GRETCHEN Peters has been a singersongwriter for many years and for 13 years has been a recording artist in her own right.

During that time she has recorded and released four albums, Secret Of Life, Gretchen Peters, Halcyon and Burnt Toast And Other Offerings.

The best tracks are now compiled on her latest release along with two previously unreleased songs.

She has to be one of America’s greatest songwriting treasures and if you’re new to her name this album will make you want to know more.

Songs like Independence Day, a hit for Martina McBride, and When You Are Old, a chart success for Faith Hill, and you realise the the exceptional talent of her writing.

Sometimes it’s the writer of the song who performs it to perfection, and both the aforementioned hits are featured here, so you can judge for yourself.

The album is available from Monday and coincides nicely with her Wine, Women and Song Tour alongside Matraca Berg and Suzy Bogguss which comes to Sage Gateshead on May 30, thesagegateshead.org 0191- 443-4661