 Sandie Shaw Sandie Shaw, a Morrissey favorite who was always sort of a slightly hipper alternative to Petula Clark back in the day, released Reviewing the Situation in '69, and that probably did her no good career-wise. A collection of contemporary cover tunes you wouldn't expect (including what is said to be the first-ever Zeppelin cover, Sandie's awesome "Your Time is Gonna Come"), this set steers way clear of the Jobim/Bacharach bullshit that makes so many pop albums from that era sound so cheesy. So though it was surely a bit too bizarre for her fan base, this disc holds up as one of the hippest records you'll ever hear by an adult-contempo artist. Less campy than Lena Horne's soul, less impaired speech than on a Claudine Longet record, RTS is genuinely funky and committed, and Sandie sounds great tearing through stuff like "Sympathy For the Devil" and "Walking the Dog." She even manages to sex up "Love Me Do" and really sex up "Lay Lady Lay." Not a bad song on here, and no need for irony to enjoy it. Included as bonus tracks on the CD reissue are covers of "Frank Mills" from Hair and "Junk" (done a cappella) from Paul McCartney's first album – both are absolutely beautiful. This is such great shit that I'm gonna go take a shit myself, so I can listen to again. (?)
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Review by Cori "Coriander" Anderson