Randy Crawford

Randy Crawford is perhaps still best known for her epic hit One Day I'll Fly Away, which scored a #2 chart position back in 1980, but there are more intriguing facts about the US singing sensation that are worth noting. For example, back in 1982 having enjoyed a long string of hit singles in the upper echelons of the charts, Crawford somehow managed to walk away with the Best British Female accolade at the Brits Awards. However, the strange twists and turns of a recording career that was launched by the double A-side Knock On Wood / If You Say The Word in 1972 are not the primary focus today, but rather the repackaged bumper release of 1995's Naked And True.

Naked And True was the first release after a hugely successful partnershop with Warner Bros. had come to and end. Having record 11 albums for the label over a 17 year period, starting with 1976's Everything Must Change and ending with 1993's aptly titled Don't Say It's Over, the label considered Crawford's star to be burnt out. However, having enjoyed phenomenal acclaim across Europe, WEA stepped in and decided to relaunch her recording career with a Ralf Droesmeyer produced collection.

Although WEA believed in their star signing, some might have perceived the covers concept album as playing it safe in the career of a highly regarded vocalist. Yet anyone who has heard the collection will be more than aware that Crawford is an artist who can cut a cover and take ownership from the original artist without any effort.

As the collection's lead single, the cover of Patrice Rushen's Forget Me Nots is effortlessly one of the stand out moments on an 11 track release that covers everything from What A Difference A Day Makes to Give Me The Night. However, it is the closing reworking of Aretha Franklin's All The King's Horses and a truly compelling rendition of Simply Red's Holding Back The Years that raise the the original 11 track set to unforgettable status.

While the original album may have been often overlooked, the reissue arrives with a bonus CD containing an impressive 14 extra tracks. While the instrumentals and radio cuts are worthy additions to this retrospective collections, it is with two remixes of Give Me The Night (the Chill Night Mix and Mousse T mix) that show the really versatility and appeal of the distinctive vocalist.