Search - Janie Fricke :: Black & White / First Word in Memory

Two original mid-eighties albums

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 03/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Janie was one of the most popular country singers of the eighties, winning CMA female vocalist of the year more than once, yet she is poorly represented on CD and almost forgotten. This CD pairs two her mid-eighties albums, Black and white and The first word in memory.



Black and white yielded the number one country hit, Always have always will, and contains many other excellent songs including Till I can't take it any more (a cover of a seventies country song), Take me like a vacation (later covered by Lynn Anderson on her album, What she does best), When a woman cries (an outstanding ballad) and the close track, I'd take you back again.



The biggest hit from The first word in memory was You're heart's not in it although my favorite track on this album, One way ticket, was not released as a single. Although there are some fine songs here, I was surprised that this album was chosen for release on CD ahead of Janie's earlier albums that have never been released on CD.



If you are new to Janie's music, you should maybe start with one of her hits compilations but this twofer is definitely worth a listen. I'm still hoping that Collectables will release more of Janie's original albums on CD, beginning with Somebody else's fire, It ain't easy, Sleeping with your memory and I'll need someone to hold me when I cry."