Lionel Richie is one of those characters that it’s impossible not to like, whenever he’s interviewed he comes across as funny, approachable and real, someone you think you could be friends with should the opportunity ever present itself. To an extent I’ve included this album – a collection of reinterpretations of some of Richie’s most successful songs as duets with a country flavour – here because I’ve heard him talking about the project on the radio, and his enthusiasm is infectious. I’ve also included it because although I consider myself to be a long way from the average Lionel Richie fan, I include a number of his songs on my ‘guilty pleasures’ list, songs I love to hear but wouldn’t necessarily admit to liking in public…
‘Tuskegee’ (named after the US city where Richie was born) basically works because the songs are so strong, the quality of the actual duets themselves varies and some of the songs don’t quite work in the context of a duet at all. It’s not an essential release unless you’re a fan, but it’s an interesting one, and that it includes new versions of some classic songs – including ‘Easy’, ‘Hello’, ‘Stuck On You’, ‘Dancing On The Ceiling’, ‘Endless Love’ and ‘All Night Long’ – performed with some of the greatest country singers (including Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Shania Twain) makes this a great tribute to a great artist.
You Are / Say You, Say Me / Stuck On You / Deep River Woman / My Love / Dancing On The Ceiling / Hello / Sail On / Endless Love / Just For You / Lady / Easy / All Night Long / Angel
‘Tuskegee’ was released on March 5th 2012 on CD and via download. There will also be a limited edition format featuring the album plus an additional DVD disc.
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[five-star-rating]