Soulful – DIONNE WARWICK***

You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling/I’m Your Puppet/People Got To Be Free/You’re All I Need To Get By/We Can Work It Out/A Hard Day’s Night/Do Right Woman Do Right Man/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long/People Get Ready/Hey Jude

For Soulful Dionne Warwick moves away from her trademark reliance on Bacharach & David songs towards R & B standards, mixed with some Beatles covers. (US:11)

"This is a cover album by Ms. Warwick on smash hits from soul music and pop. Simply one of her best albums. The opening track is the impressive You've Lost That Loving Feeling. And even the Beatles' originals Hey Jude and We Can Work It Out sound fresh and true."

"If you ever wondered how Dionne would sound singing R & B tunes during the late 60s and early 70s, this set is for you. She does a great job. These are not hardcore, gutsy soul interpretations. Rather, it is a well-balanced mix of classic soul and the laid-back elegance that Dionne is famous for. The arrangements are sufficiently different that virtually all of these familiar songs sound fresh and never stale."

"Dionne is better known for her pop hits with a touch of soul, but this late sixties release is pure soul, demonstrating her vocal power and superb interpretative skills. A real treat if you have never heard her belt it out like this. An underrated gem." "The lyrics and sounds are still so relevant. I love this record and Dionne's voice and the songs of the 60s and 70s. I really am not a fan of her pop stuff even though I realize she's got a great voice. This is how I love to hear Dionne Warwick. Song after song, every one is wonderful. I sing along and feel rejuvenated."

"If recent albums documented a move towards joyless divahood, the gospel choruses and urgent horns of Soulful act as a welcome corrective. The best songs here are the ones that fully commit to the titular style; the organ/drum groove on We Can Work It Out might not have the original's plucky grace, but it's a hell of a lot more fun. And Dionne lets loose in a steady, powerful tone that her early years just couldn't muster. Of course, given Dionne's pop star status, a certain degree of easy listening concession is expected. That doesn't make the weak drumming and underuse of horns on I'm Your Puppet any less frustrating. Still, safe soul covers are a much better fit than Broadway bluster."