Sandie Shaw
Reviewing the Situation - Pye 1969
Tracks: 1. Reveiwing The Situation / 2. Lay Lady Lay / 3. Mama Roux / 4. Sun In My Eyes / 5. Walking The Dog / 6. Love Me Do / 7. Oh Gosh / 8. Your Time Is Gonna Come / 9. Coconut Grove / 10. Sympathy For The Devil / 11. Think It All Over / 12. Sed Me A Letter Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now / 13. So Many Things To Do / 14. By Tomorrow / 15. Maple Village / 16. Wight Is Wight / 17. That's The Way He's made / 18. Rose Garden / 19. Maybe I'm Amazed / 20. Frank Mills* / 21. Junk*
Comments:
"Reviewing the Situation" was Sandie Shaw's last album released in the sixties. More than a decade would go before she, in 1982, released her next album, "Choose Life". "Reviewing the Situation" was Shaw's most ambitious album release so far, and also an attempt to escape the teenage pop-girl image. The sleeve notes tell that the album was partly recorded in secrecy as her managee would hardly have approved Shaw's attempt at changing her image.
Sandie Shaw produced herself, and the songs are a selection of her personal favorites, ranging really wide. Along with her highly competent band, she offers fine versions of songs that in most cases will be well-known in their original versions.
Not all ten tracks on the album come out quite convincingly, but in most cases Shaw manages to give the songs something new and interesting. Among the very best to find a great version of Led Zeppelin's "Your Time is Gonna Come" - great both vocally and instrumentally. Her version of the old "Walking the Dog" is probably the best version I have heard so far - I actually never thought very much of the song. Sandie’s version is very soulful. Also good versions of "Coconut Grove" (Lovin Spoonful), Donovan’s "Oh Gosh" and "Mama Roux" (Dr. John). Actually, only "Sympathy for the Devil" falls short for me - it simply fails to convince.
On this edition 10 bonus tracks are added. The first two are very simply arranged versions "Frank Mills" (from Hair) and Paul McCartney's "Junk". Both convincingly performed - especially "Frank Mills" is a gem.
Three singles from the period are also found - all three disappointed in the charts. The best of the three I find "Wight is Wight" which could have deserved greater recognition - but time was running out for that type of musical arrangements - in fact more or less what Shaw pointed out with "Reviewing the Situation".
A few reputable B-sides of Chris Andrews, who used to pen Shaw’s A-sides and several big hits. The last two bonus tracks are outtakes from the recording of the album - "Fool on the Hill", should have been included - eg. instead of "Sympathy for the Devil".
A fine album from one of the most characteristic female voices in England in the 1960s.
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