Favorite cover albums

[glencro]

Aretha, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David Bowie, Luther and so many others have done cover albums [[full albums of remakes). What are you favorites.

Some of mine would be:

Regina Belle "Reaching Back"
Natalie Cole "Unforgettable with Love"
Patti Austin "The Real Me"
Seal "SOUL"
Phil Perry "Classic Love Songs"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6V_w3U4zcA

[sansradio]

Fantastic thread concept! I'll add:

Patti LaBelle - CLASSIC MOMENTS

Joni Mitchell - BOTH SIDES NOW

Aretha - UNFORGETTABLE: A TRIBUTE TO DINAH WASHINGTON
and ARETHA FRANKLIN SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS

Laura Nyro and Labelle - GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE [probably my all-time favorite cover LP]

Thelma Houston - A WOMAN'S TOUCH

Annie Lennox - MEDUSA and NOSTALGIA

Sinead O'Connor - AM I NOT YOUR GIRL?

The Supremes - SING RODGERS AND HART

Queen Latifah - THE DANA OWENS ALBUM

[PeaceNHarmony]

I love Natalie's cover of 'Take A Look' - in my estimation the ultimate reading.

[glencro]

Fantastic thread concept! I'll add:

Patti LaBelle - CLASSIC MOMENTS

Joni Mitchell - BOTH SIDES NOW

Aretha - UNFORGETTABLE: A TRIBUTE TO DINAH WASHINGTON
and ARETHA FRANKLIN SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS

Laura Nyro and Labelle - GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE [probably my all-time favorite cover LP]

Thelma Houston - A WOMAN'S TOUCH

Annie Lennox - MEDUSA and NOSTALGIA

Sinead O'Connor - AM I NOT YOUR GIRL?

The Supremes - SING RODGERS AND HART

Queen Latifah - THE DANA OWENS ALBUM

I didn't know that Thelma Houston had one out. I will DEFINITELY check that out

[sansradio]

I didn't know that Thelma Houston had one out. I will DEFINITELY check that out

You won't be disappointed, glencro. The concept is similar to Regina's in that all the selections were made famous by male vocalists [[hence the title). Everything from "Wake Up Everybody" to "Never Too Much" to "By the Time I Get to Phoenix". And Thelma delivers as only she can.

[sansradio]

Miki Howard's Pillow Talk ​album is an excellent cover set as well!

[Guy]

Interesting thread. Is there a difference between a "covers" album and a "standards" album?

[marv2]

Luther's cover album was my favorite.

[splanky]

Interesting thread. Is there a difference between a "covers" album and a "standards" album?

Generally speaking like the saying goes, the third times the charm...
When Miles Davis did Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time it was still a
cover as far as I know. When both Inoj and Cassandra Wilson both
did it in '99, it became a standard. BTW, that Regina Belle release
thrilled me to no end...

[Guy]

My favorite "covers" album is Randy Crawford's NAKED AND TRUE. So marvelous and original you forget she is singing covers. In most cases, her renditions rival or exceed the originals -- "Holding Back The Years", "Joy Inside My Tears", "I'll Be Around", "Give Me The Night", "All The King's Horses", etc.

[Guy]

Generally speaking like the saying goes, the third times the charm...
When Miles Davis did Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time it was still a
cover as far as I know. When both Inoj and Cassandra Wilson both
did it in '99, it became a standard. BTW, that Regina Belle release
thrilled me to no end...


Thanks. It's good to know that rule of thumb.

[sansradio]

My favorite "covers" album is Randy Crawford's NAKED AND TRUE. So marvelous and original you forget she is singing covers. In most cases, her renditions rival or exceed the originals -- "Holding Back The Years", "Joy Inside My Tears", "I'll Be Around", "Give Me The Night", "All The King's Horses", etc.

How could I forget NAKED AND TRUE?!?? I absolutely agree; one of the best ever!

[jack020]

Ronald Isley meets Burt Bacharach - Here I Am
Diana Krall - The Look Of Love
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Silk N Soul
Marvin Gaye - Vulnerable

[RichyP]

Does Ruby Turners Motown Song Book qualify
Some great reinterpretations of some great Motown Classics, some of which feature cameos from the original groups/artists, Temptations, four tops Jimmy Ruffin etc.

[Motown Eddie]

My favorite covers albums;
1. The Temptations-The Temptations Sing Smokey
2. Marvin Gaye-Vunerable
3. Laura Nyro & LaBelle-Gonna Take A Miracle
4. The Isley Bros.-Giving It Back

[sansradio]

It contains one original song, but so do others I've chosen: Vanessa Williams' Everlasting Love. Outstanding!

[splanky]

My favorite covers albums;
1. The Temptations-The Temptations Sing Smokey
2. Marvin Gaye-Vunerable
3. Laura Nyro & LaBelle-Gonna Take A Miracle
4. The Isley Bros.-Giving It Back



Giving It Back is one of the most under-rated covers albums of all of
that era's releases. The album cover itself shows the 3 brothers each
holding guitars but could Ronnie actually play one? Ernie, not pictured, played his ass off on Ohio and I think this album was where
their cousin Chris Jasper made his debut with the band. Also, only Ronnie sings all the leads if I remember correctly...These cats got me
through a lot of shit back in the day; glad to see a mention of them...

[Motown Eddie]

I forgot to put this one on my 'favorite cover albums' list;

Rotary Connection-Songs

[Motown Eddie]

Giving It Back is one of the most under-rated covers albums of all of
that era's releases. The album cover itself shows the 3 brothers each
holding guitars but could Ronnie actually play one? Ernie, not pictured, played his ass off on Ohio and I think this album was where
their cousin Chris Jasper made his debut with the band. Also, only Ronnie sings all the leads if I remember correctly...These cats got me
through a lot of shit back in the day; glad to see a mention of them...

Thanks Splanky. While the cover of The Isley's Giving It Back shows the brothers holding acoustic guitars, I don't believe that any of them actually played them. It does however reflect the laid-back mood of the album [[and the fact that it's mostly covers of songs from the singer songwriter/soft rock genre). Also, this is the first Isley Bros. to feature the work of Chris Jasper on keyboards & Ernie Isley's great guitar work on "Ohio/Machine Gun".

[splanky]

Eddie, O' Kelly and Rudolph have been credited with bass and/or
guitar playing before, I was just wondering about Ronnie. There've
been a number of artists with musical abilities they don't usually
feature in their own performances or recordings...I bet a lot of folks
didn't know Al Green could pluck a few strings with some skill...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhhDOPPfAyM
I was involved in a discussion a while back about rappers who
could play musical instruments, the most famous being Flavor Flav...

[Motown Eddie]

Eddie, O' Kelly and Rudolph have been credited with bass and/or
guitar playing before, I was just wondering about Ronnie. There've
been a number of artists with musical abilities they don't usually
feature in their own performances or recordings...I bet a lot of folks
didn't know Al Green could pluck a few strings with some skill...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhhDOPPfAyM
I was involved in a discussion a while back about rappers who
could play musical instruments, the most famous being Flavor Flav...

Splanky-a quick glance at the personnel credits for Givin' It Back do not credit Ronnie Isley [[nor brothers Rudolph & O' Kelly) with playing guitar on the album. In fact, you do find the beginnings of the "3+3" lineup [[with Chris Jasper, Marvin & Ernie Isley with others) on the sessions. However, I wasn't aware that O' Kelly & Rudolph had played guitar/bass on earlier Isley Bros. LPs. And that clip of Al Green playing guitar on "Simply Beautiful" was a pleasant surprise.

[glencro]

Miki Howard's Pillow Talk ​album is an excellent cover set as well!

Will check that out...I LOVE Miki

[Ozmo]

Aretha, Michael McDonald, Natalie Cole, David Bowie, Luther and so many others have done cover albums [[full albums of remakes). What are you favorites.

Some of mine would be:

Regina Belle "Reaching Back"
Natalie Cole "Unforgettable with Love"
Patti Austin "The Real Me"
Seal "SOUL"
Phil Perry "Classic Love Songs"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6V_w3U4zcA

Regina Belle also had a more jazz orientated covers album titled 'Lazy Afternoon' which was also very good. I love her version of 'If I Ruled The World'.

[sansradio]

Bump:

I just discovered Mica Paris' Soul Classics CD from 2005. Since I just scored a copy today [[$5 used!), I haven't had a chance to listen as of yet. But with a voice like Mica's and a tracklist like this, it can't miss! Will report back as soon as I give it a spin.




1
Tracks of My Tears

2
Let's Stay Together

3
In the Ghetto

4
Standing in the Shadows of Love

5
I Can't Stop Loving You

6
You Send Me

7
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted

8
What's Going On

9
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

10
Walk Away From Love

11
Amazing Grace

[marv2]

Mary Wilson's "Up Close".

Track list:

"Here's To Life"
"Smile"
"Body & Soul"
"I Believe In You & Me"
"Spring Is Here"
"Fields of Gold"
"I Remember You"/"The Girls from Ipanema"/"Mas Que Nada"
"New York State of Mind"
"Don't Know Why"
"My World Is Empty Without You"
"Tears In Heaven"
"I Am Changing"
"Both Sides Now"
"What A Wonderful World"

[TomatoTom123]

Hey sans, I have that Mica Paris album and it is great! Great voice and great production. Love her version of "Walk Away From Love"!

[mr_june]

First 2 to pop in my head:

Temptations "Greatest Hits 2"
Archie Bell & The Drells "There's Gonna Be A Show Down" & "Tighten UP"

[sansradio]

Hey sans, I have that Mica Paris album and it is great! Great voice and great production. Love her version of "Walk Away From Love"!

Great! Of course, I trust your judgment and will bump again when I get the chance.

[arr&bee]

Nice post,james brown's tribute lp to little willie john.

[glencro]

Regina Belle also had a more jazz orientated covers album titled 'Lazy Afternoon' which was also very good. I love her version of 'If I Ruled The World'.

That Lazy Afternoon album is a favorite of mine. She and George Duke were great together.

[jack020]

Wallflower - Diana Krall
Complete Reprise - Sinatra & Jobim
Songs From The Last Century - George Michael
Timeless - Kenny Latimore
New York Rhapsody - Lang Lang
Unconditional love - Ruben Studdard
Who'll Speak For Love & The Look Of Love - Trijntje Oosterhuis

[marv2]

Wallflower - Diana Krall
Complete Reprise - Sinatra & Jobim
Songs From The Last Century - George Michael
Timeless - Kenny Latimore
New York Rhapsody - Lang Lang
Unconditional love - Ruben Studdard
Who'll Speak For Love & The Look Of Love - Trijntje Oosterhuis

I have and like "Songs From The Last Century" - George Michael

[phil]

Johnny Adams ‎– Walking On A Tightrope [[The Songs Of Percy Mayfield)

For those who don't know this gem here it is :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR-ftiTfoBk

[manny]

IMHO, "The Soulful Strings Plays Gamble & Huff" is a good one. Symphonyc Chi-Sound covering symphonic Philly Sound, the strings conducted by Carl Davis at their best, mellow instrumental takes of Jerry Butler's 60's G & H classics among others.

[sansradio]

Hey sans, I have that Mica Paris album and it is great! Great voice and great production. Love her version of "Walk Away From Love"!

Okay, Tom, just finished listening. As big of a Mica enthusiast as I am, I have to say that I'm not as taken as you are by it. I found it to be a by-the-numbers [[if pleasantly so) karaoke affair. "Let's Stay Together," for me, is the only track on which she cuts loose. I give it a lukewarm 6.5. *shrugs*