Review of Lolene's Lonely Dealin's
By
Maurice Hope
Britain's Number One Country Music Newspaper
September 2002

Lolene Cheeks after years having lived on the edge of the entertainment business, first through her mother and aunt having performed as the Singing Dugan sisters, while her father not only wrote jokes for George Burns, but the novel "The Damned Don't Cry" which was later to become a major motion picture starring Joan Crawford.

As of Cheeks she has finally made the move, chanced her arm and made a real country record. Awash in steel, fiddle (Larry Franklin), piano and country guitar (band leader, the fine Danny Parks) Cheeks comes through with a sound reminiscent of both the mid-late 70s, reminiscent of Linda Hargrove ("I Know Where You're Comin' From").

She delivers a first-class set of material that's honest, pleasant and of the 12 songs, over half are notable and quite memorable.

"Slow burn", a heart-tugging ballad that she co-wrote threatens to become a raging fire as it works it's way to one's heart, while her poise and precision on the likes of "You Say the Word" drips much honesty, likewise goes for "I Don't Mind the Rain" and a fiddle plied "Me Without You" and "With Someone". Lifting the tempo if not the mood there is "With Someone" and most gutsy "The Deal's Gone Down". "I will" aided by tinkling piano impassioned vocals and a veil of somberness closes the affair.

I for one hope that it's only the beginning for this plucky country lady.

Maurice Hope