10.3.12

"Straighten up and fly right": Helen Shapiro


Shapiro's voice basically never changed from those early 1960s days - she is still deep voiced wonder of the nature with very expressive instrument that only got better with years and it's a revelation to hear that voice singing not simple children's ditties like "Walking back to happiness" but some serious jazz colored material like "Cry me a river" or Cole Porter/Nat Cole/Irving Berlin songbook.


This being 1983. arrangements are heavy on synthesizers (fashion of the time, remember?) that might sound thin to today's listeners but I guess it was right back than and it does brings ancient material little up-to-date , though one could also point that this kind of classy repertoire perhaps don't need updating gimmick, the music and lyrics are written in stone as immortal classics. It is interesting to see how much Shapiro has moved from her early pop days to this 1980s jazz incarnation - she could definitely earn more had she stayed in pop arena,so this is a labour of love. The whole album is nicely swinging, synth jazz collection with hand picked highlight after highlight ("You go to my head", "Serenade in blue") and if you ever wondered whatever happened to Helen Shapiro after that first, initial early 1960s burst of glory, here is the answer - she grew up and turned her attention to jazz, that chocolate voice as good as ever,if not even better.

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