So, it’s been real, I tell you. Since the last newsletter, we finally finished the script for my one-woman
show The Love Thing – after many many drafts! There are probably more to come, but for now, the
script is ready.

That meant Adrian York and I had to finish the songs – some songs from Dolled Up are being used
for the show but we had written 8 more. So when we started thinking about the upcoming autumn tour,
it was like, hold on a minute, let’s write a couple more songs and put out an album!
Yes folks, lets’s put the show on right here!!!

The album’s called Emotional Glamour and it’s return to my classic sound and roots. Retro, melodic, soulful, emotional, groovy if I do say so myself. You can order it from Amazon now I believe. It will also be available on iTunes and in HMV and Zavvi. Kinda sad that there aren’t many record shops left huh? 01. Have You Got What It Takes? 02. The It Girl 03. The Loneliest Road 04. Killing Time 05. Hits And Misses 06. Only Human 07. Movin' In 08. Me And My Baby 09. Right For You 10. Forever Young 11. Perhaps, Perhaps,Perhaps

I remember going to my local record shop in Neasden when I was about 7 I think, and I bought Love
Me Do by The Beatles for four shillings and sixpence! Then I ran home and played it on our radiogram.
The radiogram was kept in the front room – that was the posh room that was only used on Sundays,
Xmas and if you had a party. The rest of the time I would use it to practice singing, especially harmonies,
at the top of my voice. This was while my brother was upstairs in Mum and Dad’s bedroom practising
electric guitar. You could hear him round the corner by the off-licence! Anyway, that’s another story???

I spent the summer in Los Angeles again this year and Adrian and I had to finish the final mixes by
email, while he was still in the UK and before he went off on his hols to Florida! We also sorted out the
artwork and goodness knows what – thank God for technology I say, otherwise we’d never have got
everything done on time.

I saw some great gigs while I was there. Went to see Diana Ross at The Hollywood Bowl. I was filled
with trepidation - I didn’t want to be disappointed as I’d heard stories about her recent shows not
being so great. But, of course, she had been on tour so the voice was up and running. Well, I have
to say she was brilliant and in fine voice. When she did the songs from Lady Sings The Blues it was
fabulous. I know people have knocked her for that, especially people who are snobby and possessive
when it comes to jazz, but I think she made them her own. She has a really interesting timbre to her
voice and I love it. Also the costumes were pretty gorgeous too – bet she didn’t get any of them in
the Betsey Johnson outlet mall.Talking of costumes, we went to Las Vegas and saw Cher! Blimey, that was a masterclass in
costume-changing and I thought I was pretty good! Mind you, she does have lots of minions
backstage helping her and I have to manage by myself, or get the theatre caretaker or one
of my band to zip me up (before I go go!). Really not a good idea for Cher to wear blonde wigs,
for exactly the same reason Amy shouldn’t have gone blonde . . .

Las Vegas is completely nuts – not sure what to think. I had a kind of love/hate relationship with
it I suppose. It’s totally manic with slot machines everywhere. We stayed in what they call a boutique
hotel. Of course, in the UK, boutique hotels only have about 15 rooms but theirs have 500. So glad
we stayed there though as they have no casinos or slot machines so it’s nice and quiet and more
family-orientated. You can walk through for about 5 or 10 minutes to the madness where it’s always
night-time. AND it was 107 degrees! Like being followed around with a blow-torch.

We were there for 2 nights which is about right.

The second night we saw LOVE, the Cirque du Soleil Beatles show.
It was absolutely magnificent and very moving.
I can’t even begin to describe it – just fabulous, so glad I saw it.

Back in LA we went to a couple of parties and even had one ourselves which was great fun. At one
of the parties we went to, they had a huge grapefruit tree so each one of us was invited to climb up
the ladder and pick our own! They tasted like no grapefruit I’d ever tasted before (oh dear, that
sounded like the Flake advert didn’t it?). The skin is so soft, it just peels away and the fruit inside
is so sweet and juicy, my goodness, makes me realize that some of the fruit we buy here must be
so very old before it gets to the table.

Always the highlight of a holiday for me is playing Keepy-Uppy in the swimming pool.

For those of you who don’t know, Keepy-Uppy is where you have to hit the ball to each other,
without it landing in the pool – see? Keepy-Uppy!

Well, I take it all very seriously and we managed to keep it up for 479 hits!
We did this with a giant beach ball, so you get a good workout too.

You see, it really doesn’t take very much to make me happy.
??
I got to see one of my heroes while there - Glen Campbell.

He played at The Troubadour in Los Angeles which is a small club where lots of people began
their careers. They’ve had a series of great gigs there including Carole King – oh my goodness what I would have given to have seen that!

Anyway, Glen has a new album out, “Meet Glen Campbell” and it’s absolutely brilliant,
I can’t stop playing it.
??
I was SO excited before the gig and the anticipation while standing in line was all part of the experience.
We were chatting away to other people about Glen and all those kind of artists from way back. Glen was
one of The Wrecking Crew – they were the musicians who played on all those great records in the 60’s.
??Sonny and Cher, Mamas and Papas, Beach Boys, Phil Spector, etc, just too numerous to mention really,
and we went to see a new documentary about them. Glen played guitar on all those records. It’s actually
called The Wrecking Crew so if you hear about it please go to see it. It’s full of anecdotes told by all
those fantastic musicians, about those amazing recording sessions.

Anyway, I digress. Glen Campbell was just wonderful. He didn’t disappoint in any way at all. His voice is
still rich and beautiful and very very emotional. When he sang Wichita Lineman, we were all in tears and
I even shouted out “We love you Glen!” I’ve never done that in my life before, I was just so carried away.
It was one of those nights you will never forget and I am so thankful for seeing him, especially in a small
club and so close up.

Got back a couple of weeks ago in time for The Retrofest at Strathclyde County Park – great to do a
festival – even in the rain! I played The Glasgow Jazz Festival in June, having not visited Scotland
for a while, so I was there twice in a matter of weeks. Even got to see my cousins which was lovely
and I’ll be there again in October at The Queens Hall, Edinburgh. I must remember to treat myself
to a macaroon bar while I’m there. . .

So now I’m getting everything ready for the release of Emotional Glamour and the tour.

I've put a few samples of the tracks up on the site, so you can check up on that.

Looking forward to seeing some of you at the shows and I hope you all enjoy the album.
Spread the word!.

Be in touch around Xmastime.

Toodleloo!

Mari xxx