I have to admit that I LOVED this album when it first came out in 1989. In fact, I LOVED her debut album also, Time And Tide (which is also available as a Deluxe Edition on Cherry Pop Records. London Warsaw New York: Deluxe Edition, the quite brilliant sophomore album from Basia, has now been digitally remastered and expanded due to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the album. Man, that makes me feel SO damn old!

Anyway, moving on and if you are not truly aware of her greatness, please allow me to introduce you to Basia Trzetrzelewska. The Polish singer-songwriter and record producer, better known by her stage name Basia, quickly established a successful international recording career featuring characteristically Latin-flavored jazz-pop crossover songs during the late 1980s, the early 1990s, the late 2000s, and through to the 2010s. Particularly successful here in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, she is noted for possessing a wide vocal range, approximately three octaves that span from contralto to soprano tessituras. Combine that with her singular jazz-influenced styling and multi-layered harmonies and Basia is the COMPLETE package!

And talking of complete packages, this 2CD Deluxe Edition features 34 tracks including the original 10-song album alongside 24 bonus tracks, 13 of which are previously unreleased! Basia's incredible vocals make this one of the best albums ever, but lest we forget that Danny White left Matt Bianco to help launch her solo career.

Three (3) singles were taken from this wonderful album, including the first song on the original album, 'Cruising For Bruising.' Her biggest US hit, reaching #29 on the Billboard Singles Chart, the uptempo 'Best Friends' is next, and is backed by both the vibrant ballad 'Brave New Hope,' and another of those singles, the Latin funk flow of 'Baby You're Mine.'

Along next is 'Ordinary People,' which is followed by the mid-tempo glide of 'Reward,' which in turn is backed by the stunning 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do),' an Aretha Franklin classic hit, but actually co-written by Stevie Wonder. 'Copernicus' is a monster salsa romp track complete with trumpets and flamenco guitars, and is followed by 'Not an Angel,' before the original album finishes off with 'Take Him Back Rachel.'

The bonus material on this collection features all of the Single Versions, B-Sides, Remixes, and Alternate Versions that were released during the promotion of the original album. The first of which are the Non-Album B-Sides 'Come To Heaven' and 'Masquerade,' which are followed perfectly by the solitary Single Version of 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do).' The first disc rounds out with Remixes of 'Cruising For A Bruising (Extended Mix),' 'Baby You're Mine (Berimbau Mix),' and then another 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (Phil Harding 12” Remix).'

The second disc begins with Alternate Versions of 'Baby You're Mine (Street Version),' 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (Phil Harding Remix Radio Edit),' and 'Brave New Hope (Brave New Mix).' Nearly all of the instrumental mixes have remained unreleased until now. The first of those is 'Cruising For A Bruising,' which is followed by 'Best Friends,' 'Brand New Hope,' 'Baby You're Mind,' 'Ordinary People,' 'Reward,' 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do),' 'Copenicus,' 'Not An Angel,' and then 'Take Him Back Rachel' and finally, trust me, as enough (at this juncture of constant instrumentals) is really enough, another 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (Phil Harding Remix Instrumental).'

The Deluxe Edition album of true gems is then rounded out by four (4) previously unreleased demos, unearthed from Basia’s very own archives. 'Cruising For A Bruising' is first, backed by 'Baby You're Mine,' and then the entire collection is wrapped up with 'Masquerade' and 'Now Or Never.'

The 16-page CD booklet contains comprehensive liner notes, track annotations from Basia and Danny White (both of whom were members of pop combo, Matt Bianco), written contributions from PWL mixmaster Phil Harding who mixed the album, photos, illustrated discography, lyrics and complete credits.

www.CherryRed.co.uk