Take note: 1964 is the peak of British Invasion, British artists are crossing Atlantic, topping the hit charts and amongst the strongest homegrown talents - still viable, strong, successful and unshaken is no other but 24 years old Dionne Warwick. In fact, Warwick had such a strong succession of big hits (written by Burt Bacharach) that her influence went the other way - British girls were covering her songs note by note.
Lyrics are interesting as reflection of what was accepted at the time - most of them are melodramatic and a bit masochistic (she is "getting ready for the heartbreak" and if he doesn't phone her, she's gonna die right now this minute) but interestingly enough, Warwick somehow manages to still sound defiant, proud and unbroken - that was one of her main characteristics, no matter what lyrics they threw at her, she was still class act. Bacharach songs are always a highlight but there are some fine additions like "Getting Ready For The Heartbreak" (previously recorded by Chuck Jackson), "Oh Lord What Are You Doing To Me" (Tommy Hunt) or Pomus-Shuman lilting little number where singer name checks her sister Dee Dee Warwick ("Shall I Tell Her"). Because some of the material overlaps with previously released debut "Presenting Dionne Warwick" the impression is that Scepter rushed with this sequel and in fact there will be another, superior LP coming in the very same year and this was obviously big time for Warwick who would soon be at the top of the world.
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