Oftentimes, U.K. chart success does not necessarily mean stateside success, as is evident with artists such as
Kylie Minogue
,
Cliff Richard
Simply Red
Robbie Williams
, and, in this case, the warm-voiced, anti-diva
British soul
/
pop
singer/songwriter
Gabrielle
, the recipient of 1997's Brit Award for Best British Female Vocalist.
scored with an amazing run of hits in Europe, but only one true hit in the U.S. with
"Dreams."
All of her charted singles are assembled on
Dreams Can Come True: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
, a fantastic collection of truly timeless, fad-free music -- upbeat, positive songs which could have been hits 30 years before this album's release and will sound just as good 30 years later. Included is her signature hit,
"Dreams,"
and her other U.K. chart-topper, 2000's feel-good anthem
"Rise."
All of her Top Ten U.K. hits are represented, including the nostalgic,
Motown
-tinged
"Going Nowhere"
and
"When a Woman,"
the
Burt Bacharach-ish
"Give Me a Little More Time,"
ballad
duet with
East 17
"If You Ever"
(originally a massive stateside hit for '90s American vocal quartet
Shai
), her stellar remake of
Dionne Warwick
's
"Walk on By,"
and the funky
"Sunshine."
Another standout is the gorgeous melancholy
"Should I Stay,"
which wasn't as big a hit as the aforementioned singles. Three new songs are thrown into the mix, those being the lovely
"Out of Reach"
(from the film
Bridget Jones' Diary
), the single
"Don't Need the Sun to Shine,"
and the
"If I Walked Away."
Buyers beware, however, because certain pressings of this album do not include
"Walk on By"
soul
-lite of
"I Wish,"
which was actually a minor U.S. hit (and her follow-up to
"Dreams"
). From start to finish,
Dreams Can Come True
is a completely accurate representation of
's successful career, and truly brings to light just how much great music the U.S.A. has been missing out on. ~ Jose F. Promis