A Songwriter’s Offering – Dave James, Redbrick Records, 1997 As album titles go, this one shows remarkable insight: a perfect description of the CD’s content, and its overriding objective. Recorded and released in 1997 it has dated remarkably well – primarily because its approach was wildly eclectic, and therefore beyond pigeonholing. By its very nature therefore it’s something of a chameleon of a record. Not conceived as a showcase for Dave James the Performer, it contains some spirited performances from Dave, from who comes the bulk of the instrumentation and vocals. Neither did it set out to be a demonstration of Redbrick’s production facilities, although Dave's performances and songs are enlivened by Mike Shipway’s sterling production duties. Not offered as a Dave James showcase, it does contain some of the most commercial numbers from this prolific songwriter. Not intended as a commercial release to the public, it is nevertheless an album that can be listened to and enjoyed in its entirety on its own merits. So it is all of these, and none of them: at heart, it is Dave James setting out his stall as a versatile songwriter offering his material to performers and their labels who do not share Dave’s talent to create material. Hence its pot-pourri of styles: from pop to AOR to power ballads. The threads running through this collection are melody, hooks, and emotion. Upon its release in the late 90’s it attracted great interest from labels and artists world-wide, not least ‘Please Don’t Laugh At Me When I Cry’, which despite its slightly sombre title is actually a feel-good reggae/pop number which attracted the interest of no less than Sly & Robbie. Other highlights? That depends purely on your musical tastes, or the style of the protégée whose interests you are promoting. So, at heart, this is a professional’s record. For performers or their management looking for material: for labels seeking a talented songwriter to take under their wing to feed their artists roster: for other songwriters who want inspiration and the knowledge they are not alone: or for music lovers who have heard Dave perform these songs live and want a memento: this offering is well worth your time.