SHEFFIELD - CITY HALL - 28.05.77
(Sheffield Morning Telegraph - 30th May, 1977)
It is smug but satisfying to say: we told you so.
In December 1974, a Morning Telegraph article began: The name Barbara Dickson may not mean a great deal to many readers - but we believe it soon will. We called her a future star. On Saturday night, the songstress of hit records like Answer Me and Another Suitcase In Another Hall, arrived at Sheffield City Hall on her first major British tour to be greeted by an enthusiastic audience who clearly knew the name.
She is now moving away from her foik music roots and corning over strongly as a rock singer - her current LP, 'Morning Comes Quickly', is almost pure Nashville.
On Saturday Barbara rang the changes to show us her voice is as versatile as it is distinctive. Distinctive is also the word for the sound of Barbara's accomplished band - and let us be parochial enough to single out the spectacular drumming of Matlock-born Jeff Allen.
I can do no better than echo the words of Bob Harris, of TV's Old Grey Whistle Test, who predicted after her recent debut at the Royal Albert Mali; "There's no doubt in my mind that over the next two or three years we'll see Barbara Dickson emerging as an international star.'
Move over Streisand, here comes Dickson.
SHEFFIELD - CITY HALL - 28.05.77
(The Star - 30th May, 1977)
Barbara Dickson is a rare gem on the British music sene. She possesses a remarkably pure voice, powerful yet controlled (surely she should be called Diction!) has an ability to write tuneful songs and is a competent musician, especially on piano.
All her talents were on display on Saturday, boosted by a tight four-piece; backing band who complemented her so perfectly it's hard to understand why she bothered trekking to Nashville to cut iatest album Morning Comes Quickly.
Apart from the divine Miss D, Martin Jenner-played agile lead and steel guitar, while Pete Zorn boosted an insistent bass.
