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Friday 25 July 2008

"Loving And Free" by KIKI DEE featuring Elton John and Bernie Taupin (June 2008 UK EMI Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Geoff Pesche Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...



This Review and 299 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 
US AND THEM - 1973
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"…I Will Untangle Myself…"

Kiki Dee's (real name Pauline Matthews) debut album for Elton John's newly formed Rocket Records "Loving & Free" was originally issued on vinyl LP in November 1973 on Rocket PIGL 5 in the UK. 

With songwriting, Production and band contributions from ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN - the album also housed hugely popular chart hits in the form of two gorgeous ballads - and Kiki's emotive cover of Veronique Sanson's "Amoureuse" and the title song "Loving & Free". Let's untangle this reissue and get to the details...

This UK issued June 2008 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster of "Loving & Free" by KIKI DEE on EMI 363 1132 (Barcode 0094636311326) reissues that forgotten nugget and adds on two rare bonus tracks (47:25 minutes). It’s the 1st of 6 albums she recorded between 1973 and 1987 – each being given a sonic overhaul by EMI (see list below) - and a cracker it is too.

1. Loving & Free [Side 1]
2. If It Rains
3. Lonnie & Joseph
4. Travellin In Style
5. You Put Something Better
6. Supercool [Side 2]
7. Rest My Head
8. Amoureuse
9. Song For Adam
10. Sugar On The Floor

BONUS TRACKS:
11. Last Good Man In My Life
12. Six Days On The Road

Two 45s came off the album at the time - with one other single issued 3 years later as a belated hit. First up was "Lonnie & Josie" b/w "Last Good Man In My Life" with both tracks written by ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN. Released in June 1973 on Rocket PIG 2 - it unfortunately went the same as her earlier singles and didn't chart. Making its debut on this 2008 CD reissue (Track 11) - the B-side “Last Good Man In My Life” has long been sought after by collectors as a non-album JOHN/TAUPIN track unavailable anywhere else. Apparently it was an outtake from the "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" sessions. The second and last bonus track is a Previously Unreleased raucous cover of Dave Dudley's 1963 hit "Six Days On The Road" – and it's very good too.

The second 7" single finally hit pay dirt. "Amoureuse" b/w "Rest My Head" (both from the album) hit the UK shops in October 1973 on Rocket PIG 4 just before the album's release in late November. 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.

The title track "Loving and Free" was finally released as a 4-track EP in a Picture Sleeve in September 1976 on Rocket ROKN 515 (sometimes referred to as the "Kiki Dee" EP). It followed on the back of the huge number 1 success of the "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" duet with ELTON earlier in 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 booklet is excellent – they’ve pictured rare 7" single sleeves - photos of Kiki from the time - a knowledgeable CHRIS WHITE synopsis of the album and 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 Kiki - it's a criminally forgotten classic of the time.

A minor downside to this otherwise excellent reissue 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 reissues 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 for Britain's Pauline Matthews.

KIKI DEE - June 2008 EMI Records CD Reissues

1. Loving And Free (1973 on Rocket Records)
2. I've Got The Music In Me (1974 on Rocket Records)
3. Kiki Dee (1977 on Rocket Records)
4. Stay With Me (1979 on Rocket records)
5. Angel Eyes (1987 on Columbia Records)
6. Cage The Songbird
Note: Six is an unreleased album recorded during the Rocket Records period, now aired for the first time - it also features contributions from ELTON JOHN and BERNIE TAUPIN.

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