LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

At just 20 years of age, Barbara Ruskin was already an industry veteran when she signed to President in 1968, having recorded for both the Parlophone label and Pye subsidiary Piccadilly. Unusually for a British girl singer at that time, Barbara also wrote most of the songs she performed and enjoyed the added prestige of seeing her compositions recorded by artists such as her Pye label mates the Foundations and US group the Vogues. Long overdue, “A Little Of This - The Barbara Ruskin Songbook” is the first compilation to present the best of both Barbara’s released and previously unissued recordings on one collectors’ orientated CD. Drawn not only from the President vaults, this anthology showcases many of her 45 rpm recordings which up until now have seen only sporadic reissue on various artists’ packages. Also featured are nine previously unreleased demo’s taped during the mid to late 60s, including collaborations with fellow President artiste Eddie Grant. As well as these are Barbara’s first Pye single, a cover of the Billy Fury classic Halfway To Paradise and her President debut 45 Pawnbroker, Pawnbroker plus the hit German language versions of Gentlemen, Please and Hey, Love together with a host of lesser-heard gems, original copies of which are highly prized amongst collectors.Bursting with rare memorabilia, photographs and recent interview excerpts, A Little Of This has been carefully researched and annotated by leading femme pop authority Mick Patrick with assistance from the artist. Superb mastering throughout, too.
Track listing:1. PAWNBROKER, PAWNBROKER2. SO LONG SAM*3. SOMEWHERE IN EDEN*4. WHERE ARE WE5. EUSTON STATION6. A LITTLE OF THIS (AND A LITTLE OF THAT)7. THE LIGHT OF LOVE8. AT TIMES LIKE THESE, MAMA9. WISHING YOUR LIFE AWAY10. ECHOES IN MY MIND*11. HALFWAY TO PARADISE12. I’M YOURS, YOU’RE MINE*13. CATS EYES*14. HIDING BEHIND A TEAR*15. INFORMATION*16. ON SOUTH STREET*17. SONG WITHOUT END18. WELL, HOW DOES IT FEEL19. YOU CAN’T BLAME A GIRL FOR TRYING20. ALMOST21. THE 24TH DAY OF JULY22. COME INTO MY ARMS AGAIN 23. NO MORE TO FALL24. THE LONELIEST WORD*25. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE26. YESTERDAY’S COFFEE27. GENTLEMEN, PLEASE (German Version)28. HEY, LOVE SO IST DIE LIEBE (German Version)• previously unissued demo recordings