Detroit City Swings

This week I've written about both Motown and Sinatra.  

Well wouldn't you know it, there is a cool cd that combines the two.  MOTOWN CELEBRATES SINATRA is a compilation of Motown artists covering tunes associated with Ol' Blue Eyes.

It's not on itunes, but you can order it here from amazon.com.

Not all of the songs on the cd are "amazing," but overall it is a cool cd.  Love Marvin Gaye's soulful cover of ONE FOR MY BABY.  This track is actually on itunes.  Check it out.  Great stuff.

My favorite track is Gladys Knight and the Pips going to town on JUST IN TIME.  This song has been on other compilations as well (no itunes though.)  Their version has a great groove to it and then suddenly kicks into overdrive.  This may be my favorite version of the song besides Blossom Dearie's (and there are a LOT of versions!)

You can hear samples of the whole album here.

Hitsville

Motown night on American Idol was really good tonight.  Adam Lambert did an amazing rendition of TRACKS OF MY TEARS.  

They announced on the show tonight that the versions on itunes this week would be to the original instrumentations.  Isn't that basically Karaoke?  If this is true, I will be very disappointed because I would love to hear a studio version of Adam doing that song.  

Each week itunes offers extended studio versions of the songs as well as videos of the show performances.  I usually really dig them.  It's very interesting to hear what each performer sounds like in the studio.  Sometimes you love a number on the show and then when you hear the studio cut, there is no magic.  Other times it's the complete opposite.

You CAN also download free mp3's of the live versions (including Adam's from last night) on the blog www.rickey.org.  Many times they often are posted the same night of the show. 

A few years back a MOTOWN REMIXED album was released.  A second volume followed.  The results were varied, but I really dig DJ Smash's remix of Stevie Wonder's SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED, I'M YOURS.  It's got a great groove and really show's off Stevie's voice (which is not always the case with remix albums.) 

Check it out...

Here is a video about the remix album.