Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

In 1979 Australian singer/songwriter Karen Beckett saw Evie in concert and decided that she wanted to make an album. In the opening title tune, she sings. "I've been spending all my lifetime waiting for the right time." Well. 18 years have passed and here it is! This Peter Beveridge production is a jazz tinged mixture of contemporary songs and some more traditional worship tunes. Lightly flavoured, Karen has put together something a little peppier than straight forward MOR although there are moments where you know the more, ahem, mature amongst us will enjoy this. In particular. Karen's version of "The Lord's Prayer" and that old chestnut "Amazing Grace" are very pleasant but it's all been done before. Elsewhere her presentation of Cliff's "Where You Are" is sufficiently distinctive to not be instantly recognisable! Geoff Bullock contributes a couple of songs and all in all, there is some good quality stuff. Where she really excels is on the title track or the very powerful "Street Kids", both penned by the lady herself. On the latter Karen enters the poppier side of Cher territory! I'm left with a burning question: why do covers, Karen, when you can write so well? Hope we won't have to wait until 2015 to find out the answer to that!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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