Where There's a Man reunites
Abbe Lane with arranger
Sid Ramin, her partner in crime on the previous The Lady in Red -- if anything, the album is even sultrier than its predecessor, reaching new heights (or new lows) in sex-kitten kitsch. As its title suggests, the album's thematic focus falls squarely on the opposite sex, but for the most part
Lane and
Ramin eschew familiar romantic ballads in favor of more tongue-in-cheek fare like "No Man Gets Me Right Away" and "The Gentleman Is a Dope" --
Lane isn't a strong enough vocalist to tackle the standards anyway, but the material on
Where There's a Man is particularly well suited to her bombshell phrasing and ribald wit.
Ramin's cartoonish arrangements are also a delight, perfectly underscoring the singer's larger-than-life persona. ~ Jason Ankeny