Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Bonnie Tyler, earMUSIC/Edel 2019.
Between The Earth And The Stars is Bonnie Tyler’s 17th studio album and it is her best work for a long time.
The album is a wonderful return to form for the singer known for her raspy, genre defining, voice who is best known for hits like Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Holding Out For A Hero and Faster Than The Speed Of Night.
Between The Earth And The Stars features collaborations with some of her fellow musical legends including Francis Rossi on If Someone’s Rockin’ Your Heart, and three Knights of The Realm with Sir Rod Stewart duetting on Battle Of The Sexes, Sir Cliff Richard on Taking Control, and Sir Barry Gibb who penned Moon And Back.
In addition, three tracks have been specifically written for her by Amy Wadge, who wrote the mega-hit Thinking Out Loud with Ed Sheeran.
Between The Earth And The Stars was produced by David Mackay, who produced Bonnie’s first two albums.
The opening track, Hold On, was written by Kevin Dunne who was her bass player throughout the 1970s so it seems that she’s made a conscious decision to return to people and processes that worked for her in her early years.
The album marks 50 years of performing and Bonnie was determined to deliver something special.
I believe that she has achieved her aim.
All the new songs are good and the duets are great.
Bonnie’s career began in 1976 but she started singing in 1969. She worked six nights a week for seven years before she was discovered by a talent scout named Roger Bell.
Since then she’s performed all over the world and as this album attests she is sounding as good as ever.
I often approach albums like these with some trepidation but I can assure you that I needn’t have been concerned.
This album is really good.
