CONSIDERED as a classic Barbara Dickson album among her strong fan base, Sweet Oasis has strangely been out of print on CD for a long time.

The mostly self-composed set added a manicured mid-Atlantic flavour to the roots folk style that has ultimately been the foundation of Miss Dickson’s formidable work.

Much of this is thanks to veteran producer Bones Howe, who had previously worked with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, and a stellar studio band which included Ray Cooper, Ian Lynn, Tony Rivers and a certain Gerry Rafferty.

Barbara had contributed to Rafferty’s recent sublime album, and he returned the favour by contributing to his title track song City To City to this set. This song was released as the lead single, but astonishingly missed out on being a hit. However, many will remember the follow-up single Fallen Angel, with its irresistible chorus.

Although an accomplished artist in many spheres, at the time of Sweet Oasis’s release in 1978, while the nation was struck by Grease disco fever, Barbara Dickson was still probably best known for her guest appearances on The Two Ronnies. Somehow Sweet Oasis fell off the radar. Therefore, this is a very welcome reissue.