Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Being an old chap myself, it is not often one gets to review an album by a singer who can give me a decade. But here the 83 year old, Coventry-based Irish singer Carmel shows that she still has considerable vocal strength. This album is a value-for-money 22-track compilation and features several songs from her surprise niche market hit album 'He'll Be There' plus some songs from her subsequent 'The Sunshine Of Your Smile' and 'Colour Of His Love'. Newer fans of Carmel's country-tinged vocalising will be drawn to the seven new recordings here and although I don't particularly care for her rather soporific renditions of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and "Galway Bay" I have to admit I was touched by her version of "Mo Guile Mear". Sung entirely in Gaelic, this lovely song is, for me, the best track here. One can't help but admire Carmel's indomitable spirit.

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