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Various Artists

Legends Play The Beatles

Review by Gary Hill

This new album showcases a lot of cool Beatles covers from a number of artists. It's actually compiled of tracks previously released on a number of albums. I've reviewed one of them before, and for the sake of consistency I've used the track reviews (with some modification or addition) for those songs here - although I wrote one fresh because I didn't hear it the same way this time around (it might be a new mix of the song). In addition to the musicians listed on the titles, there are a number of interesting performers here. Several current members of Yes are on this release - Billy Sherwood, Jay Schellen, Geoff Downes and Alan White. Jürgen Engler  of Die Krupps is another featured musician here.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

Track by Track Review
Richard Page & Steve Morse - Here Comes The Sun
I really like this a lot. It's partly faithful, but also makes its way into more modern, proggier zones. Sherwood's bass work (he also contributes keyboards) on the breaks has a decided Chris Squire-like sound. Schellen provides the drums on this song.
Ann Wilson - Across The Universe
There is a modern, electronic music vibe here, but also plenty of psychedelia. This isn't an enormous change, but yet it is quite different than the original. I'm not completely crazy about some of the processing on the vocals, though. Engler provides the instrumentation on this song.
John Wetton - Penny Lane
The acoustic basis here brings some definite difference. John Wetton’s voice is unmistakable, too. I like the vocal arrangement. The flute is a nice touch, too. Wetton provides just the vocals here (foregoing his bass work), while Engler creates all the instrumental music to the piece.
Molly Hatchet - Back In The USSR
Molly Hatchet put in a smoking hot rendition of this tune. It's not a huge change, but it's a definite updating.
Andrew Gold - Norwegian Wood
This sounds shockingly like the Beatles. It’s a great rendition. It’s actually one of my favorites here. Engler is the person responsible for all the instrumental work backing up Gold's vocals.
Air Supply - The Long And Winding Road
This is a great rendition of the song. It has so much charm and style to it. It is another that feels more like an updating than a revision. Schellen does the drumming on this song, while Sherwood contributes keyboards bass and electric guitar. Air Supply's Russell Hitchcock does the lead vocals while his band-mate Graham Russell plays acoustic guitar and handles the backing vocals.
Electric Moon - Tomorrow Never Knows
I really dig the psychedelic rock groove on this piece. This is again not a big change from the original, but it's also so tasty.
Sugar Candy Mountain - Rain
I love the cool psychedelic vibe to this number. It's not a huge change, but it's definitely distinct from the original.
Jack Bruce - Eleanor Rigby
I’ve always loved this song. This symphonically enhanced rendition is classy. I like Bruce’s voice, too. The vocals are his sole contribution to this with Engler handling all the instrumentation.
Howard Jones - And I Love Her
Here’s another that almost feels like the Beatles at times. It’s a strong rendition, if not revolutionary. Again, Engler does the instrumental arrangement to back up Jones' vocals.
Judy Collins - Yesterday
Judy Collins provides guitar and vocals on this rendition. That said, there are other things here as  accompaniment. This is precisely what you'd expect from Collins. It's also quite good.
Glenn Hughes - Let It Be
This track comes to life with a piano and vocal arrangement, too. It grows outward gradually from there, eventually getting quite rocking. The song is a rework of the original that brings some more soulful elements to bear, while also representing the original magic well. While the vocals are handled by Hughes, Geoff Downes plays the keyboards. Sherwood contributes bas and backing vocals, while Alan White is the drummer.
 
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