Hot legs is kicking up the charts

The covers album seems to have become a new century phenomenon, but Rhonda Burchmore is adamant her latest offering will, much like herself, stand head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd.

Pure Imagination might be an album of songs previously released by other artists, but the singer with legs longer than most men you find on Oxford St stands by her latest offering.

Hopefully the listeners will recognise me as a genuine singer rather than someone with legs who belts out show tunes, Burchmore told SSO.

The new album is released on Saturday and features a string of popular tunes, many of which have been adopted and celebrated by the gay community over the years.

The title track from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was written by Anthony Newley and showcases Burchmore’s emotional and intensely personal take on the songs she sings.

The tone is lyrical and lush -“ the arrangements of these classics are beautiful and easy on the ear, Burchmore said.

People will expect me to do [show tunes] and I would like to show them a different side of Rhonda.

I snuck in Send In The Clowns. I believe it is one of the most beautiful Sondheim lyrics ever written.

The album also features popular songs like In My Daughter’s Eyes, Respect, If You Go Away and Roy Orbison’s best-known ballad Crying.

Always in demand, Burchmore is also in the process of doing a string of private performances and corporate gigs.

And for those keen to see the gorgeous, leggy redhead on stage, fear not. She is rehearsing for the role of Auntie Mame in the world-famous stage musical.

While she has performed all over the country and to some pretty famous people over the years, Burchmore still has a soft spot for the gay community, which embraced her early in her career and celebrated her fine voice, sense of humour and unique stage presence.

I think and hope the community will absolutely love the new album. It is sensitive, lyrical and beautiful, Burchmore said.

It’s full of emotion and honesty and certainly not over-produced.

I think they will relate to all of the songs, from Janis Ian’s At Seventeen, which is a painfully honest look at growing up, to A Song For You, which is a very personal song for someone in your life that you love.

Pure Imagination is out 19 April. For more information on Rhonda Burchmore visit www.rhondaburchmore.com.