Maria McKee: "I Can't Make It Alone" (Geffen)

A Carole King/Gerry Goffin composition which I sincerely hope is addressed to a mortal as opposed to immortal being because retreading your musical and social roots is all very well and fine but Maria McKee is far too good an artist to be appropriated by the forces of Nobodaddy (as the English poet William Blake calls God). Certainly, if Maria's present phase is purely aesthetic then there's no doubt she has learned her musical history lessons as well as anyone, and on the evidence of 'I Can't Make It Alone' has already graduated to erudite mistress-craftsperson with first class honours. This is a tightly unleashed cry from the heart effortlessly presided over by Ms McKee's acute R n' B sensibility. Roll on the next change of identity.