Rating: 4/5
Review:
Mixed but well worth it
Collections of cover versions like this are almost always a mixed
bag. This is no exception, but for me it’s well worth having
because there’s some terrific stuff on it.
It’s an extremely
diverse collection, which is a very good thing. Naturally, these
things are a matter of personal taste so plenty of people will like
the tracks which I don’t like and vice versa. Some of my own
favourites are Harpers Bizarre’s sunshine version of The 59th
Street Bridge Song, Emmylou Harris’s soulful The Boxer and a
wonderful, haunting rendition of Leaves That Are Green by Dorris
Henderson and John Renbourn. On the other hand, The Tennors’
version of of The Only Living Boy In New York is horribly mangled, I
can’t stand what Peaches & Herb do to The Sound of Silence and
even as a huge Aretha fan I don’t think her interpretation fits
Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Of course such a
collection is going to provoke reactions like this in all of us and
we’ll all have different responses – which is part of music’s
delight. Everyone will find plenty to enjoy here and even the ones
you don’t are interesting and you can always skip. Personally, I’d
recommend this collection warmly.
