In conjunction with radio42.com and rautemusik.fm jazz-not-jazz presents two hours of simply great music every Friday 19:00-21:00 UTC+1 (you don’t have to convert it for Germany…that’s Friday 13:00-15:00 in NYC, Friday 10:00-12:00 in San Francisco and Saturday 04:00-06:00 in Sydney). The links of the audio stream can be found on radio42.com or rautemusik.fm (look for #Musik.Lounge there).

This time it’s all about cover versions and I’ve finally found the time to write a few notes to each song on the playlist. Don’t hestitate to let me know what you think of these cover versions in the comments.

Dianne Reeves: Both Sides Now (from Quiet After The Storm - Blue Note/Capitol)

I must admit that I’ve never ever heard the original version by Joni Mitchell but for me Dianne does a very good and convincing version with George Duke on piano.

Ruth Brown: Always On My Mind (from Have A Good Time - Fantasy Records)

Forget the Elvis version of this tune and also the more than mediocre dance version by the Pet Shop Boys. Ruth Brown’s version of the Willie Nelson hit Always On My Mind beats them all. Recorded live at the Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1988 this version has it all: soul, blues and a heartfelt performance by Ruth, who really has seen and heard it all in her long career spanning over 55 years. Her records for Atlantic Records were so successful that some call Atlantic the house that Ruth build.

Milira: Rocket Love (from Back Again!!! - Motown)

Milira had released two albums on Motown. Milira in 1989 and Back Again!!! in 1992. On the latter appears her version of Stevie Wonder’s Rocket Love, which appeared on his 1980 album Hotter Than July). Produced by Lemel Humes (who also had a few hits in the late 80s/early 90s as writer/producer) this version was actually the one that introduced me to this song. And Milira’s version still sounds a little blusier too me.

Intro: Ribbon In The Sky (from Intro - Atlantic)

This is again a Stevie Wonder song and again this was the first version of this song I’ve heard back in 1993. Stevie’s version was featured on his Original Musiquarium album from 1982. Intro had a minor hit with Love Thang and even got the chance to release a second album on Atlantic. Unfortunately the uptempo stuff sounds a little bit dated but Intro’s ballads like Ribbon In The Sky still sounds good.

BeBe Winans: Jesus Children Of America (ft. Stevie Wonder & Marvin L. Winans) (from Love & Freedom - Atlantic)

Is this really a cover version when Stevie is featured on it? Actually this version sticks closely to the original from the Innervisions album from 1973. Nevertheless it’s a great update of classic Stevie Wonder tune.

Abbey Lincoln & Archie Shepp: Golden Lady (from Painted Lady - ITM Records)

I’m sure you’ve guessed it…another Stevie Wonder cover…another song from the Innervisions album (I guess I will do a Stevie Wonder cover versions show in the future…since he has written such great tunes and many artists have actually recorded some very good versions of his songs). This time we get a jazz version with Abbey on vocals and Archie on saxophone. There’s also a fine version of Golden Lady by Frank McComb but actually I prefer this cover since it gives the song a new direction and meaning. And its epic 9 and a half minutes only adds to its appeal.

Angela Stribling: Fever (from Angela Stribling Live - SundaysChild Music)

Reworking an old chestnut that everybody has done is never easy if you want to impress listeners with your version. But with this live version Angela manages it to breath new life into Fever…and there’s even Stevie Wonder talking to Angela.

Sunny Sumter: A Change Is Gonna Come (from Freedom Sampler - DCI Productions/J.Jordan Music)

I’ve already mentioned it in my review of the Freedom Sampler how much I value Sunny’s version of this Sam Cooke tune. If you haven’t heard of Sunny yet, it’s really a loss and about time to get into her music.

Gladys Knight: Grandma’s Hands (from At Last - MCA)

Gladys Knight is almost as long on stage as Ruth Brown because she started at the tender age of 7 by winning Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour TV show contest in 1952.
Grandma’s Hand was original recorded (and written) by Bill Withers and Gladys does a great job on her version. Actually this is my highlight together with I Said You Lied from her 2001 album At Last. I really would love to hear Gladys on a organic and deep soul set in the future instead of all the useless attempts to appeal to a younger audience with some modern sounds that make an album like At Last a mediocre mishmash.

Will Downing: Wishing On A Star (from Come Together As One - 4th & B’way/Island)

Will started his career as solo artist with a cover of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme and before that he could be heard as part of Wally Jump Jr. And The Criminal Element (a project by Arthur Baker) on Ain’t Gonna Pay One Red Cent (an answer record to Gwen Guthrie’s Ain’t Nothing Going On But The Rent). Maybe that’s the reason why Will always deliver great cover versions. Rose Royce’s Wishing On A Star gets re-done as soulful ballad with piano intro and a lush string section (arranged by Onaje Allan Gumbs). Again this was my first version I’ve heard of this song in 1989. Maybe you can imagine what a disappointment it was to hear the original version years later.

Patti LaBelle: If You Don’t Know Me By Now (Live) (from Patti - PIR)

Here’s another chestnut that has seen many mediocre remakes (e.g. by Simply Red). But this live version from 1985 is a great extended live update of Harold melvin & The Blue Notes smash hit from 1972. Unfortunately this is the only song on the Patti album that is worthwhile. The rest are just left-overs from various 1981-83 sessions for Philadelphia International Records that fail to impress.

Alyson Williams: Dr. Feelgood (live) (from Cooked - CBS)

Alyson’s version originally appeared as flipside to her single I Second That Emotion in 1989. But one year later it also appeared on the remix album Cooked (its predecessor was called Raw by the way). Recorded live at Boca Raton, Florida, this tune features Kirk Whalum on sax and it finally delivers some rawness Alyson’s studio recordings lacked somehow.

James Love: Blue Moon (from Invitations - Jazzin Productions)

From James’ debut album with cover versions only comes this great version of Blue Moon. The album Invitations is one of these albums that proves you can even impress with an album full of covers if you know how to record them.

Nnenna Freelon & Jon Lucien: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (from Listen - Columbia)

Two of my favourite jazz/soul singers doing a duet…what else could I do than love this song? The Shirelles were the first to record this song by Carole King and Gerry Goffin in 1961. There are other fine versions of this song by Roberta Flack or Dianne Reeves but, hey, they don’t feature Jon Lucien *grin*

Julie Dexter: God Bless The Dub (from Dexterity - Ketch A Vibe Records)

Originally called God Bless The Child and made famous by Billie Holiday this tune has been done by everyone and their mother. But Julie did something different with this tune by adding a reggae/dub rhythm and that’s what makes her version so great.

Sample This: Family Affair (from Sample This! - Elektra)

Sample This have only released this one album in 1993 as far as I know. Actually they were three people (although you can see only two of them on the cover): Anton Pukshansky (bass, guitar), Curtis Watts (drums, percussion) and Traedonya (vocals). Although Sample This was an US band their sound was more earthy and organic making them sound like a UK band like the Brand New Heavies. I really like their soulful rendition of Sly Stone’s Family Affair. Maysa Leak also did a good version of Family Affair although it sounded more like Incognito featuring Maysa.

Nina Simone: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (from Broadway Blues Ballads - Philips)

Did you notice it? This song is actually not a cover version because Nina was the one who’ve recorded this song the first time in 1964. Although she didn’t wrote it. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood was written by Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus, and Bennie Benjamin.

Courtney Pine: When The World Turns Blue (ft. Carleen Anderson) (from Devotion - Telarc Jazz)

Here we have two of my favourite artists again…just like on the Nnenna Freelon and Jon Lucien tune and what else can I do than like this track? The original version was recorded in 1979 by Merry Clayton on Emotion, her 1979 album for MCA.

Sharon Jones & The DAP Kings: What Have You Done For Me Lately (from Dap-Dippin’ With… - Daptone Records)

What a great version of this Janet Jackson song, that was written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Sharon and her DAP Kings gives it a funky treatment you swear it was recorded ages ago and not this century.

Bossa Nostra: Home Is Where The Hatred Is (ft. Vicki Anderson) (from Solaria - Irma)

This is also a great funky update of a Gil Scott-Heron tune this time. The Italian group Bossa Nostra teamed up with Vicki Anderson (Carleen’s mother by the way) for two songs on their album Solaria in 1996.

Alice Coltrane: The Firebird (from Lord Of Lords - Impulse)

I’ve never been into classical music, but I must admit I like Alice versions of Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird. In the liner notes to her Lord Of Lords album there’s an oblique explanation by Alice about The Firebird:
“On March 20, 1972, I was blessed with the good fortune of receiving a visitation from the great master composer, Mr. Igor Stravinsky, whom I had never met before in life. After a warm and intimate discussion on the subject of music, he said: “I wanted you to receive my vote.” I did not fully understand his meaning. He then presented me with a small glass vial containing a clear, colorless liquid. He was seated in a comfortable armchair; he held me close and said, “Daughter, this vial was for your grandmother, but instead, I kept it in reserve for you.” He then asked if I would like elixir, I said yes. As he walked away for it, I began to drink from the vial. To my surprise, it was difficult to swallow. When it was finished, Mr. Stravinsky returned. Since that time, I have kept the album photograph from Mr. Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in my room. As opposed to this photograph, he had the appearance of an elderly man, but none of the weariness or age lines shown on this face.
Since that time, it has been incumbent on me to proceed forthrightly into the great master Stravinsky’s works. Divine instruction has been given to me throughout the entire arranging of this music, even down to the smallest detail. Ohnedaruth, when he was John Coltrane, seven years ago, introduced to me the music of, as he termed it, “a Universal musician and composer,” Mr. Igor Stravinsky.“