The relaunching of Dusty continues on the same satin-finished L.A. freeway. It's the same trip as last year's It Begin's Again except this time there's more variety, more economy and a couple of possible hit singles.

I shudder to think what the going rate is for first crack at recording a Barry Gibb song but it's been paid for, so "Save Me, Save Me" (definitely not in the same class as say "Tragedy") gives Dusty free reign to strain her upper register to a disco beat.

Dusty's best songs have always been plaintive heart wrenchers or smokey grinders (like "Son Of A Preacher Man"). She seems unable or unwilling to record any of the former but the inclusion of "You've Really Got A Hold Of Me" shows her in firm control over the latter.

Her new love is that clutch of American singer/songwriters like Carole Bayer Sager and Melissa Manchester. "I'm Coming Home Again" is the best offering from that bunch. The lyrics are fine, it's just the toons that drag badly. Another case of more laid out than laid back.

Curiousity of the album - though it's murder trying to catch the words - is "Closet Man". Strung over a Weather Report styled indigo backing, Dusty addresses, dare I say it, a large contingent of her fans thus: "And the ring that I once gave you, you're now wearing in your ear, but your secret's safe with me, my dear." Oh yeah?

What is no secret, however, is that Dusty sounds incredibly world weary. And I suspect that until she makes an album in Britain again or chooses songs with a life of their own, her stock will continue to fall. I would like to be proved wrong about this, but present prospects look decidedly dusty.

John Wishart
Record Mirror, April 21, 1979