Anytime ... Anywhere / Love Me Again

For the first time on one CD, Raven presents two superb albums from one of the finest singers of the 1970s - RITA COOLIDGE. Anytime ... Anywhere (1977) and Love Me Again (1978) feature the pure sounds of laid-back West Coast music mixed with a soulfulness that marks them as polished, quality productions. The Platinum-selling Anytime ... Anywhere sold over a million copies on the strength of three major hit singles - Rita's covers of Jackie Wilson's 'Higher and Higher' (US #2, UK #48), Boz Scaggs' 'We're All Alone' (US #7, UK #6) and the Temptations' 'The Way You Do the Things You Do' (US #20). The renowned Coolidge stamp of soulful warmth is also predominant on superb covers of Danny Whitten's 'I Don't Want to Talk about It' and the Bee Gees' 'Words'. Love Me Again continues where Anytime ... Anywhere left off. Coolidge moulds every song into a confident, velvet template - 'You', 'Slow Dancer', 'Sweet Inspiration' and 'Love Me Again' flow and meander like a pristine stream. Another highlight is her cover of Christine McVie's 'Songbird', one of the most romantic ballads of all time. Produced by Booker T. Jones and David Anderle and featuring crack session musicians (Mike Utley, Sammy Creason, Leland Sklar, Dean Parks, Jerry McGee) and stunning backing vocalists (Kim Carnes, Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields) these beautifully produced albums (at US #6/UK #6 and US #32/UK #51, the highest charting of her career) combine sophistication, flow and a sensual tone to make a completely satisfying whole. Great value! Raven. 2008.