JOOLS Holland's annual CD collaborations are a real treat.
The format is unsurprising: Jools and his musically-spirited pals invite in a series of guest singers and then get on with it. A straight-forward path, yet one that leads to all sorts of exciting places.
As ever, the guests are too numerous to mention in full, yet there isn't a duff number here, although Ringo Starr comes close. Still, true delights abound. David Gray gives a lovely reading of Randy Newman's I Think It's Going To Rain Today, Solomon Burke and Eric Clapton get together for a sad, spiritual Message To My Son, Nick Cave and Sam Brown duet beautifully on Kiss Of Love, while Ruby Turner turns up the volume on When I Get Home.
Unexpected delights include Eliza Cathy on Sweet If You Like and Peter Gabriel with Washing Of The Water, each working against the usual big band swagger. The title track belongs to Suggs, who delivers a modern-day music hall song that lifts the spirits and raises a smile. And don't forget poor Kirsty MacColl, resurrected for the lusty Shutting The Doors.
Updated: 16:33 Wednesday, December 03, 2003
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