Don't Ask [10 Tracks]

Personnel: Tina Arena (vocals); Tim Pierce (acoustic guitar, guitar); Rick Price (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Bob Mann (guitar); Peter Kent (violin); Erika Duke Kirkpatrick (cello); Jay Winding (piano, keyboards); Claude Gaudette (piano); David Tyson (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, programming, background vocals); John Pierce (bass); Pat Mastelotto (drums, percussion); Carlos Vega (drums); Matt Lang, Peter Asher (percussion); Chris O'Brien (programming); Marilyn Martin, Raven Kane, The Water Family (background vocals).
Producers: David Tyson, Peter Asher.
Engineers: Greg Droman, George Massenburg.
Recorded at Pacifique, Lavender Cottage, Little Monster and Conway Studios, Los Angeles, California.
It's perhaps easy to expect too much after the stellar debut single "Chains." That's not to say Arena's debut offers nothing to the listener; it could have been far worse, since top session men Tim and John Pierce and drummer Pat Mastelotto (the Rembrandts, King Crimson) don't appear for nothing. Even so, a lot of Don't Ask remains twee. However, there are good moments in the shape of showcase single "Chains," power ballad "Heaven Help My Heart" and the bouncy closing track "Standing Up." There's room for improvement then, although Arena can deliver some fine vocals, and David Tyson (Alannah Myles, Amanda Marshall) supplies some equally fine production. The gorgeous "Sorrento Moon" suggests Arena may yet become the Astrud Gilberto of Australia. ~ Kelvin Hayes