Latest CD reviews...

When I am not drumming I also do the odd CD review in my spare time...

ANN PEEBLES Original Soul Funk Sister (Demon)

UNFORTUNATELY, Ann Peebles falls into that "one hit wonder" category - but what a one hit wonder it was!

I Can't Stand The Rain was named the greatest single ever made by John Lennon. This was the man responsible for writing Strawberry Fields Forever, Nowhere Man, In My Life and Imagine. Enough said!

Ann Peebles was born in 1947 in St Louis, one of 11 children. She began singing with her father's gospel choir and eventually landed a recording deal with Memphis label Hi whose major artist was soul legend Al Green.

Miss Peebles went on to marry fellow label recording artist Don Bryant, and they began writing songs together, culminating in that big 1974 hit 45.

As well as that classic, you'll also find the evocative I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home and the stunning I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down, two fine tracks that should also have been big hit singles.

Still, better to be a one hit wonder than a none hit wonder.

CHER The Imperial Recordings : 1965-1968 (EMI Gold)

BORN Cherilyn LaPierre in El Centro, California in 1946, Cher first came to our attention in 1965 as half of husband and wife team Sonny & Cher with worldwide smash hit I Got You Babe. Didn't last - they divorced in 1974!

This collection trawls her best solo recordings from 1965 to 1968, including powerful renditions of It's Not Unusual, Needles And Pins, Alfie, Sunny and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.