Dee Coding Shakespeare

Having a famous sibling isn't always an asset in your musical career, as Chris Jagger and Simon Townshend can tell you, and like those gentleman, Dee Dee Warwick never managed to achieve the sort of commercial success her sister Dionne enjoyed. Dee Dee's recordings make it clear that vocal talent ran in the Warwick family, as she was a splendid singer, but while there was a certain resemblance between their voices,

"Loving and Free" is the 3rd album by English singer Kiki Dee released in 1973 on The Rocket Record Company label. It was recorded at the AIR Studios and Nova Studios in London between April 28 and June 22, 1973. "Loving and Free" has masterful production by Elton John and Clive Franks, and if anything, it is as lovingly produced as it is performed. One of four strong Kiki Dee originals is the title track, which opens up this soulful album, reflected so beautifully in the cover photo of young Dee on a bicycle with flowers in a field. It's reminiscent of Lesley Duncan's "Love Song," and lo and behold, Duncan shows up on backing vocals on the very next song, "If It Rains." Elton John plays keyboards on seven of the ten tracks, including the short gospel piece "If It Rains," written by Dee, and the Bernie Taupin/Elton John number "Lonnie and Josie."

There was a two-year gap between the release of the s/t "Kiki Dee" album in 1977 and 1979's "Stay With Me". The latter however proved that Kiki had lost none of her unique and powerful vocal range, and featured nine songs that underlined the considerable experiences that she had gone through in the preceding six years.

Kiki Dee looks young and innocent on this Tamla recording, and her voice is beautiful as she covers some classic Motown here an up-tempo "I Second That Emotion," a unique "For Once in My Life." The late Jimmy Miller said that Dee and Dusty Springfield were good friends. Dee covers Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," and it is excellent, but what is more intriguing is how much she sounds like Dusty Springfield on the lesser-known "Johnny Raven." Tackling "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" without the duet that Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's version enjoyed is commendable the Motown sound making a transition to showcase a white soul singer works. "Jimmy" is haunting, and displays the power and subtlety absent in her two big hit recordings for and with Elton John a few years later.

"Perfect Timing" is a 1981 album by British singer Kiki Dee. The album marked a brief comeback for the singer, led by the top 20 single "Star". It was her only album on Ariola Records and reached #47 on the UK album charts. The title track was also released, peaking at #66. Two further singles were released; "Midnight Flyer" and "Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever" (a duet with Elton John). The album was produced by Pip Williams. The album was re-released in 2008 on Compact disc with four bonus tracks.

Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri's 'The Long Ride Home', released in April 2022. In 1970 Kiki Dee was the first British artist to sign to Motown Records and subsequently to Elton John's Rocket Records where she had many hits including the international number one 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' with Elton John in 1976. In the 2000's Kiki teamed up with virtuoso guitarist Carmelo Luggeri and they have been writing, recording and performing sell out shows ever since.

Making its first ever appearance some three decades after being recorded, Kiki Dee's "Cage The Songbird" album was made during the period of Kiki's recording career when she was enjoying phenomenal pop chart success around the world, via her duet with Elton John of “Don't Go Breaking My Heart” and shortly after the break up of the Kiki Dee Band. The "Cage The Songbird" album, unreleased for so many years, serves as an intriguing bridge between Kiki's 1973-1975 recording output for Rocket Records, and her subsequent solo recordings.