Return of the soul sister
Dee C Lee Just Something
She sang backing vocals for Wham! and the Style Council before notching up a self-penned Top 3 hit of her own with 1985’s Save The Day.
Now London born soul star Dee is back with her first album since 1998’s Smiles, and clearly relishing every minute.
The vibe is mellow and carefree as she breezes through 11 exquisite tracks backed by Brand New Heavies’ guitarist Simon Bartholomew, ex James Taylor Quartet bassist Gary Crockett and guitarist Nigel Price.
Walk Away, co-written by Dee with fellow ex-style Councillor Mick Talbot, washes in on a relaxed melodic wave of retromotown.
Joyous opener Back In Time is funky, nostalgic R&B celebrating “music on 45s” when “dancin’ made you feel alive”.
Jazzy soul tracks like Don’t Forget About Love have a timeless quality.
Dee, born Diane Catherine Sealy, still sounds terrific. Her voice has deepened over the years, becoming even more textured and luxurious.
She tackles 70s-style funk, 80s soul, and supplies buckets of old-fashioned optimism, not least on Anything, penned with Paul Barry (who co-wrote Cher’s Believe). There are two 70s covers, the classy closer I Love You and Renee Geyer’s soul masterpiece Be There In The Morning.
The oldest original number is 1998’s For Once In My Life which is confident, funky, and instantly catchy. The odd songs out are the sultry ballad Mountains, and Trojan Horse, her second collaboration with Talbot, aimed at a cheating love rat.
“Goodbye you Trojan horse-ass friend,” sings Dee, her controlled rage contrasting with sumptuous keyboards.
She quit music to raise a family and Leah Weller, her daughter with former husband Paul, contributes the relatively sombre love song Everyday Summer.
Dee, please don’t go away again.