MARC ALMOND - Stardom Road LP (colour vinyl)

Limited edition Gold colour vinyl.

In 2004 Almond was involved in a motorcycle accident that nearly claimed his life and, even when the worst fears were allayed, rumours remained rife he would have to give up singing because the crash had damaged his vocal chords.

The album kicks off with Charles Aznavour's "I Have Lived". I've heard the original of the song and it always struck me as a bit of a "My Way" rip-off. Almond transforms the track into an exaltation to survival.

He covers the unfamiliar: Paul Ryan's "Kitsch" (a word that I've long associated with Almond and his music), "Backstage (I'm Lonely)" originally recorded by Gene Pitney who himself has duetted with Almond in the past and the superb "Bedsitter Images" written by Al Stewart. Only Bobby Darin's "The Curtain Falls" fails to ignite, being mired in maudlin sentimentality which is, in itself, very rare for Almond.

But he also covers the familiar. As you would expect Almond copes easily with the lounge groove of "Strangers In The Night" and Bowie's "London Boys" is virtually bread and butter. But James Last's "Happy Heart" is sung with such joie de vivre it becomes triumphant celebration of life. And even better is Darin's "Dream Lover" which opens with lines from Roy Orbison's "In Dreams" before launching into a haunting arrangement reminiscent of Angelo Badalamenti and Twin Peaks – simply stunning.