Kiki Dee — Great Expectations .

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.

This 1987 release is absolutely one of Kiki's very best albums. She makes a welcome return back to doing rock songs, but it also has other influences as well. Definitely a touch of alternative modern rock on songs like "I'll Build A Tower Over You" (with an uncredited Daryl Hall featured), "Pay", "We Cry On", and the hard edged "Knowing You Like I Do". But that's not all as there are some superior ballads like "Stay Close To Me" and "Angel Eyes" - both dreamy, perfect pop ballads produced magnificently by Patrick Seymour. And Dave Stewart of Eurythmics produced "Another Day Comes (Another Day Goes)", an uptempo modern rock song with a gospel choir & horns! How this album missed being a hit is puzzling, but then it was never released in the US either. Finally, EMI has corrected the situation with reissuing this Kiki classic that you have got to hear.