Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
The unexpected treasure trove unearthed is more valuable to the finder than the understanding that there was always a map filled with detail and a full manifest attached to the story passed down in full regaled explanation.
For the fans of one of the U.K.s much loved survivors and stars of the ever changing music business, the chance to revel again in a new box set that celebrates her work during a certain period is one of undeniable pleasure and intriguing possibilities for the heart to follow, and for the soul to feel the strength that emanates from Kike Dee as third in the in depth look into her career continues with the impressive The Ariola And EMI Years.
In today’s world it is possible to believe that not much stays lost, old recordings surface from the ether, albums that were shelved, tucked away from the listener’s appreciation for fear by studios and producers alike that perhaps a particular session was not to the standard demanded, or even found to be under-par by the artist themselves; and so to finally have the previously unreleased in physical format missing album Two Sides To Every Story standing tall and surrounded by the albums Perfect Timing and Angel Eyes, and a disc full of bonus tracks and singles, is one for the fan and purist alike.
It is an inclusion that does not disappoint, and like the previous release of The Rocket Years, the dedication shown in the production of the box set is one to aurally salivate over, the appreciation never ending, and from the initial moment of introduction in the phenomenal hit Star, the scene is set for a period in the armchair in the company of one of Britain’s most complete and enduring performers and vocalists.
It is though in the inclusion of Two Sides To Every Story that sets the scene for the listener, an album shrouded, dare it be said, in almost mystery for many and yet to a modern understanding its beauty is unmistakable, it is a warmth found and patiently observant; something that had been denied to many and which is in itself a sadness now righted.
The Ariola And EMI Years is an important addition to the Kik Dee discography, it is a fascination, a solemn beauty filled with grace and epic opportunity. As the opening track of Perfect Timing suggest, this is a box set delivered by a true star.
Ian D. Hall