THEIR duet I Know Him So Well was such a huge hit that Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson will forever be linked in people's minds.

Both Centre Stage and The Platinum Collection are basically greatest hits packages, with new material, so of course both sets include the chart-topping ABBA/Tim Rice ballad from Chess.

Dickson's collection is predictable: all those lovely hits, January, February, Answer Me and Caravan Song and the new wistful ballad Wayfarin' Stranger. However, Paige's album is far more interesting. This beautifully-packaged double set includes not only the big musical numbers her fans will already know but also an entire album's worth of new and collectable recordings.

The best of the batch is a lovely reading of Lorrie Morgan's country hit Something In Red and a tender version of Patti Austin's Somebody Make Me Laugh. Collectors will be thrilled that her two duets with Cliff Richard, Let It Be Me and Miss You Nights, are on CD at last.

Updated: 08:34 Thursday, July 08, 2004