Elkie Brooks - Pearls III Close To The Edge - 1991 - Freestyle Records

Elkie Brooks has long been one of Britain's greatest and most enduring jazz blues singers. She may be remembered by many people as a member of the brilliant but short lived blues rock band, Vinegar Joe, which also included the late Robert Palmer. The self titled 1972 "Vinegar Joe" album, featuring Elkie Brooks is a classic early seventies blues rock album, and worth listening to. "Pearls III Close To The Edge" is not one of her strongest albums, and is more in the mainstream mould than her roots blues and rock side. Arguably she is at her best when singing in these genres, but similar to vocalists like Paul Carrack, and Paul Rodgers, Elkie has the ability to often make an average song sound good. Elkie remains one of the best soul/blues rock singers in the world. "Pearls III Close To The Edge" is worth listening to for Elkie's voice alone. Listen to her "Don't Cry Out Loud" and "Rich Man's Woman" albums, and search this blog for related releases [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 91.5 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

A1 The Last Teardrop - S.Thompson
A2 Don't Go Changing Your Mind - E.Brooks, A.Murray, B.Taylor
A3 We Are All Your Children - E.Brooks, T.Jordan
A4 One Of A Kind - S.Thompson, T.Morrisson
A5 Tell Her - E.Brooks

B1 You And I (Are You Lonely) - E.Brooks
B2 Free To Love - E.Brooks, G.Hutchins
B3 Suits My Style - E.Brooks
B4 Got To Get Better - E.Brooks
B5 From The Heart - E.Brooks

MUSICIANS

Elkie Brooks - Vocals, Backing Vocals
Paul Dunn - Guitars
Brendon Taylor - Bass Guitar, Drums
Andrew Murray, Trevor Jordan - Piano, Keyboards
Backing Vocals - Jay Jordan, Mick Mullins, Peter Howarth, Keith Murrell

SHORT BIO

British pop-jazz-blues crooner Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder) dominated U.K. radio in the late '70s with a series of hit singles that established her as "the biggest-selling female album artist in the history of the British pop charts." The Manchester native, who grew up in an extremely musical family, left school at the age of 15 to join a dance band in London. She eventually mad the jump to radio, as well as numerous appearances with legendary jazz bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton, before embarking on a career in pop music. The early '60s saw the budding young singer releasing singles for Decca and EMI, as well as opening for everyone from Carl Perkins to the Beatles, but commercial success remained elusive. She joined the blues-rock band Dada in 1970, which would eventually find success through a name change (Vinegar Joe) and the arrival of a new vocalist, Robert Palmer. The popular group released three beloved records before disbanding in 1974, and after a brief stint with U.S. Southern rock band Wet Willie, Brooks decided to take another crack at a solo career. The resulting Rich Man's Woman, Two Days Away, Shooting Star, Live & Learn, Pearls, and Pearls II, as well as frequent sold-out tours and numerous silver, gold, and platinum recordings, would go on to cement her reputation well into the 21st century. © James Christopher Monger © 2012 Rovi Corp | All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/elkie-brooks-mn0000797077