The pop star, the hits collection and the lack of wardrobe

It's here. Sinitta's much anticipated hits collection. Good old Snit - her of 'appearing on the 'X-Factor' in strategically placed leaves' fame - even Simon Cowell looked embarrassed. Despite her clothes falling off, Sinitta has churned out some good pop songs over the years and for the first time the original versions (and some rare remixes) have been gathered together.

'The Hits + Collection' is a two CD affair. The first CD concentrates mainly on her 'Fanfare' single releases (although 'Cruising' is conspicuous in it's absence) and also includes some rare tracks (SAW written and produced 'How Can This Be Real Love' and 'Do You Wanna Find Out'), a couple of remixes (Pete Hammond's Hi-NRG remix of 'Body Shopping' offers a sparse alternative to original) and two new recordings 'The Day You Said Goodbye' (very Dannii Minogue) and 'Toy Boy (Reloaded)'.

The second CD features even more exciting stuff, including a great alternative remix of 'Cross My Broken Heart' (deep from the PWL vaults), the Promo 12" Mix of 'Love On A Mountain Top' complete with 'Oh La La' sample and Italo-House vibe and the brilliant original 12" of 'Body Shopping' to name but a few highlights.

All in all a well thought out collection with impressive and extensive album art and notes. Truly one for the fans. My only gripe - where is the brilliant 12" version of 'Lay Me Down Easy'?

Tracklisting as follows and available to order at amazon here:

CD 1
So Macho
Feels Like The First Time
Toy Boy
G.T.O.
Cross My Broken Heart
I Don't Believe In Miracles
Right Back Where We Started From
Love On A Mountain Top
Lay Me Down Easy
Hitchin' A Ride
Love And Affection
Shame Shame Shame
Where Did Our Love Go
How Can This Be Real Love (7" Mix)
Do You Wanna Find Out (12" Mix )
Hitchin' A Ride (PWL 7" Remix)
Body Shopping (Pete Hammond Hi-NRG Remix)
I Don't Believe In Miracles (Merlin's New Hit Mix)
Shame Shame Shame (Alternative 12" Mix)
The Day You Say Goodbye
Toy Boy (Reloaded)

CD 2
Toy Boy (The Original Mix)

G.T.O. (Modina's Red Roaring Mix)
Cross My Broken Heart (12" Euro Remix)
I Don't Believe In Miracles (Club Remix)+
Right Back Where We Started From (Left Back On The Side Mix)
Love On A Mountain Top (Promo 12" Mix)
Hitchin' A Ride (PWL Remix)
How Can This Be Real Love (12" Mix)
Body Shopping (12" Mix)
I Just Wanna Spend Some Time With You (12" Mix)
You Keep Me Hanging On (12" Mix)
The Day You Said Goodbye (Pete Hammond's Empire Strikes Back Mix)

This isn't a comeback ...

So what of Whitney's new album? Amazing comeback or damp squib? Neither really. 'I Look To You' is in pretty safe territory and lets be honest, did we expect any different? Opener 'Million Dollar Bill' is probably the bravest track on the collection. It has a pretty cool retro 70's funk/disco vibe going on and one of those 'sing along y'all ladies' choruses that 'It's Not Right But It's OK' excelled at.

The obligatory ballads are on here. We have already heard the R Kelly penned title track but the one we have been looking forward to is the Foster/Warren collaboration 'I Didn't Know My Own Strength'. Now if I didn't know my own ears, I would have thought Simon Cowell had asked Warren to pen the X-Factor/Idol winners song. I am sorry but it's a bit of a let down and doesn't deliver the greatness anticipated.

Then we have the R&B numbers. There is the pleasant 'Like I Never Left' with Akon and a couple of songs about how wonderful love is and lovers are - 'I know somebody is going to make love to this song tonight' muses Whitters on 'Worth It'. How horribly mawkish, and 'For The Lovers' only fares slightly better.

Moving swiftly on and its time to tick another box. 'Dance Whitney' pulls out all the stops on 'A Song For You'. The dramatic piano lead in, the slow to build intro climaxing in a track that frankly sounds a bit dated by modern dance standards. Not to worry though because the crossover appeal is being fully maximised here and the Freeemasons remix of 'Million Dollar Bill' and a Peter Rauhofer remix of 'I Didn't Know My Own Strength' are already in the public domain (the former is really quite good). After all Houston has to keep her gay fanbase on side too.

The albums closer 'Salute' is a winner. It's the kind of dirt we wanted her to dish on this LP and whether this survivors anthem is about her relationship breakdown with Bobby Brown or not, we are all going to assume it is.

'This isn't a comeback. I have been here for years' muses Whitters on 'Salute' and this sums the album up nicely. We expected a brave comeback album but given the circumstances this was always going to be about easing Houston back into the public consciousness and not pushing the envelope. On this count 'I Look To You' delivers - it is a well produced and nicely polished affair with a couple of moments of brilliance.

1. Million Dollar Bill - *Andy's Ace*
2. Nothin’ But Love
3. Call You Tonight
4. I Look To You
5. Like I Never Left (featuring Akon)
6. A Song For You
7. I Didn’t Know My Own Strength
8. Worth It - *Gossie's Goose*
9. For The Lovers
10. I Got You
11. Salute

Second In The Queue

I recently downloaded some Jason Dononvan tracks from his PWL back-catalogue on itunes. It's all very exciting and there is some good stuff on there, although the overall opinion is that its not quite as good as Kylie's.

Imagine the scene. It's January 1990 and Kylie and Jason rock up to the PWL studio's to get their new songs. Kylie manages to tear herself away from Michael Hutchence and is first in the queue. Stock, Lock and Barrel proudly present her with 'Better The Devil You Know'. She's delighted. It's different from her previous outings. A bit more 'down with the kids' and a bloody good pop song to boot. Kylie leaves work with a smile. She knows her career is in a good place and Michael is waiting in bed for her.

Jason Donovan turns up a bit later. He overslept apparently. Not to worry though because Stocky, Atkins Diet and Watershead still have a song up their sleeve for him. His first reaction is one of relief because it's not a cover version. Then he hears 'Hang On To Your Love'. Jason leaves work in tears. The dumper is just around the corner and there is no one waiting in bed for him.

Poor Jase. He could see what Sinitta meant now. Kylie does get all the best songs. Well not quite if these three words are anything to go by - 'Word Is Out'.

Nice Mullet!

'Stick or Twist ' - the choice is hers

What next for Kylie? La Minogue was on top form at this years 'Brits'. She looked stunning, glamorous and understated (which is more than can be said for some of the get-ups Will Baker has had her in over recent months - miaow). 2008 was also an interesting year music wise for Kylie. So much so, that she is now at a crossroads in her pop career. A good time then to ponder on what choices may lay ahead:

(1) More of the same

Another album along the lines of 'X' - i.e. a dollop of electro-pop provided by Bloodshy and Avant, a sprinkle of pop from the fair hands of Cathy Dennis, and a smidgen of 'R&B lite' for good measure. Another successful recipe for Kylie? In my mind no.

The problem with 'X' is that it sounded too prescribed. The sleeve notes may have read like a who's who's of the late 00's music industry, but the record itself sounded like a contrived mish-mash of songs, hand chosen no doubt by record company 'suits', and lacking in any really feeling from Kylie herself. The exception being 'No More Rain', which apparently Minogue had to fight tooth and nail for to make the final cut. 'X' has been Kylie's poorest performing album since she moved to Parlaphone, and I honestly believe it's because the collection lacked any direction. Sure, there was the occasional good song ('The One' being the obvious example and don't even get me started on the lack of 'proper' single release in the UK), but there was nothing to tie the whole collection together - no red thread. The public will become bored of more of the same. A new direction is needed.

(2) The 'Showtunes' album

The idea has been mooted on many a fan messageboard and indeed by the great one herself. It would involve parred down versions of standards (a la 'Over the Rainbow from the 'Showgirl' tour), or even acoustic/ballad versions of Kylie's back catalogue (the crowd pleasing swing version of 'Better the Devil', or something in the vein of the ballad versions of 'White Diamond' or 'Made in Heaven' as featured in the 'White Diamond' Documentary).

I for one would love to see such an album, as would probably much of Kylie's core fan base and gay following. However, would anyone else? The women who look up to Kylie and think her songs are catchy, the men that fancy her and secretly have 'Fever' on their iphones ('it's only for when I am at the gym, honest'). It is likely that such a concept would alienate these key demographics. So whilst the idea is a nice one for us fans, its probably not sensible in this important juncture in Kylie's career.

(3) The retro album

By retro, I am not suggesting a return to SAW. Well not completely anyway. I am talking about a good, old fashioned album with ten really cracking songs on it - not ten average, one crap and two good songs (yes I am referring to 'X' again). Production wise, there should be a small core of producers. This would give the album a consistent sound and some kind of theme that the audience gets and relates to.

The CD should be 80's inspired. Pete Hammond did some great work with Alphabeat last year, and whilst his remix of 'Boyfriend' was identical to his mix of Bananaramas 'I Can't Help It', it did sound surprisingly contemporary in context. There could be a starkness to the album. A style that is perhaps akin to Jam and Lewis' work on Janet Jacksons Control album. To bring some warmth into the mix, how about some Freestyle influence, courtesy of production from the Latin Rascals? There is a holy grail of music to be found between the trinity of PWL, Jam & Lewis, and Freestlyle; and right in the middle of these three styles is where Kyies new album could be hiding.