Who would have thought that Lulu could put together such a good album all this time after she first Shout-ed at us? Lead single Put A Little Love In Your Heart showed that her voice is in great husky form, and a strong band assembled by Exec Prod Sir Elton John provide excellent backing on a whole host of familiar soul and pop classics.

There's nothing particularly innovative or exciting about Put A Little Soul In Your Heart, but you cannot deny that it sounds good and the Radio 2 audience will be snapping it up in their droves.

Sir Elton has certainly taken a shine to it, according to Lulu: "I sent the album to Elton last week and he put it on as he was sitting down to dinner with his partner David Furnish. David says Elton is very fussy about what music is played while they're eating so I suppose that was approval in itself. Elton played the album all night while having his tea. I think that means he likes it."

If it's good enough for Elton's dinner table, then it's bound to fit in nicely in middle class homes around the country and what is wrong with that? Sure, Otis Redding sounded better when he sang Try A Little Tenderness and I Can't Turn You Loose, while no-one can ever touch the great Sam Cooke on You Send Me, but Lulu does a much better job than you might expect.

As she has shown on her radio shows, she has a genuine love of this music and that shines through in the enthusiastic performances, while she also shows the experience of an old hand. Highlights include the almost-title-track, as well as Baby I Need Your Loving, You're No Good and a version of Just One Look that almost has a reggae swing to it.

It's very unchallenging, which is certainly the idea and that is what will attract people to it. But unlike most albums full of covers of classics, it's actually quite good. It's certainly preferable to hear Lulu sing these songs rather than some godawful soap star or former boyband member...