Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week's alternative CD releases.

Dusty Springfield, "Reputation : Expanded Collector's Album" (SFE / Cherry Red)- Dusty Springfield's career had been in the doldrums for many a long year when she joined forces with the Pet Shop Boys in 1990 to record a sizeable chunk of "Reputation," and the rest, as the old cliche goes, is history. Two hit singles, "In Private" and "Nothing Has Been Proved," followed and the finest blue-eyed soul singer that Britain has ever produced found her fortunes rejuvenated. This expanded 3 disc set should be a must for Dusty completists, serving up the original album alongside assorted extended versions, re-mixes and B-sides and a DVD featuring the promotional videos for the five singles extracted from "Reputation." Splendid stuff.

Brandy Clark, "Big Day in a Small Town" (Warner Bros.)- Grammy nominated country balladeer Brandy Clark chronicles the everyday trials and tribulations of life in small town America in a package which elevates plain speaking and emotional honesty to the level of an art form. Clark and producer Jay Joyce certainly haven't succumbed to the "difficult second album" syndrome as she follows up her acclaimed 2013 debut set, "12 Songs" with a much more punchy and polished collection liberally peppered with newly minted gems such as "Homecoming Queen," "Girl Next Door" and the poignant "Since You've Gone To Heaven."

Kaia Kater, "Nine Pin" (Proper Records)-Gifted singer and banjo player Kaia Kater was recently nominated by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the "10 New Country Artists You Need To Know," and "Nine Pin" represents a near perfect fusion of the Canadian folk music which surrounded her during her formative years in Toronto and the pure Appalachian culture which she would later spend many years studying in the hills of West Virginia. Kaia's Afro-Caribbean ancestry informs the lyrical content of many of the most compelling creations showcased here, including "Rising Down," "Paradise Fell" and the a capella, jazz tinged "Harlem's Little Blackbird."

Redbone, "Redbone" (Repertoire)- This 1970 album marked the impressively funky recording debut of Redbone, the rootsy Native American rockers who are probably best remembered these days for their sizeable worldwide hit, "The Witch Queen of New Orleans." Brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas fronted an eclectic outfit whose heady fusion of rock, cajun, r&b and latin influences is captured at its most compelling here on stand-out tracks such as "Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band" and "Niki Hokey," which had given P.J.Proby his only taste of American chart success a few years earlier in 1967.