A Loose Woman with a fondness for Cruising - perhaps it’s not surprising that during the past 10 years Jane McDonald has become something of a camp treasure.

Ever since this northern lass emerged from the BBC docu-soap The Cruise, she’s been taken into our big rainbow hearts. This summer, Jane McDonald’s even been named as patron for Doncaster Pride 2008. We’re not quite sure what a pride patron is, but it sounds quite spectacular. And forget Kylie, surely there’s no one better to add a touch of celebrity glamour than Jane.

In fact, August is shaping up to be a busy month for the shimmering crooner. Not only is Ms McDonald at the helm for the Doncaster extravaganza, but she sails two other events onto our summer horizons. The first has the ex-cabaret queen back on board for a BBC2 special entitled Return To The Cruise, the second is the release of her new album Jane.

Featuring five self-penned songs and a selection of camp classics, Jane is the first release on her own record label JMD. Always one to play to her audience, Jane doesn’t use the freedom of her label to run off into territories new, but instead delivers fourteen tracks to please her devoted fans.

Now there’s nothing wrong with the odd hint of show-tune, a touch of cabaret sparkle, two belting lungs and some end-of-the pier glitter. It’s also hard not to admire the plucky character and down-to-earth charm of Wakefield’s finest singer. But really, a whole album of this dated lifeless stuff? And cruise or no cruise, you’ll want to throw yourself overboard.

Although some of the tracks are easily mistaken for the demos found on early 90s Casio keyboards, there are a few fun moments. The unashamedly camp ‘Doctor’s Orders’ lacks some of the disco flair of the original, but it’s perfect for dancing your trolley round a supermarket, or for singing along to, alone in a bubble-filled bath.

Jane’s version of the Latin standard ‘Mas Que Nada’, her gutsy ‘Sweet Talker’, and perky rendition of the Muriel Day classic ‘Nine Times Out Of Ten’ are of course outdated affairs, but splendidly so. Their vaguely up-tempo, unpretentious, wedding-dancefloor embracing style is perfect for a party at the Rover’s Return. And if Amy Winehouse can update Motown, then what’s wrong with dear old Jane taking on Northern Soul? The originals are a little too fast for the artificially hipped anyway.

For the McDonald fan club, the appearance of ‘Not a Day Goes By’ on the album will bring tears to the eye. Adapted in the wake of her grandmother’s death, the touching ballad opens as a sparse tale of loss, but soon draws together a choir and 65-piece orchestra to create the album’s full blown centrepiece. Disney power ballads don’t come better than this, and following its release there’re sure to be a few drama queens with a new torch song.

Of course, Jane McDonald was always destined to become a gay icon, apparently as a little girl she loved to sit in the rainbow-colored spotlight cast through her front door's stained glass window.  Decades later, and Jane, despite its gaudy failings, looks set to cement Ms McDonald into those rainbow-coloured and pace-makered hearts. And with the pier at Weston Super Mare in ashes, what better a time to celebrate this champion of British seaside entertainment.

Jane, by Jane McDonald
Label: JMD
Released: 11 August 2008
ASIN: B001CIPTW8

Make up your own mind about Jane McDonald's new album and buy Jane online now. You'll save money to put towards her earlier album, Because You Loved Me. You can also see Jane performing 'If You Love Me', from her new album, on This Morning below!