Ashaki's Aural Pleasure Palace

Things got a bit out of order in the music bins. Nonetheless, I’ve got new soul from the “old” school artists. These are classic gems crooned by a surprise roster of artists, many of whom generally haven’t crossed over from their funk/pop/blues settlements. Yet, each artists selected songs for which their interpretations bring new magic to the work. George Clinton as a balladeer? His cranky rasp does more than justice to Curtis Mayfield’s “Gypsy Woman” and Solomon Burke can sing  “Candy” to feel the poetry in hearing the big man beg for it. Lou Rawls, Tina Turner and Cassandra Wilson bring their whisky-and-smoke-in-the-throat husky depths to  pop and jazz classics, and Marlena Shaw keeps striking the notes that keep everyone confused between Nancy Wilson and herself. Al Green silks through another ballad that should make the original singer stop performing it altogether.

It’s a testament to talent to take ownership of a song, and most of us are more than satisfied with the efforts and results from the original artists. Unlike jazz, R&B doesn’t often produce multiple takes on a song, and certainly not many that turn out to be as beloved as the original cut. Remakes of R&B classics generally lead us back to the beginning. There are exceptions- Whitney Houston managed to equitably match Chaka Khan on her rendition of “I’m Every Woman” and she didn’t spoil the Manhattans “Just the Lonely Talking Again.”  The Whispers’ version of the Donny Hathaway Christmas classic “This Christmas” turned from a raucous and joyous fest into a sensuous ballad for the Quiet Storm crowd. It’s incredibly different and equally beautiful. I’ll take Lakeside’s “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” over the Beatles any day of the week, and as much as I admire Kris Kristofferson and the Bee Gees, Al Green covers their respective works with a solemnity and heart-breaking ache unmatched by the owners versions. Of course, Luther Vandross made Burt Bacharach an even richer man with his interpretations of Bacharach ballads. If there ever was an artists whose genius shined best reinterpreting others’ classics, it was Luther Vandross. While not everything he “retouched” turned to platinum or gold, he had the gift that might make you worry if he selected one of your hits to touch-up.

Like sports and politics, music will never yield to a singular interpretation. We debate ownership in an attempt to keep our audio territory pure, clean and sharp. Music bins are full of dusty has-beens that never deserved top-billing. However, as these singers prove, great songwriting is the most seductive of sweets, and its hard to keep your hat out of the ring if temptation taunts. Hats off to this group of singers that took the words and made the words their own.

George Clinton-Gypsy Woman f/ Carlos Santana & El DeBarge

Solomon Burke-Candy

Willie Hutch-Stormy Weather

Esther Phillips- Use Me

Nancy Wilson-Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Marlena Shaw-So Far Away

Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye-Stop, Look, Listen

Low Rawls-You’ve Made Me So Very Happy

Tina Turner-Sometimes When We Touch

Nina Simone-To Love Somebody

Al Green-God Bless Our Love

Etta James-It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World

Cassandra Wilson-If Loving You is Wrong