After ten years on the folk music circuit she was spotted by Willy Russell for the stage.
Her version of I know him so well with Elaine Paige became the biggest selling record ever by a female duo.
Most recently she scaled the dizzy heights of Fame at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
Barbara Dickson joins Jenni Murray to discuss her new album which sees her delving into her past with a variety of traditional songs from political folk to Henry Purcell.
