Macy Gray- Talking Book The Re-Imaging of a Classic (2012) VBR

Macy Gray- Talking Book The Re-Imaging of a Classic

Year 2012

Tracks
1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 3:11
2. Maybe Your Baby 4:22
3. You And I (We Can Conquer The World) 3:10
4. Tuesday Heartbreak 3:34
5. You've Got It Bad Girl 4:29
6. Superstition 4:30
7. Big Brother 3:41
8. Blame It On The Sun 3:46
9. Lookin' For Another Pure Love 3:51
10. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) 4:35

It's rather unusual for an artist to cover a single album, but that's exactly what Macy Gray is doing here. Paying tribute to Stevie Wonder's classic album here at it's 40 years jubilee.
In a way a strange choice perhaps as Macy's husky vocals are far cry from Wonder's amazing and jubilant voice. But that forces her to make her completely own interpretations, just the way a cover album should be. Even able to put a new spin on the classic hits of "You Are The Sunshine .." and "Superstitious", the last delivered in a slow groove version with the famous riff only making a brief and late appearance.
This is modern soul/funk at its best with sublime playing and perfect backing voices. And of the songs are all - even the lesser known - just brilliant masterpieces. What really lifts the album though is Macy's emotional engagement, the pain and self-examination of "Blame It On The Sun" and the infectious joy of "I believe..".
A surprisingly good and uplifting release.