Lulu swept into Bury St Edmunds, last night, for the first of two sell-out shows at the Apex.

And what it show it was with all her old songs mixed with tracks from her new album “Making Life Rhyme”.

It was a wonderful 90-minute show packed with nostalgic memories from the Queen of UK soul as she recounted her 50-plus years in showbiz.

Now 67 years old, the Glaswegian songstress still has that wonderful raw edge to her voice that remains so comfortingly sound.

The Apex was near bursting to the seams and rocking and rolling in the aisles as she belted out song after song along with her flawlessly talented five-piece backing band.

Her career has seen its ups and downs but her new album has given her a new zest as she kicked off her two-month which is taking her round the country.

“Making Life Rhyme” is probably the best thing Lulu has done since the early 70s and is her

first album in 10 years, and more significantly, her first album of almost completely self-written material.

It helps that her original retro soul style has come back into fashion, so she doesn’t have to mimic the sound of commercially successful younger artists.

They are songs with emotional substance, a lifetime of hurt and wisdom in the life-affirming lyrics and raspy singing.

And for those who have bought tickets to see her return to the Apex, on Thursday, March 24, you’re in for a real treat.

She kicked off last night’s show with “Relight My Fire” ... a track she was featured on with Take That.

There was a heartfelt tribute to David Bowie, one of the many legends she told the audience she had the good fortune to work with, as she sung “The Man Who Sold The World”, plus a selection of songs from the Bee Gees including “Run To Me”, “To Love Somebody” and “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You”.

She said that she was loving being back on stage again entertaining her adoring fans and that songwriting had provided her with a “huge shift” in her life.

She included “Put My Faith In You”, “Every Single Day”, “Heaven Help” and “Cry” from her new self penned album ... the latter being accompanied by the 24-strong Military Wives Choir who got a huge ovation as they walked on stage.

“To Sir With Love”, which she recorded when she was 16, was given a tender touch and the show came to a climax with “Hound Dog”, “Try A Little Tenderness” finishing off with a wonderful rendition of her well known hit “Shout” before she came back on stage for a rapturous encore.