Here we have yet another collection. A great start for anyone interested in Sheena Easton. This time the CD is remastered. This brings new life to some of the details missed in previous collections. Unfortunately the CD is missing the actual last hit for Sheena on EMI "Eternity" a prince penned song.This set has a nice biography section with chart positions. Today's female vocalists could learn a thing or two from this ballad princess who doesn't have to go up and down the scales fifty times to show emotion. Just listen to "When He Shines" or "Almost Over You" and the great "You Could Have Been With Me". This song has a great build and gives Mariah Carey a run for her money. Included is Sheena's US debut single "Morning Train" all the way through the funky "Do It For Love". Check out a voice that is sorely missed in todays pop world. If you like this CD and would like to follow up on Sheena in the 90's try the CD "My Cherie". Pure pop at its best.

I saw Sheena Easton in concert years ago, and these are the songs that became hits for her. Nothing missing.

Years ago I was reading

and they did a much better job at describing Sheena Easton's appeal than I ever could. Describing her as someone who taught herself to sing without her thick brough by singing along to imported Motown songs,it was still rather amazing that this pretty and short stature'd Scottish lady would even be reading a book about R&B let alone be included in one. Still Easton grew up during the 60's,a time when pop music was anything but generic. It was a world where the British Invasion,American folk/rock Motown and Stax/Southern Soul were all massively popular and influential all at the same time. Making her recorded debut just as the 80's got started Easton certainly put her mark on some of the most finely crafted and diverse examples of popular song of the day.

"Morning Train (Nine To Five)",probably her best known song,begins the set. It introduced the soulful power of Easton's voice with a bubbly,mildly electronic variation on the classic R&B/girl group sound. "Modern Girl" has a pointed feminist angle on a striking disco/dance groove. Of course there is "For Your Eyes Only","When He Shines","You Could Have Been With Me","Almost Over You" and "We've Got Tonight",the latter recorded with Kenny Rogers. These showcase her being nudged in the direction of a pop balladeer in a similar vein to Olivia Newton John. Her passionate takes on this rather expansive melodies make them all work pretty well and they are among her best songs for sure.

"Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair" reflects an electronic/new wave dance flavor and on the hard grooving funk of "Strut",Prince's infamous "Sugar Walls" and "Do It For Love" Sheena is going where her natural vocal talents take her: into upbeat,melodic contemporary mid 80's funk/R&B directions. For a greatest hits album containing only a dozen songs,the breadth and scope of the material included make me interested in exploring deeper into her full length projects. Seems however that they are not incredibly easy to find. In the end,Sheena Easton started as more of a singles artist anyway. She did develop and grow quite a lot with time. To the point of recording such full on funky soul albums such as

,which I'd also highly recommend to hear along with this. Especially as there'll be no song duplication. Overall,excellent compilation here.