Toni Lamond, an established performer in Musical Comedy, Caberet and television, this year adds another string to her bow - a record label. The label will be called LOLLY LEGS (her nickname, bestowed on her by the late Noel Ferrier). The inaugural CD is STILL a GYPSY featuring Toni, Mainly solo and joined on one track by jazz icon Kerrie Biddell, in a multi-tracked backing. ("Why have one Kerrie when I can have three!")

An extra added attraction is a first time recorded duet with her sister, Grammy award winner Helen Reddy. The only other times they have appeared together were on the Johnny Carson Show in the US in the late 70's and the musical DROOD! in Sacremaento California in the late 80's.

The record is co-produced by Toni, her son Tony Sheldon and Ron Creager who is also musical director.

STILL a GYPSY is a "concept" album, in that it is based on Toni's present life as a travelling performer. "Ever since I was a teenager", says Toni, "show business has taken me all over Australia and to different parts of the world, England, Scotland, South Africa, Manila and the US. And I'm still out there travelling, still a gypsy and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Many of the songs are tied to her life in America where she spent twenty years from 1976 to 1996. Several of the songs are standards with a new spin, others are rare gems hitherto undiscovered. Amixture of sweet ballads (Lost In The Stars, The Hungry Years) "belters" (Swanee/Swanee River, St Louis Blues) and humour (Throw It Away, Ragtime Cowboy Joe). This album has something for everyone.

For instance, the signature track, Don't Fence Me In/ Gypsy In My Soul, sets the tone for the album, Toni as a free soul.

99 Miles From LA - this haunting song is a reminder of the many times Toni made the long journey alone, with only the radio for company, to and from LA on the freeways to perform in one show or another including a stint at Disneyland.

Breezin' Along With The Breeze ( with Helen) evokes the happy picture of two sisters travelling those freeways in a convertible with the top down, a la Thelma and Louise. (But no Brad Pitt).

St Louis Blues is a gutsy homage to that city, where she was fortunate to appear at the famous open air 12,000 seat St Louis Muni Theatre, in a production of 42nd Street with several members of the original Broadway cast.

Santa Fe honours one of Toni's favouite cities in the US along Route 66 and at the end of the Santa Fe Trail, both already immortalised in song.

The Hungry Years evokes the bittersweet days when one was at the beginning of the upward climb.

Other tunes are Stomp, Lost In the Stars, Ragtime Cowboy Joe, Swanee/Swanee River, Throw It Away and The Place That I'll Call Home, written by Tony Sheldon, Toni and Ron Creager.

Read The Review By Showbiz's Jim Murphy

Return To RobSong