BARBARA DICKSON - STOCKPORT PLAZA 11.02.07
(Folk Connections - February, 2007)
Barbara Dickson seems to me to be one of those artists you know has been around for years but ask you to name a song of hers and you'll probably go 'hmm', scratch your head and then say 'Oh er, um ... didn't she do that one with Elaine Paige?' or, worse still, in my case, 'that one with Elaine Paige that Harry Hill did with Stouffer the Cat'!!!
I exaggerate a little - I do remember very clearly songs like 'Answer Me', 'January, February' and 'Another Suitcase In Another Hall'. I also knew that she started her career as a folk singer and that she and Billy Connolly used to pass each other on railway station platforms as they travelled up and down the UK on separate tours of folk clubs.
I also knew that she'd been in stage shows 'John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert' and 'Blood Brothers', as well as 'Chess' and 'Evita' but sadly when she did 'I Know Him So Well' on Sunday, naughty Harry Hill kept flinging himself (and Stouffer the Cat!) into the forefront of my consciousness! I can only hope she didn't see me stifling my giggles in my 7th row (return ticket) seat!
So, if even I know more about her than a lot of people seem to, why is she not more famous than she is? More importantly, why is she not more successful than she is?
Perhaps she is just one of those artists that is just really good at what she does, whatever she does, and just keeps a steady career going without any outrageous scandals or dramatic peaks and troughs of fortune. The Press must hate her! But what does she care? Clearly her audience loves her and rightly so. When you're that good, perhaps you can just afford to be understated.
Her set on Sunday was really lovely and included several Beatles covers, including 'If I Needed Someone', 'Here Comes The Sun' and 'Across the Universe', which she rightly reminded us were all written by George Harrison (another understated talent, it has to be said), two Bob Dylan covers,
'Don't Think Twice, It's Alright' and 'Blowin' in the Wind' and most of her better known songs, not least 'I Know Him So Well', which was in fact No. 1 for 4 weeks in the UK in 1985 and, actually, once I'd managed to shift Harry and Stouffer to the back burner of my mind long enough to allow me to hear HER singing it, I enjoyed it for the beautiful song it is, beautifully sung as ever.
Her set also included some traditional folk songs, my favourite of which was 'The Great Silkie' of which I've only ever heard the Trees version, all beautifully arranged and played by her extraordinary band including, not least, Pete Zorn, who I first knew about from an obscure 1970s US band, Fishbaugh, Fishbaugh and Zorn (F, F & Zee to you!) but who I now realise I have also seen touring with Richard Thompson, Blue Tapestry, Joan Armatrading etc etc.
They were all top class musicians and, together with Barbara Dickson's beautiful voice, extraordinary ability as an interpreter of songs and genuinely lovely stage presence, they ensured a delightful evening's entertainment.
Harry Hill, you've a lot to answer for! Barbara Dickson, I hope you'll forgive me!
