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1991 album shows Brenda as good as ever

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was largely ignored because, as far as most people were concerned, Brenda belonged to a bygone age. Certainly, she had huge success as a pop singer in the sixties and had some success as a country singer in the seventies, but here Brenda showed that she could record great country music in the nineties. Backing vocalists include Dennis Locorriere (of Dr Hook) and the Forester sisters.Brenda recorded songs by some of the best songwriters around including Beth Neilsen Chapman, Jesse Winchester and Karen Staley. The set opens with three excellent ballads - Once love makes a fool of you, Love and Against my will. The tempo picks up a little for Lonely too long - this title has been used for several songs and is not the same as the one on Trouble with the truth (Patty Loveless). Some of these days is a fine mid-tempo song.You better do better is a great up-tempo song, previously recorded by Baillie and the boys for their album, Lights of home. In an earlier era, Brenda might have rocked really hard on this song but they way she does it here suits me just fine. Next comes another outstanding ballad, When he leaves you, that Shania Twain covered for her untitled major label debut album. A little unfair was originally recorded by Lefty Frizzell - Willie Nelson later covered it for his tribute album to Lefty. Billie Jo Spears first recorded Standing tall - a song later revived by Lorrie Morgan. The set closes with Your one and only, which Barbara Mandrell included on her last original album (It works for me).Brenda sounds mellower than in her most successful years, but just as brilliant. If you like her music primarily for her rousing rock'n'roll songs like Let's jump the broomstick, you may be best to avoid this album. If you enjoy her classic ballads like I'm sorry or her later country music, you will surely love this album. TracksOnce love makes a fool of you
Love is fair
Against my will
Lonely too long
Some of these daysYou better do better
When he leaves you
A little unfair
Standing tall
Your one and only"