Among the many recording artists who rode to fame on the Beatles' bandwagon, Cilla Black -- the singing hat-check girl at Liverpool's Cavern Club -- was truly one with enduring talent. It's hard to find anything more reminiscent of swinging '60s London than "Love of the Loved," a Paul McCartney tune and Cilla's debut single (1963). Two McCartney follow-ups, "It's for You" and "Step Inside Love," utilized Cilla's high-powered, slightly nasal delivery as the key element in a highly successful formula -- luring listeners with ...
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Among the many recording artists who rode to fame on the Beatles' bandwagon, Cilla Black -- the singing hat-check girl at Liverpool's Cavern Club -- was truly one with enduring talent. It's hard to find anything more reminiscent of swinging '60s London than "Love of the Loved," a Paul McCartney tune and Cilla's debut single (1963). Two McCartney follow-ups, "It's for You" and "Step Inside Love," utilized Cilla's high-powered, slightly nasal delivery as the key element in a highly successful formula -- luring listeners with a softly bewitching intro, then knocking 'em dead with a full-tilt chorus. A generous selection of cabaret ballads appear on this release, many of which were big hits back in Britain. Among these are the Bacharach-David tunes "Alfie," "Make It Easy on Yourself," and "What the World Needs Now Is Love," though Cilla's renditions are somehow less convincing than Dionne Warwick's. Still, if you're a fan -- for completeness' sake anyway -- this is the Cilla CD to own. ~ Stansted Montfichet, Rovi
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