She Could Have Been As Big As Madonna... (Best Of - Hazel Dean)

Member Name: benlepensive

Product:	Best Of - Hazel Dean
Date:	14/08/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: some good songs

Disadvantages: leaves off some key tracks

Poor old Hazel Dean. Once a fine specimen of success in the eighties, she was part of the staple diet of Stock Aitken and Waterman and managed to conquer the charts with her fresh breezy pop music. Hazel's career nosedived when pop fell out of favour at the turn of the nineties. She occasionally pops up at Pride festivals and still does PA's at nightclubs.

Luckily, this album contains one of my faves, which is 'Searchin'. Hazel is on a quest to find a man. Her vocals are stern and severe and she sounds committed to finding the man of her dreams. The song has a strong pop aroma to it and it is pretty anthemic.

'They Say It's Gonna Rain' might sound downbeat, but the song is given an uplofting twist thanks to her commanding vocals. Hazell manages to make the song positive as she sings about being alive and surviving. Her cover of 'Aint Nothin' Like The Real Thing' is a moderate success without capturing the true soul of the original version.

'Whatever I Do' is a gem. A sterling rousing melody runs through it and Hazell empowers the track with a keen vocal. It would have been an ideal b-side for Kylie at the time.

The album disappoints in that it does not include 'Who's Leaving Who' which was one her biggest hits. It does include some lesser known songs though.'I'm Taking No Chances' and 'The Loving Fades Away' anybody? No I thought not. These are sufficient additions, but it is unfair to class this as a greatest hits when one of her best songs has been left off at the expense of some weaker tracks.

I also take issue with the dire cover artwork. A blurred picture of Hazell at a concert smacks of cheapness. Infact, there is a feeling that this album was put together in a hurry. 16 tracks will please only die hard Hazell fans

Summary: average