“Cage the Songbird”: The Unreleased Kiki Dee Album and Its Historical Recovery

In 1975 and 1976, Kiki Dee recorded a set of tracks intended for a new album under the Rocket Record Company. Among these recordings was her version of “Cage the Songbird”, written by Bernie Taupin and Elton John as a tribute to French singer Édith Piaf. Although produced around the same period as Elton John’s Blue Moves (1976), Kiki Dee’s interpretation was not released at the time.

A Completed Project That Was Shelved

The album was conceived as the follow-up to her successful I’ve Got the Music in Me. With a defined repertoire, ongoing production, and a stable working band, the project appeared ready to move forward. However, due to internal decisions within the record company—including shifts in priorities and release strategies—the album was withdrawn before reaching commercial stages.

These recordings remained unreleased for more than thirty years. They resurfaced only during the restoration of the Rocket Records archive, which led to their official appearance in 2008 under the title Cage the Songbird (catalog number 00946 3 63125 2 1), issued by EMI. This release presented the album as originally recorded in the mid-1970s.

Kiki Dee’s Band During the Recording Period

Throughout this period, Kiki Dee performed and recorded with a consistent ensemble often referred to as the Kiki Dee Band, active both in studio and on tour. The core lineup included:

Bias Boshell – keyboards, guitar, vocals

Jo Partridge – lead guitar

Phil Curtis – bass

Pete Clarke – drums

This group provided the primary instrumental foundation for the 1975/76 sessions, giving the material its unified musical identity.

The Recording of “Cage the Songbird”

Kiki Dee’s version of “Cage the Songbird” was completed during the shelved album sessions. Although fully recorded, it remained unavailable to the public until the 2008 release. The track represents a contemporaneous reading of the composition, paralleling the work being done on Elton John’s Blue Moves, and adds an additional perspective to the creative environment of Rocket Records at the time.

Tracks Included in the 2008 Release

The Cage the Songbird edition brought together the following tracks—previously unreleased recordings from the 1975/76 project:

1. Cage the Songbird (4:18)

2. Uphill Piece of Mind (5:23)

3. Prince of Fools (3:12)

4. Once a Fool – 2008 Digital Remaster (3:43)

5. Bright Medallion (4:25)

6. Chicago (Original Version) (≈3:11)

7. Man After My Own Heart (3:25)

8. Rock ’N’ Roll Me Baby (3:29)

9. First Thing in the Morning (Original Version) (3:54)

10. Cry Like a Baby (3:07)

11. A Change Is Gonna Come (3:49)

Together, these tracks outline the full scope of the original, unreleased album.

on-line:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL44gxJwuwoab3KoCW__-OM53ofxWT7AL1&si=yubEBANbJ34L3txm

Significance of the Late Release

The 2008 issue of Cage the Songbird provided documentation of an important and previously inaccessible period in Kiki Dee’s career. It clarifies her artistic activity between 1975 and 1976, highlighting her work with her regular band and her participation in the broader creative framework of Rocket Records.

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