September 20, 2012

Link

Macy Gray channels Stevie Wonder for her next project, a reinterpretation of the living legend's classic album Talking Book.

The Oct. 30 release of the 429 Records/Savoy Label Group project coincides with the 40th anniversary of the original recording.

The hits "Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition" are among the 10 Talking Book tracks that Gray re-imagines in collaboration with producer Hal Willner (Lou Reed, Metallica).

Describing her Talking Book reinterpretation as a "love letter" rather than a tribute album, Gray tells Billboard via email, "It's one of my favorite albums. I've never heard a whole album remake before. Thought I'd try one …"

Track listing:

"You Are the SunShine of My Life"

"Maybe Your Baby"

"You and I (We Can Conquer the World)"

"Tuesday Heartbreak"

"You've Got it Bad Girl"

"Superstition"

"Big Brother"

"Blame it on the Sun"

"Looking For Another Pure Love"

"I Believe (When I Fall in Love it will be Forever)""

She should call it 'Squalking Book'.

To repeat my comment from another board....."HELLLLL NOOOO!"

wasn't her last album a covers album? It's a shame that she has to go this route (re-making other artists' songs).But I'll be open-minded and give this one a listen.

"Blame it on the Sun" is my sentimental favorite from the album. I'm curious to hear how she tackles it. Can't say I've heard her singing many ballads though. Her releasing back to back covers hints that she doesn't have any good material of her own available.

bawking book, cause she sounds like a dead bird, so is her career

and thriller is being reinterpreted in 5, 4, 3, 2....

[Edited 9/20/12 6:46am]

I really like the idea of covering an entire album instead of just some of your favourite songs.

It's been done on a few occasions, but I understand most of those projects haven't remained faithful to the original. I doubt such projects are huge sellers, but it could be viewn as a musical challenge.

novabrkr said:

I really like the idea of covering an entire album instead of just some of your favourite songs.

It's been done on a few occasions, but I understand most of those projects haven't remained faithful to the original. I doubt such projects are huge sellers, but it could be viewn as a musical challenge.

I view it as being musically challenged if you can no longer come up with your own shit, and shit on other people's shit

Yeah, all those Miles Davis & Gil Evans albums based on other people's compositions were unimaginative shit too. Miles really jumped the shark with those ones.

novabrkr said:

Yeah, all those Miles Davis & Gil Evans albums based on other people's compositions were unimaginative shit too. Miles really jumped the shark with those ones.

I know people did covers all the time and did them well. I know mj and his bro's also did them, as did elvis, but they didn't rip off entire albums, they still had original material and talent. They worked hard to even make a name for themselves and performed in conditions they can't today. People who do it in today's context IMO are just lazy. I can understand several covers or a compilation of covers, but to do an entire album, I just don't agree with for some reason.

Oh, Miles did use entire pieces for his albums.

He did several jazz interpretations of operas and concertos.

Doing an entire album just shows to me that the artist is willing to dedicate him / herself to the project. It also underlines the importance of viewing songs in the context of other songs, which has been sort of lost these days. I agree that the way people do covers these days is rather irksome, but this project in question seems to be more about love for the music itself. Not that I'm necessarily that interested to hear Macy Gray's interpretations of Stevie's work, but perhaps something like Ben Harper doing an entire album by The Beatles could be more interesting.

So, unlike you, I consder the idea of doing an entire album instead of just a few random cover songs a more interesting approach.

Being that I was pleasantly surprised with the quality her last album, I'm actually looking forward to this release.

I guess covers are the only way she'll get a recording contract.

For some reason I like her. She's unique. Not the greatest voice, but I like it. I also admire anyone that can get noticed amongst all the lip syncing tarts with their tits and asses hanging out. I will check out this cd for sure.

Identity said:

Identity said:

"Blame it on the Sun" is my sentimental favorite from the album. I'm curious to hear how she tackles it. Can't say I've heard her singing many ballads though. Her releasing back to back covers hints that she doesn't have any good material of her own available.

Did you ever hear Tata Vega's version?? That woman can sing her behind off!!

Uh oh. Love Macy but no.

I'm one of the few people who doesn't like remakes of any kind (not even when Prince does it or when Frank Ocean repurposes instrumentals).

It's just intellectually and artistically lazy. As far as I'm concerned, Macy is an idea thief.

I love Macy. But she needs to focus on original creations or not record at all.

shorttrini said:

To repeat my comment from another board....."HELLLLL NOOOO!"

to add to your comment OH FUCK NO!!!

alexzander said:

She should call it 'Squalking Book'.

WIN!

and do not want.

[Edited 9/20/12 11:50am]

MidniteMagnet said:

I gotta say,she is a really bold artist.To remake a classic,legendary album like Talking Book....that takes alot of guts! if it sucks,she will be severely criticized.

Ain't that the truth.

I saw her live tonight - she was great. Did all her own material until the encore where she pulled out 4 of the covers from the recent project + I Try.

Apparently there will be a new album of original material next year.

This is one of the saddest things I think I've ever heard of. It would be different if was a Stevie cover album, but to take a whole Stevie album and call it your own, just wow

Im glad Macy still has a carer. She never is a big seller yet she still gets projects every 2 years or so. Go head Macy.

On cooking sacred cows, oh well.

uh didn't she just put another covers album out like a few weeks ago?

I totally get the thing about Macy's voice, it doesn't bother me but some people just can't take it.

I'm not really interested in this project, but over the course of her first three albums I think Macy really established herself as a very talented and stylistically diverse songwriter with a pleasingly dark and twisted sense of humor.

A lot of people still only know her from her first hit, but I think she is one of the most underrated artists of the last 12 years.

SynthiaRose said:

I'm one of the few people who doesn't like remakes of any kind (not even when Prince does it or when Frank Ocean repurposes instrumentals).

It's just intellectually and artistically lazy. As far as I'm concerned, Macy is an idea thief.

I love Macy. But she needs to focus on original creations or not record at all.

You have just described most of the artists on the radio today releasing original material.

I can't do it. I tried, but it still sounds like Donald Duck to me. Now she's covering Stevie? Good googly moogly I purposely skipped her opening for Sade. I saw India.Arie but had no desire to hear Macy sing.

I DO like her acting, & thought she was good in Training Day and Lackawanna Blues. Wish she'd focus on, or do more of that. She makes a great character actress.

novabrkr said:

SoulAlive said:

I gotta say,she is a really bold artist.To remake a classic,legendary album like Talking Book....that takes alot of guts! if it sucks,she will be severely criticized.

Ain't that the truth.

Those tunes are so good, it seems like a safe idea to me, actually.