Reviewed by Tony Cummings

IN THE MAINSTREAM

As we observed last issue, few indeed are the pop talents whose 40 year musical journey has covered such a mind boggling variety of musical styles. These two albums from 1970 ('Sit Down Old Friend') and 1971 ('You'r Not Alone') are from the key period when the swaggering, heroin wracked pop star was replaced, by the grace of God, with a sensitive singer/songwriter and white blues singer. 'Sit Down.' has the starkest of accompaniements, Dion's acoustic, and ranges from the pretty rough - a misjudged version of Jacques Brel's "If We Only Have Love" into a moving "Let Go, Let God", a phrase Dion learnt at his time with AA. The more folk orientated 'You're Not Alone' maybe has a couple of exquisite covers - Lennon/McCartney's "Blackbird" and Melanie's "Close To It All" - while "Peaceful Place" and "Attraction Works Better Than Promotion" are fine originals with a tight little backing band. Throughout there are plenty of flashes of brilliance from a reborn musical great.