Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
Anyone who purchases this album with the idea that they’ll be hearing faithful recreations of their old rock favorites will be in for quite a surprise. LaVette is an R&B artist who never received the commercial success of her contemporaries such as Aretha Franklin or Smokey Robinson. Her artistic reach, however, is every bit as determined and strong. Not everyone will immediately recognize these songs. The Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin” is now a nightclub lament. The Beatles’ “The Word” is brought to its gospel roots. The Rolling Stones’ “Salt of the Earth” is taken from its acoustic blues context and brought up to date as a contemporary piece of soul music. Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” is hardly the FM radio staple. The Animals’ “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” is worked over. The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me,” recorded live at the Kennedy Honors Ceremony which provided the inspiration for this album, is like every song here recreated in LaVette’s likeness. You might as well as consider these completely new songs.
The soul veteran puts her own spin on songs by the Who, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and more.
In the ’60s and ’70s, the love affair between American R&B and British rock was wholly reciprocal. Soul veteran Bettye LaVette hinted at her love of that era on her 2007 comeback album, The Scene Of The Crime, on which she sang a stunning cover of Elton John’s “Talking Old Soldiers.” On her new full-length, Interpretat…
At first glance, Bettye LaVette's 2010 album Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, would appear to be just another collection of covers.
Soul legend records a selection of Britrock classics, to little apparent purpose. By <strong>Maddy Costa</strong>