DIONNE WARWICK (S4R21)

Meant To Be / I Found Someone Else

When Dionne Warwick joined Warner Brothers in 1972 after a decade with Scepter, she ended her long association with Bacharach and David and began working with the finest soul producers of the era – including Holland/Dozier/Holland, Jerry Ragovoy and Thom Bell.

These collaborations led to some of the best albums of Dionne’s career – albums for which more material was recorded than could be included. For that reason, the two incredible mid-70s tracks featured on this essential 45 stayed in the can for almost 40 years, before initially pitching up on CD in 2013.

Happily Soul 4 Real have now paired Ragovoy’s ‘Meant To Be’ and Bell’s ‘I Found Someone Else’ for their first ever vinyl release. The high quality of Dionne’s “Then Came You” and “Track Of The Cat” albums notwithstanding, it’s still astonishing that these tracks were shelved as danceable, radio-friendly soul doesn’t get any better.

Two legendary producers, one legendary singer. What’s not to love?

(Tony Rounce)