Brenda Lee

"Coming on Strong" was Brenda Lee's last major pop hit, very nearly reaching the Top Ten in 1966. The album of the same name is an underwhelming collection of adult contemporary material with a heavy emphasis on ballads, which became the standard formula for her LPs in the late '60s. Buck Owens' "Crying Time" and Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams" are presented as torchy pop ballads that highlight Lee's impeccable and wonderfully expressive vocals, although one might wish for a more varied approach. The most unusual selection is a rendition of Stevie Wonder's hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright,)" which Brenda Lee comfortably negotiates. That isn't too surprising considering her obvious R&B influences and vocal similarity to "Little" Esther Phillips. "Coming on Strong" is an excellent single that shows that Brenda Lee could still hit with quality material, but the remainder of the album is too middle-of-the-road in its execution to be fully satisfying. ~ Greg Adams, Rovi