roycal concert hall - glasgow
evening post - january 2000
Some things just improve with the years - as Elkie Brooks certainly proved in front of an appreciative audience.
Her performance demonstrated precisely why her achievements have finally been given the recognition they deserve with a gold badge award for outstanding contribution to the music industry by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters last October.
She is the most charted British female artist of the last 20 years, with 16 hit albums. Her Pearls album in 1981, within weeks of its release, became the biggest selling album ever by a British female, spending 105 weeks in the charts.
Her diverse programme exploited her exceptional talent and included powerful ballads, soul and rock including perennial favourites such as Pealr's A Singer, Lilac Wine, Fool If You Think It's Over, We've Got Tonight, Gasoline Alley, Red House, Crossroads, Nights in White Satin, Sail On and the late 80's classic No More The Fool.
In the words of Michael Parkinson "Elkie could sing the British Home Stores catalogue and make something of it".
-diana rees
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oakengates theatre - telford
local paper - october 2000
In a long awaited return to Telford last night, Elkie Brooks thrilled a full house at Oakengates Theatre.
From the opening song, Nights in White Satin, she really set the mood for a great evening.
In the 90 minute set, that followed, the singer belted out old favourites such as Pearl's A Singer, Lilac Wine and Fool If You Think It's Over, combined with bluesy numbers and blues material.
Her trademark pwoerhouse voice a precision backing band and wide range of songs made for a great concert.
A standing ovation underlined the fact that Elkie is still one of the country's top solo artists.
- steve chidlow
penningtons - bradford
telegraph and argus - may 2001
Legendary singer Elkie Brooks wowed Bradfordians last night as she effortlessly rolled back the years - as well as introducing a new edge to her range at a concert in the city.
The atmosphere at Pennington's club was one of polite expectation before the 55-year-old star took to the stage.
Many had travelled from all over the district to come and watch Miss Brooks, who began life as Elaine Bookbinder, on the latest leg of her tour of England.
For housewife Rosita Minott, 60, from Manningham, the concert was a chance to see her idol perform her favourite song, the classic Lilac Wine.
Mrs Minott said: "I've always liked the way Elkie sings, in fact I think her voice has got better with age. I missed her last time so this should be a real treat."
Rosita was bought the ticket by her sales assistant daughter Mandy, 32, who also came along on the night.
She said: "From what I can remember hearing her as a child, I liked her. She sings Billie Holliday songs which I'm particularly fond of."
Farmer Arthur Petty, 56, travelled from Allerton to see the star he fell in love with as a young man.
He said: "I used to like her when she was a singer in the 1970s. Pearl's a Singer was my favourite. It was her voice and her looks that attracted me to her."
Clerk Carole Smith, 46, from Undercliffe, bought her ticket with best pal Annette Wood, also 46, from Oxenhope, after missing out on Elkie's previous appearances in Bradford.
Carole said: "I've always wanted to see her. My favourite song is Fool If You Think It's Over."
Civil servant Annette added: "I used to listen to her music in my younger days and I just like her music. Gasoline Alley is my favourite."
And when Elkie took to the stage, her distinctive, bluesy sound had a treat in store with the introduction of a new edge to her range.
Elkie delivered a popular blend of old and new material, combining crowd-pleasing hits with some tracks from her forthcoming album.
As well as the soulful Lilac Wine and Pearl's a Singer, she gave the audience a sneak preview of some new dance-styled tracks - a daring, alternative sound.
And the night was rounded off with a set of crowd-pleasing blues tracks.
