Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Best known right now as a worship leader following the release of her excellent 'Live At The Roxy' album a little while back. Married to talented veteran musician David Miner, Kate had for a long time pursued a mainstream career, looking to get signed and coming close a heartbreakingly large number of times and yet falling foul of the changing priorities and fluctuating staffing of record company A&R departments! This album, with its witty title, gathers together some of the odds and sods left over from unfulfilled dreams and albums that never escaped into the light of day. There are some treats worth mentioning here. There's a simply wonderful duet with Randy Stonehill called "Look Over Your Shoulder" which, if it hadn't been released from musical prison, might have inspired some radical action from the SLF (Song Liberation Front) and then there's a bonus cut from the 'Live' album called "More" which just rocks. How did that get left off? Ranging from three songs produced by Mark Heard and recorded for what should have been her debut album in 1988 through various stabs at stardom in the '90s, a number of truths shine out like bright lights. Firstly, Kate Miner is blessed with one of the great female voices of our time and there is no reason why she shouldn't have had the critical acclaim of Leslie/Sam Phillips or Maria McKee. Just check out the vocal swagger of "I Could Tell A Story" or "All I Want" for evidence. Secondly, Kate is an incredibly good songwriter, delving into her soul and penning songs that are packed with emotional intensity. For evidence I would like to cite the vulnerable beauty of "The Little Things" and the sparse music and incredible passion of "Maybe". Thirdly, these songs prove that somewhere there are A&R men who heard her music and still didn't snap her up for a deal. It just proves something I've always thought. Most record company A&R people wouldn't recognise real musical talent if it walked up to them in the street and slapped them in the face with a pair of Admiral Cummings' underpants.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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