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CAN'T GIVE IT UP.

Everybody Rejoice - the album gets off to a rousing start with this fast paced song from The Wiz and it was a complete departure for Jackie to record this type of song.
This is such a "feel good" song and a perfect opener for the album.

You Make Me Feel Brand New - A hit for The Stylistics and it's always good to hear Jackie cover someone else's hit and do it the Trent way. This is perfection and the arrangement and orchestration blend in perfectly with Jackie's voice, infact the strings at times are quite symphonic.

Can't Give It Up - The track that was chosen as the single and billed as Jackie & The Majestics, from the funky piano intro this has Jackie at her soulful best. "Shout It To The Sky Hey Hey" she sings, with The Majestics chanting on the chorus. Absolutely brilliant!

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life/Then Came You - The pairing of a Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick hit works so well. A very quiet opening with Jackie singing gently in a higher voice than usual - midway through the song the funky piano returns with swirling strings and Jackie glides into Then Came You. The ending of this is very cleverly done as Jackie reprises "Sunshine" before the orchestra comes back with some equaully funky guitar work and as the songs fades she is singing lines from both songs.

Didn't I Say I Love You - Another great ballad this time from Jackie's pen. A quiet opener which builds to a great finale with chanting chorus answering Jackie with "Didn't I"

My Love -We all know this from Petula as a big thumping production but Jackie likes to do songs her way and she has slowed this right down to a ballad sung very gently which works so well. Just listen to the ending -sheer bliss!

I Honestly Love You - Jackie Trent sings Olivia Newton-John, a song written by Peter Allen & Jeff Barry. Jackie sings this with such sincerity that you believe she honestly loves you, infact Jackie's voice really lends itself to this song

Purely By Coincidence - A hit for the Trent/Hatch proteges Sweet Sensation and written by Des Parton, Jackie takes this at a gentle pace in a slow breathy voice and manages to sound completely different. Listen out for her whispering "Nice One Des" at the end.

From The Inside - I have only heard Jackie's version of this song and it's fantastic, however reading the sleeve notes I see it belongs to Marcia Hines. "Go On Girl You Can Do It" Jackie sings and can she ever.

If You Believe - Another song from The WIz, a ballad this time features a strong dramatic performance with Jackie pleading "If You Believe In Yourself As I Believe in You!

Just A Little Piece Of You - Written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta, we have a lush ballad with plenty "Sha La La's" and "Oh Yeah's", this songs glides along effortlessly and closed the original vinyl album.

There are six bonus tracks on this cd which I won't review as they were not part of the original album.

This album was first released in 1975 and infact was Jackie's last solo album for over thirty years. In between we had an album or two where she shared the mike with Tony Hatch.

Jackie has recorded many great albums over the years but Can't Give It Up was a complete departure from her usual big band style and actually it remains one of my all time favourite JT albums. When Paul Howes spoke of releasing one of Jackie's albums some years ago I pleaded with him to let it be this one so I'd like to think I was partly responsible. It got my name on the cd inlay anyway!!!!

I have a long time friend in the States who got to know Jackie's music from me. I never forgot the comment he made on hearing this album and I quote "If Jackie Ever Releases An Album In The States It Has To be This One". Praise indeed!