Following a fruitful 1960s, the '70s were less kind to pop star songwriter
Jackie DeShannon. Though her star hadn't faded completely --
DeShannon worked successfully with
Van Morrison in this time and continued to pen hits for other artists -- a string of changes in labels and other career details distracted from her path. The 1974 album
Your Baby Is a Lady would be
DeShannon's last for Atlantic, and though backed by a string of sturdy session players, hints of exhaustion come through in parts of the album's dusty blue-eyed soul feel. The strongest moments come in a pair of
DeShannon's own compositions, the jaunty title track and the wistful soft rock
Carole King-isms of "You've Changed." ~ Fred Thomas