P J Powers
There Is An Answer

Tracks:

1. All We Need (Is Here in Africa) (P.J. Powers) (5:29)
2. There is an Answer (P.J. Powers) (7:50)
3. All We Need (Reprise) (P.J. Powers) (2:38)
4. I Can See Clearly Now (J.Nash) (5:07)
5. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (N. Whitfield/B. Strong) (4:34)
6. Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney) (6:13)

Produced and arranged by Alistair Coakley, 'All We Need' co-produced by Richard Mitchell, 'I Can See Clearly Now' co-produced by Bones Brettell
Executive Producer - Mike Fuller
Recorded and mixed at Ovation Studios by Richard Mitchell

Musicians:

• PJ Powers: Vocals
• Alistair Coakley: Guitars & Keyboards
• Bones Brettell: Additional Keyboards
• Mike Faure: Saxophone
• Kevin Kruger: Percussion
• Carlo Mombelli: Bass Guitar on 'Let It Be'
• Stella, Mandisa, Beulah, Faith, Felicia, Mike, Clive and Bones: Backing Vocals
• Performing Arts Workshop: Choir

Release information:

1986, Mike Fuller Music Records FML1008 (cassette FMC 1008)

Review:

Those who were upset with the breakup of Hotline didn't have to wait long for another helping of gutsy Afro-Rock to eminate from the vocal chords of PJ. Her solo album offered listeners a side of self-penned tunes and a side of cover versions of rock and soul classics.

With the help of Hotliners Alistair Coakley and Bones Brettell, its business as usual with the upbeat 'All we need (is here in Africa)', a bouyant paean to Africa in the classic Township Jive style we have come to expect from Ms Powers. Then there's the 7 minute epic title track, a plea for reconciliation (There is an answer/ we'll find a way/ help us to put the past behind us). An impassioned vocal perfomance with a rousing chorus complete with a backing choir. If you're looking for a song that will induce a spate of lighter waving at a stadium near you, look no further than this track.

Side 2 starts off with the Johnny Nash classic 'I can see clearly now'. A lilting sythesizer doing an impersonation of a concertina drives this version which , while doffing it's hat to the reggaeness of the original, keeps the township spirit alive in the album. Worth owning the album for this track alone.

The other 2 cover versions are pretty straight forward covers of Marvin Gaye's 'I heard it through the Grapevine' and The Beatles' 'Let it Be' and it is only the vocal performance of PJ that saves them from mediocrity and raises them into the realms of the okay. Personally I think if you've got the originals of these 2 songs, listen to them rather.

Overall 4 of the 6 tracks are worth listening to which equates to 66.7% good, a pass mark, but not a distinction.
-- John Samson, March 2001

Webpage:

• P J Powers

All info supplied by John Samson, March 2001.