Recording a cover song is like riding a horse. Treat it with respect and you’ll make it home alive, but give it just one too many kicks and you end up on your head. Recording an entire album of cover songs is like trying to ride 10 horses. If you’re good and lucky you will make it home with 9 of them. Recording an entire album of cover songs by the SAME artist is like trying to ride 10 horses in a pounding rain storm. The chances of you ending up face down in the mud, trampled by hoof prints, is very very good. Beth McKee’s new release I’m That Way is great attempt at bringing ten horses home in a pounding rain storm. Itis a collection of cover songs by the late songwriting great Bobby Charles. In the liner notes it is billed as “a tribute to Bobby and Louisiana” and comes off well considering the difficulty of the task.
Beth McKee sings the opening song “I Spent All My Money Lovin’ You” like she is actually flat broke from a spending spree. She really takes control of the song and makes it her own. She rides that magic into the next track “But I Do” with great success, much of which is owed to the brilliant band backing her up. They play as if they invented music itself and are simply showing you how good it can be. The horn section, made up of Charles Dechant and Jerry Embree, keep the songs on track with the help of percussionist Juan Perez who gives them a rock steady beat to play around with.
In the world of music though some songs are untouchable and one would be wise to not cover them. “Walking to New Orleans” is Fats Domino. Unfortunately Ms. McKee doesn’t quite pull this classic off in my opinion and given the catalog of Bobby Charles songs surely another lesser known song could have been found. The problem is that she really doesn’t bring anything to the song like she does on others.
All in all, I’m That Way is a good effort in tackling great songs. Bobby McKee’s smokey southern voice rarely stumbles and leaves you hoping to hear some original material someday soon.
Hot Tracks- Last Train To Memphis, But I Do, Small Town Talk
Doug Morrissey- Muzikreviews.com Staff
June 1, 2010
