January February: The Best of Barbara Dickson

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Born in Dunfermline, Scotland, Barbara’s love of music was evident from an early age – she began studying piano at the age of five and by twelve had also taken up the guitar. She developed an interest in folk music whilst at school which led to floor spots singing at her local folk club. After relocating to Edinburgh, she went on to combine a day job in the Civil Service whilst steadily pursuing her first love, music, in local pubs and clubs. The ‘90’s also saw Barbara beginning to diversify more into acting, with major roles on TV including ‘Taggart’, Kay Mellor’s ‘Band of Gold’ and ‘The Missing Postman’. On stage, ‘The Seven Ages of Woman’ won Barbara the 1997 Liverpool Echo ‘Best Actress in Theatre’ Award and in 2000 she won her second Olivier award for her role as the infamous 1960’s pools winner, Viv Nicholson, in the musical ‘Spend Spend Spend’. A civil servant by day, Barbara performs in folk clubs by night and at weekends. She contributes a song, 'The Waters of Tyne', to the privately-pressed LP 'Folksong '65'. The song signalled a new direction in her career, moving into the mainstream pop genre. [ citation needed] It was written and produced by Alan Tarney who had recently resurrected Cliff Richard's career with his 1979 no.1 hit " We Don't Talk Anymore". Guitar on the song was played by Issac Guillory who also appeared on the music video and helped promote the song on TV.

In 1985 Barbara’s single ‘I Know Him So Well,’ recorded with Elaine Paige and taken from the musical ‘Chess’, was released. It reached Number One in the UK and went on to become a Top Ten hit around the world, eventually selling over 900,000 copies. A 26 date tour of the UK and Ireland follows in February and March. Also in February, Barbara presents the BBC Folk Awards with Mike Harding. The album was released following her return to the top 20 with the single " January February". Produced by Alan Tarney, the album was a success, reaching No.7 in the UK Charts and remaining in the top 75 for three months. [2] It was certified gold by the BPI for sales of over 100,000 in the UK. [3] Further singles taken from the album were "In the Night" and "It's Really You". Her first hit single, ‘Answer Me’, was released early in 1976 and a guest residency on the BBC’s hugely successful ‘The Two Ronnies’ show later that year brought Barbara into the homes of more than 15 million viewers on Saturday evenings.Barbara continues her run in "John Paul George Ringo...and Bert" which runs for a year in London's West End. She records a new six-part comedy series "Dinnerladies" for BBCRadio 4 -it is transmitted during October and November. Also during September, Barbara performs her first US concerts as part of the Big Stone Gap Festival in Virginia. Barbara's first Christmas special, 'Joy To the World', is broadcast by BBC RadioScotland on Christmas Day.

Barbara moves to Woodmill Junior High School. Her music teacher is Sandy Saddler, who becomes a great influence. Recent collaborations include an array of leading figures from the music scene, including Sam Lee, Rab Noakes and Emily Smith.A return to the theatre in Willy Russell’s new musical, ‘Blood Brothers,’ in 1983 was to mark Barbara’s debut as a stage actress. As with ‘John Paul George Ringo… and Bert’ nine years previously, the show transferred from Liverpool to London and in the process earned her the ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ award from the Society of West End Theatres. Barbara joins 'The Great Fife Road Show' and tours Scotland with artists including Rab Noakes, Davey Stewart and Cilla Fisher. Mary Roos recorded a German version of the single entitled "Wenn Ich Dich Nicht Halten Kann" ("If I Cannot Hold You").