January February: The Best of Barbara Dickson

Product Information

She gets her big break when she is offered the part of the singer and pianist in Willy Russell's play "John Paul George Ringo... and Bert" - it opens at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre in May. The show is a smash hit and transfers to the Lyric Theatre in London in August. In February the single "I Know Him So Well" with Elaine Paige reaches the top of the charts giving Barbara her first UK # 1. During September and October she plays several dates as the special guest of Peter Karrie and in also in October plays 7 UK solo concerts.

Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, Barbara’s love of music was evident from an early age – she began studying piano at the age of five and by twelve had also taken up the guitar. She developed an interest in folk music whilst at school which led to floor spots singing at her local folk club. After relocating to Edinburgh, she went on to combine a day job in the Civil Service whilst steadily pursuing her first love, music, in local pubs and clubs. On July 13th, Barbara performs live at the Stonehaven Folk Festival, her first folk festival appearance since 1973. In 2017, Barbara narrated the acclaimed ‘Ballads of Child Migration’, the success of which led to a major UK tour the following year, closely followed by a tour of ‘Far, Far From Ypres’, the award-winning story of the Scottish war effort during the First World War. The album was released following her return to the top 20 with the single " January February". Produced by Alan Tarney, the album was a success, reaching No.7 in the UK Charts and remaining in the top 75 for three months. [2] It was certified gold by the BPI for sales of over 100,000 in the UK. [3] Further singles taken from the album were "In the Night" and "It's Really You".Barbara appears as the musical guest in 8 episodes of the BBC's "The Two Ronnies", seen weekly by 20 million viewers. Barbara is honoured with the 'Outstanding Scottish Achievement' award at the 2016 Scottish Variety Awards on March 19th. She signs a new deal with CBS Records and records "Sweet Oasis", her debut album for the label in Los Angeles. Willy offered Barbara the role of the musician/ singer in his 1974 Beatles’ musical ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo… and Bert’, staged at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre. She was on stage throughout the entire performance singing the songs of The Beatles alongside a cast which included Antony Sher, Bernard Hill and Trevor Eve. Her first hit single, ‘Answer Me’, was released early in 1976 and a guest residency on the BBC’s hugely successful ‘The Two Ronnies’ show later that year brought Barbara into the homes of more than 15 million viewers on Saturday evenings.

Barbara joins 'The Great Fife Road Show' and tours Scotland with artists including Rab Noakes, Davey Stewart and Cilla Fisher. Barbara tours the UK in the play "Friends Like This" inFebruary/March with Roy Hudd and Susan Penhaligon.She then plays live in New Zealand, at the Wellington Arts Festival, and makes a promotional visit to Australia. Mary Roos recorded a German version of the single entitled "Wenn Ich Dich Nicht Halten Kann" ("If I Cannot Hold You").

She then stars in the new Viv Nicholson musical "SpendSpend Spend" - it opens at London'sPiccadilly Theatre in October. Between August and November, Barbara tours as part of 'Far Far From Ypres', the story of the Scottish war effort during WW1. The 7 Ages Of Woman" is released on CD and this is followed by another UKtour of the show between May and July. Caravan Song" is eclipsed by "January February" which Epic rush-release in January. The new single reaches # 11 on the charts. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice invite her to sing on the studio recording of their new musical, "Evita".The album "All For A Song" is released in February, reaches #3 in the UK album charts and goes platinum. She continues touring the folk scene, playing at the Stainsby Brighouse, Hexham, Cleethorpes and Bromyard Folk Festivals. On August 12th, Barbara is among the artists appearing at the 'Music of Sandy Bells' concert at Edinburgh's Queens Hall. A civil servant by day, Barbara performs in folk clubs by night and at weekends. She contributes a song, 'The Waters of Tyne', to the privately-pressed LP 'Folksong '65'.