a place where nobody dared to go

Let me be clear about something. I have been a fan of Texas since the beginning. The moment I heard "I Don't Want A Lover", I knew they were special. It was 1989. That single was everything I loved about pop music at the time. Nearly everything from that era is timeless. Still sounds great.

I followed Texas through their subsequent fall from favor. The UK chart didn't hold Texas close to its heart. Thank goodness for the French. For whatever reason, Texas was able to continue to release album after album because they sold incredibly well in France.

Then came their renaissance. They pushed the bird to the front. Remember, "Blondie is a group." didn't do Debbie Harry and co and favors. I still have the badge.

So Sharleen Spiteri hired a hair stylist and got her sexy on. Voilà! "White On Blonde" sold bucketloads all around the world. Everywhere except the US, that is. It certainly helped to have an amazing album on their hands. A lovely mix of Motown and Northern Soul with shades of Blondie and The Pretenders all the while Sharleen cooing through some of the best pop tunes of Texas' 20 year career. A real high water mark. Success at last.

Texas brought back that retro vibe long before Amy Winehouse made it fashionable (again). It was only a matter of time before Sharl put out a solo album. With a little time on her hands she crafted "Melody" and released it in 2008. It's a glorious album that deserved much more attention that it received. It really should have been a Texas album. It was always going to be tough following it up. She couldn't deliver more of the same. She couldn't go down the electro route with anything resembling credibility.

Unfortunately, we're about to get "The Movie Songbook". Eeek! It must be one of the most ill-advised moves in pop history. Trite doesn't begin to describe it. Apparently, her label reached out to Sharl's mighty fanbase and asked them what kind of album they want from her. Lesson number one in rock n' roll. Never ask your fans for advice. NEVER! Always go with your creative gut feeling.

So, Sharleen is gonna have a bit of a faff about with some movie tunes. Oh dear. I love her and Texas to bits. But this is just all kinds of wrong. Karaoke wrong! It was produced by legendary knob twiddler, Phil Ramone, in eight days at Capitol Studios in LA, man.

The tracklisting for "The Movie Songbook" is as follows:

1. Xanadu
2. If I Can't Have You
3. God Bless The Child
4. Between The Bars
5. The Sound Of Silence
6. What's New Pussycat?
7. The Windmills Of Your Mind
8. Take Me With You
9. Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
10. Many Rivers To Cross
11. O' Pretty Woman

Sharleen's movie madness has been documented in the video she recently shot for "Xanadu" which features many bits and bobs from the time she spent inside Capitol Studios. It's a magnificent and magical place. I've worked there a number of times and am always in awe of it's tremendous history.



Here's proof of Sharleen's slide into boredom. Recently, she performed two songs from her forthcoming longplayer - "Take My Breath Away" and the aforementioned, "Xanadu" - on "The Graham Norton Show".





It sounds perfectly nice. As much as I want to like it, the whole thing hits me like a tasteless, glazed donut. Why would anyone want to hear anything other than Olivia Newton-John's original recording of "Xanadu" with the incandescent backing of the Electric Light Orchestra? Do we need ANOTHER cover of the nail that sealed Berlin's coffin? It was amazing and unexpected when they released it. There was a reason they couldn't follow it up.

"The Movie Songbook" seems completely useless. It pains me to say that. Even the title is awful. It's almost like a Nana Mouskouri album. If you're so inclined, you'll be available to plonk your cash down for it in all fine "shops" on March 1.

Apparently, Sharleen is working on a new Texas album as we speak. She'll need to reedem herself after this little excursion.