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There's an art to being larger-than-life, and Ronnie Spector's got it perfected. She may be diminutive, but when she sweeps onstage - all big hair, black velvet and cleavage - the magnitude of her history makes her movie-size. She knows it, too, blowing kittenish kisses and warmly rasping, "Ooh, I love you" to the crowd before reminding us that her next song, 'Don't Worry Baby' was written specially for her by Brian Wilson.

Crooner in seminal '60s girl-group THE RONETTES, ex-wife of PHIL SPECTOR, this is the lady whose shoowop and shimmy have inspired legions of female musicians from DEBBIE HARRY to KENICKIE. Now - newly signed to Creation Records - she's back to show us how it's really done.

Backing band lurking in her shadow, she roars through the classics - 'Best Part Of Breaking Up', 'Be My Baby' - and the 'new' material - JOHNNY THUNDERS' 'You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory', THE RAMONES' 'She Talks To Rainbows' - with glorious, cigarette-sultry aplomb.

Even when a true giant appears at her side - which we know from the Cousin It hair to be JOEY RAMONE - he's upstaged, and poor, weedy-voiced BETH ORTON, who clambers on for 'I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine', doesn't stand a chance. Who would? Ronnie Spector simply exudes stiletto-shod bad-girl cool. Listen and learn, SPICE GIRLS, listen and learn.

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