A double does of the Stones comes your way with an amazingly soulful take on this song from 1969’s Let It Bleed. The song is most notable for being the first track to feature Keef on lead vocals. Susan covered this song on her all Soul covers album Hope And Desire in 2005. The album features her husband Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall III on guitars.
In 1972, the Queen of Soul released what is arguably her greatest album: Young, Gifted and Black. Produced by Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin & Jerry Wexler, the album is a mix of Franklin originals and covers [It is named after a Nina Simone song]. The session players on the album were a veritable who’s who of the greatest players of the 1970s. That list includes Billy Preston, Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, The Memphis Horns, Dr. John, Donny Hathaway and “Pretty Purdie” amongst the many. This take on Sir Elton’s song is amongst my favorites on an album that also featured Rock Steady and Day Dreaming.
From the mid-50s through the mid-60s, Wanda Jackson was the Queen of Rockabilly sharing the stage with the King himself at many shows. And then she made a move to pure Country and eventually Gospel music. At the beginning of this year she released a Jack White produced album, This Party Ain’t Over that features this Bob Dylan song as the first single.
Ike & Tina reordered this version of the Beatles classic for their 1970 album of the same name. The sheer funky power of this take is a tribute to both Tina’s vocal prowess and Ike’s genius as a producer and bandleader.
Yvonne Fair recorded with Norman Whitfield for the Tamla/Motown label in the early ’70s. This version of the Edwin Starr single came out a year before the Temptations famous version from their All Directions album in 1972
Randy Crawford has been releasing R&B and Jazz records since the late ’70s. Her biggest hit was probably 1978’s Street Life with the Crusaders. On her Naked & True album in 1995 she covered this George Benson song from his 1980 album of the same title.
Natalie Cole is most famous for being the daughter of the great Nat King Cole, falling into drug addiction and then making a comeback on her Unforgettable…With Love album on which she covered he father’s songs (even performing a “duet” with him on the title track). Her take on Fiona Apple’s 1997 hit from the Tidal album doesn’t have the mind-blowing, sexy video of the original. However, it does have a funky backbeat and some scorching vocals. It comes from her 2006 album Leavin.
Bridging The Distance is a covers album put out in 2007 to benefit Portland’s pear organization that creatively mentors homeless youth in that city. I know next to nothing about The Kingdom. But I do know that every mixtape needs a little cheese. And Night Ranger has always been amongst my favorites. I still can recall seeing them live at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ on the Midnight Madness tour!
A great ballad always works well on a mixtape (unless your going for something very high energy). Think of Lloyd Dobler and Red Rain. Lizz Wright is a 31-year-old American Jazz singer and composer whose voice sounds way beyond her years. In 2008 she released the album The Orchard that featured guest playing by members of Calexico. This Page/Plant song form 1969’s Led Zeppelin II is the perfect way to end the mix and to say thanks for reading the blog and listening. Have a great weekend!
One Response
in an article about women you shouldn’t put JOSH stone on the list. Proofread much?