Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The story of Jeanette Jones was, in the '60s, replicated thousands of times. Countless gospel singers from churches all across America were asked by record labels large and small to record soul music. Such is the nature of the music industry that only a tiny percentage of these would become soul stars or find any kind of fame or fortune. Jeanette, from San Francisco, never got the hit record she dreamed about (which makes the title of this beautifully compiled retrospective somewhat ironic). What the singer did achieve though was make a series of captivating recordings and they are presented here, together with some unissued tracks, on a handsomely designed vinyl release. 'Dreams All Come True' is a service to all music fans who've grasped that talent doesn't necessarily bring success in the crazy world of showbiz. And make no mistake about it, Jeanette had singing talent in abundance, described in the sleevenotes as "a full-blooded voice overflowing with unbridled emotion [where] the passion leaps from the grooves." It was Leo Kulka, owner and operator of San Francisco's Golden State Recorders, who noticed Jeanette after she sang a solo on a recording by a local 60-member choir, Voices Of Victory. Leo subsequently had a hard job persuading Jeanette to cross over to soul/R&B as sadly in that era many black churches looked upon soul and pop as the devil's music. Jeanette's first demos weren't that great but by the time she was recording tracks like the powerful pop soul "Break Someone Else's Heart" she was sounding better and better. "Darling, I'm Standing By You" is described in the sleevenotes as "a bold, brassy waltz with the singer testifying for all she was worth." Yet despite releases on Kulka's Gold Soul label and the Bihari Brothers' Kent Records the track never sold. Jeanette continued to make occasional recordings and a music publisher's demo offered the strutting funk of "You'd Be Good For Me" and the heart-torn deep soul ballad "What Have You Got To Gain By Losing Me" proving that here was a singer of huge emotional impact. Jeanette recorded tracks every bit is good as the soul hits of the day. Here's the proof.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.