Only 's second solo album in the tenth year of her career (she took several years off to have children after marrying producer ), 1989's is the pinnacle of her achievement. By far her best-sustained work, this lengthy 15-track album features some of the 's best work on both sides of the hyphen. Her always-terrific vocals -- was quite likely the best female singer of her generation -- are overdubbed several times on most tracks to create thick, lush harmonies, most notably on the gorgeous cover of ' Her songwriting is excellent as well, with some of her sharpest and cleverest words and most memorable melodies found here. The piercing and are two of 's most combative songs, while for all their tart lines, are at her most sympathetic. Besides the excellent originals, another pair of terrific covers -- 's (given a rather rearrangement that foreshadows her later experiments in music) -- show both 's widely varied influences and her immense interpretive powers. [In 2005 reissued with the bonus tracks as well as alternate mixes of ] ~ Stewart Mason