Making Life Rhyme
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Making Life Rhyme
| type = Studio
| artist = Lulu
| cover = Lulu - Making Life Rhyme.png
| alt =
| released = 13 April 2015
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
| length = 38:40
| label = Decca
| producer = Benson Taylor
| prev_title = A Little Soul in Your Heart
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Making Life Rhyme
| type = studio
| single1 = Faith in You
| single1date = 9 February 2015
| single2 = Cry
| single2date = 14 August 2015
}}
}}
Making Life Rhyme is a studio album by Scottish singer Lulu, released 13 April 2015. Reunited with her debut record label Decca, the album is Lulu's first in a decade and the first of her career in which she co-wrote all of the original songs.{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a623498/lulu-returns-to-decca-signs-major-deal-for-new-album-making-life-rhyme/ |title=Lulu returns to Decca, signs major deal for new album Making Life Rhyme |last=Davidson |first=Amy |date=22 January 2015 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Corporation |accessdate=25 May 2015}} In addition, two covers are featured: Jimi Hendrix's "Angel", in the style of Rod Stewart's hit version, and the traditional American folk song "Wayfaring Stranger". A digital only deluxe edition also includes new recordings of three songs from Lulu's career.
The album was preceded by the lead single, "Faith in You". Lulu promoted the release with several television appearances including a live performance on the BBC's The One Show.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02mxj4w |title=BBC One - The One Show, 26/03/2015, Lulu – Faith in You! |date=26 March 2015 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=25 May 2015}} In May 2015, Lulu embarked on her first solo UK and Ireland tour in over ten years in support of the album.{{cite web |url=http://www.gigsandtours.com/news/lulu-set-to-play-her-first-/1606 |title=Lulu set to play her first solo tour in over ten years, with dates starting in May 2015 |work=Gigs and Tours |accessdate=25 May 2015}} The second single, "Cry", was released to radio on 14 August 2015. A new version, recorded with the Military Wives choirs, was released on 26 February 2016 with all proceeds going to the Military Wives Choir Foundation.{{cite web |url=http://www.militarywiveschoirs.org/military-wives-choirs-record-new-single-with-lulu/ |title=Military Wives Choirs record new single with Lulu |date=25 January 2016 |publisher=Military Wives Choirs |accessdate=16 April 2016}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = Allmusic
|rev3 = The Guardian
|rev4 = The Telegraph
}}
Making Life Rhyme has generally received positive reviews from music critics. Neil McCormick of The Telegraph gave the album four stars and wrote "Making Life Rhyme is the best thing Lulu has done since the early Seventies".{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11524805/Lulu-Making-Life-Rhyme-review-life-affirming.html |title=Lulu, Making Life Rhyme, review: 'life-affirming' |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |date=11 April 2015 |work=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |accessdate=25 May 2015}}
The Guardian gave the album a three star rating, adding "There's little in the way of surprises but this is a solidly enjoyable collection".{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/12/lulu-making-life-rhyme-review |title=Lulu: Making Life Rhyme review – a solidly enjoyable collection |last=Mongredien |first=Phil |date=12 April 2015 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |accessdate=25 May 2015}}
The online music guide AllMusic praised the album, giving it a four star review, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine commenting: "Arriving ten years after Lulu's impressive 2004 comeback Back on Track, 2015's Making Life Rhyme is every bit that record's equal and perhaps it's better in some ways". He concluded that the record "ranks among her very best".{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002806849|pure_url=yes}} |title=Making Life Rhyme – Lulu |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher=AllMusic. All Media Network |accessdate=25 May 2015}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| total_length = 38:40
| title1 = Faith in You
| writer1 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Billy Lawrie
- Richard Cardwell
- Peter Gordeno}}
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Every Single Day
| writer2 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Ben Mark}}
| length2 = 3:19
| title3 = The Answer Is Love
| writer3 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Jim Cregan}}
| length3 = 3:34
| title4 = Cry
| writer4 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Martin Sutton}}
| length4 = 4:08
| title5 = Poison Kiss
| writer5 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Cregan}}
| length5 = 3:28
| title6 = Hypnotised
| writer6 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Mark}}
| length6 = 3:35
| title7 = Heaven Help
| writer7 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Cardwell}}
| length7 = 3:42
| title8 = Make Life Rhyme
| writer8 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Cardwell
- Benson Taylor}}
| length8 = 3:20
| title9 = Angel
| writer9 = Jimi Hendrix
| length9 = 3:32
| title10 = Messed Up World
| writer10 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Paddy Dalton}}
| length10 = 4:00
| title11 = Wayfaring Stranger
| writer11 = Traditional
| length11 = 2:09
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks
| total_length = 52:15
| title12 = Relight My Fire
| note12 = 2015 version
| writer12 = Dan Hartman
| length12 = 4:11
| title13 = Shout
| note13 = 2015 version
| writer13 = {{flat list|
}}
| length13 = 4:40
| title14 = I Don't Wanna Fight
| note14 = 2015 version
| writer14 = {{flat list|
- Lulu
- Lawrie
- Steve DuBerry}}
| length14 = 4:42
}}
Charts
Making Life Rhyme peaked at number 35 on the UK Albums Chart during the week starting 25 April 2015,{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28001/lulu/ |title=Lulu, Full Official Chart History |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=25 May 2015}} but by the following week had dropped out of the top 100.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Lulu}}
{{Authority control}}