Cover Girls, Vol. 17

Lizz Wright
Stop

On her second album, Dreaming Wide Awake, singer Lizz Wright continues her penchant for reinterpreting traditional material with her smokey, cool delivery. And while still only in her twenties, it’s remarkable at just how confident Wright brings these songs to new light.

One standout in particular is Wright’s rendition of ‘Stop,’ a song written by Joe Henry and originally performed by Henry’s sister-in-law, pop superstar Madonna who reworked the song and retitled it as ‘Don’t Tell Me’ for her album, Music, and a year later by Henry himself for his album, Scar.

Wright’s version is nearly unrecognizable in comparison to Madge’s and is tranformed into a beautifully emotive jazz and blues number that sways like a light breeze on a warm summer evening.

Stop from the album Dreaming Wide Awake

Tara Jane O’Neil
They Don’t Know

Sometimes one can find some great songs on compilations and soundtracks; especially if you look really hard.

On Songs To Break God’s Heart, Vol. 1, a compilation released in 2005 by indie label Acuarela, one can find singer-songwriter Tara Jane O’Neil’s rendition of ‘They Don’t Know,’ the 80’s hit written by the late and great Kirsty MacColl and popularized by actress Tracey Ullman in 1983.

O’Neil’s version lacks the pep and tartness of Ullman’s humorous rendition, but stays surprisingly true to MacColl’s original, even reproducing the infamous ‘Baby!’ climax. It’s watered down, lo-fi delivery is a surprisingly welcome change and makes for a great cover of a great song.

They Don’t Know from the compilation Songs To Break God’s Heart, Vol. 1

Rachael Sage
Anything, Anywhere

Since the late 90’s, the never-tiring Rachael Sage has been releasing a steady dose of albums, each one bringing her a step closer to wider recognition. It’s on her seventh album, 2006’s The Blistering Sun that will earn Sage her biggest audience yet.

The album, which features fourteen of original songs, also boasts a lovely cover of fellow songwriter Melissa Ferrick’s ‘Anything, Anywhere,’ a soft, sweeping tune of a one-of-a-kind love.

Anything, Anywhere from the album The Blistering Sun

Tanya Donelly
Long Long Long

For her fourth album, This Hungry Life singer-songwriter Tanya Donelly approached things slightly different. Instead of recording all the songs in a studio, Donelly gathered a small group of talented friends and musicians and recorded her performances during a small stint in Bellows Falls, Vermont. This Hungry Life is a collection of newer songs recorded during those performances.

One such cut from This Hungry Life is the George Harrison penned, Beatles track, ‘Long, Long, Long’ in which Donelly and her band pilot with confidence.

To those familiar with Donelly, her voice is as sweet and strong as ever and the new songs featured here are enveloped with a new energy which is noticeably refreshing.

Long Long Long from the album This Hungry Life