The Italian superstar’s sweet tenor has graced opera and pop classics alike. Here, working with David Foster, he turns up the romantic heat on Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” and adds samba sizzle to “Girl from Ipanema.” Ever versatile, Andrea also duets in Portuguese with Nelly Furtado and in Spanish with Jennifer Lopez.
While on the set of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, star Johnny Depp cooked up a plan to release an album of old pirate songs and sea chanteys. Faster than you could say ahoy me mateys, Rogue’s Gallery appeared, featuring surprising contributions from Lou Reed, Sting, U2’s Bono and others. Now Depp and his Pirates cohorts have hoisted the flag on an ambitious sequel that ventures even deeper into shiver-me-timbers territory. The 2-CD collection sets sails with Johnny joining ex-Pogues singer Shane MacGowan on a salty “Leaving of Liverpool,” while Depp also pairs up with Patti Smith on “The Mermaid.” Hollywood friends Tim Robbins and Angelica Huston also make appearances. But the ...
With singer Roland Gift and ex-members of the English Beat, FYC was one of the most exciting pop bands of the ’80s, mixing funk and punk with soul and disco. This deluxe 2-CD reissue of its second album includes the hits “She Drives Me Crazy” and “Good Thing” plus a wealth of dance remixes.
Although Crowell played in Harris’ legendary Hot Band in the 1970s, this marks their first official collaboration. It’s a match made in heaven. His sturdy tenor perfectly compliments her pristine soprano, as the Grammy-winning veterans duet on bittersweet country ballads and honky-tonk tunes like Crowell’s “Here We Are” and his classic “Bluebird Wine.”
Tegan and Sara Quin attracted a loyal following with melancholic indie rock. But with their seventh CD, the twin sisters have embraced their inner Cyndi Laupers and crafted a surprising ’80s-style pop album, full of surging synths and soaring choruses. With infectious songs like “Goodbye, Goodbye,” heartbreak has rarely sounded so joyous.
It’s been over a decade since Beyoncé eclipsed her girl-group origins. The artist who introduced “bootylicious” to English dictionaries and helped single ladies get over ex-boyfriends has risen to become global superstar. But Destiny’s Child, with cousin Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, has always remained close to her heart. “We all started in the ’90s, when r&b was the most important genre,” recalls Beyoncé. “And we all want that back, the feeling that music gave us. Vintage r&b abounds on this collection of sensuous sounds from Destiny’s Child, who are reuniting to perform at next month’s Super Bowl. Featuring 13 of the group’s most romantic tracks plus one new song, it showca...
Grobanites are accustomed to their hero singing in different languages. Here, Josh duets in Italian with pop star Laura Pausini, tackles Spanish backed by Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and covers the great Stevie Wonder. But the L.A.-born singer-actor is also composing more memorable tunes, co-writing the inspirational “Brave” with Tawgs Salter and Chantal Kreviazuk.
Everyone’s just wild about Harry. The singer-pianist’s breakthrough came in 1989 when his smooth jazz caused Tony Bennett to call him “the next Frank Sinatra.” His lean good looks quickly led to acting, most notably in Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock and lately in TV’s Will & Grace and Law & Order. Recently, Connick Jr. has devoted himself to his New Orleans birthplace, organizing post- Katrina benefits and recording tribute albums like Oh, My Nola. Now the crooning heartthrob—co-founder of the Krewe of Orpheus, New Orleans’ first integrated, celebrity-filled Mardi Gras krewe—has released an album of joyous carnival music. Timed to coincide with Mardi Gras and Orpheus’ 20th anniversa...
Ron’s “forever endeavour” is crafting the perfect album of melancholic pop. A consummate songsmith, he’s accomplished that lofty goal with this collection of bittersweet gems. Set to woodwinds, strings and congas, songs like the reflective “Nowhere to Go” and the raucous “Snake Road” beautifully encapsulate sadness—without ever succumbing to despair.
The New Orleans vocal legend looks like a dockworker and sounds like an angel. He’s lent his sweet voice to collaborations with Mavis Staples, Chaka Khan and Linda Ronstadt. Here, working with Keith Richards and Don Was, he tackles the doo-wop classics of his youth, including sublime covers of “Under the Boardwalk” and “This Magic Moment.”
