Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Obscure fact time! In 1981 during my holiday from university, I organised Bonnie Bramlett's first UK gospel tour! Sadly she pulled out after the Greenbelt performance. In the late '60s and early '70s with her husband Delaney Bramlett she fronted an exciting rock'n'soul band and friends Eric Clapton and George Harrison were regular band members when they toured. Blessed with a distinctive blue-eyed soul voice, these days you're more likely to see her acting on American TV than singing but she releases occasional albums and here's the latest. 'I Can Laugh About It Now' reveals her supreme skill as a song interpreter. Highlights include a bluesy version of Stephen Stills' "Love The One Your With" and an emotive reading of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come". Slowing things down, she draws on the past struggles of her own life to pour plenty of emotion into the classic ballad "Love Hurts". At the other end of the scale she slows down and re-works Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place To Go" to give it a sassy feel. The backing band seem the perfect vehicle to give this album a live feel and I'd love to be in a late night club watching her performing this set. It all leaves me wondering what kind of gospel set she might record, if given the opportunity. Now THAT would be something worth hearing!

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