentioning.

Other than that, this is like EMI's superb 2006 re-issues of Labi Siffre's 1970's Pye Albums - forgotten goodies given great remastered sound, decent liner notes and genuinely excellent bonus tracks. Thoroughly recommended and a job well done EMI.

PS: The other 5 re-issues are:
1. I've Got The Music In Me (1974 on Rocket Records)
2. Kiki Dee (1977 on Rocket Records)
3. Stay With Me (1979 on Rocket records)
4. Angel Eyes (1987 on Columbia Records)
5. Cage The Songbird
(an unreleased album recorded during the Rocket Records period, now aired for the first time; it also features ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN)

During one of my cheapskate phases, I got hold of a ragged, secondhand copy of this album on vinyl for a quid. Though I knew how fine a singer Kiki Dee is, I was surprised at just how good this album is and have been awaiting its appearance on CD for a few years. The title track is her single biggest triumph, being the best of four self-penned songs here. Her delivery of the opening line leaves you in no doubt that you're about to witness something special. The gospel-tinged 'If It Rains' is bolstered, as are all the tracks, by a formidable band that features a battery of female backing vocalists. As Rocket Records was just starting out, it's perhaps not surprising that so much enthusiasm and care was put into it, to the extent that the Elton John Band provide a nucleus of its players. In addition, there are two John/Taupin songs, both typical examples of the duo's output. 'Lonnie And Josie' is a tale of some depth and 'Supercool' an uptempo electric rocker. The strength of the album lies both in the excellence of the performance combined with the careful choice of material. Suitable songs of differing style by Free, Stealer's Wheel and Jackson Browne are included. The approach varies from acoustic or piano-oriented to rock, soul and blues influenced material. And then, of course, there's the obvious hit single, the ballad, 'Amoureuse'. It's a sort of steamy Mills and Boon, the kind of song that's difficult to put over without sounding corny, but the execution is perfect. For all the epic arrangements, however, Dee is never overshadowed. She is a superb interpreter when she's not singing her own impressive songs. Both of the bonus tracks, a b-side and a previously unreleased rocker, are worthy inclusions too. This is an album you play over again, or else it lingers.