[1] Ray J: Ray J Prelude (Ray J) - 0:40
[2] Brandy & Ray J: Another day in paradise (Phil Collins) - 4:32
[3] Ol' Dirty Bastard: Sussudio (Phil Collins) - 4:18
[4] Deborah Cox: Something happened on the way to heaven (Phil Collins, Daryl Stuermer) - 4:29
[5] Dane Bowers feat] Kelis: This must be love (Phil Collins) -
[6] Lil'Kim feat] Phil Collins: In the air tonite (Phil Collins) - 4:21
[7] Coko: Gotta hold over me (Dave Daniels) - 4:03
[8] Kelis: I don't care anymore (Phil Collins) - 3:48
[9] Joe: Can't turn back the years (Phil Collins) - 4:36
[10] Debelah Morgan: Do you remember (Phil Collins) - 4:09
[11] Montell Jordan: Against all odds (Phil Collins) - 4:16
[12] Changing Faces: One more night (Phil Collins) - 4:34
[13] TQ: All of my life (Phil Collins) - 4:26
[14] Brian McKnight: I wish it would rain down (Phil Collins) - 4:08
[15] Malik Pendleton: Take me home (Phil Collins) - 4:34
Brandy and Ray J
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Deborah Cox
Dane Bowers featuring Kelis
Lil' Kim featuring Phil Collins
Joe
Changing Faces
Coko
Kelis
Debelah Morgan
Montell Jordan
TQ
Brian McKnight
Malik Pendleton
Here's a quick test. Name three Phil Collins songs. Now sing the
chorus'. Not too difficult is it? What is far more difficult than most
people imagine, however, is writing songs, that, to coin a phrase, make
the whole world sing. Phil Collins is one of those uniquely talented
individuals who, throughout his thirty year career both with Genesis
and as a solo artist has written an continual stream of classics that
have happily flitted twixt the idioms of pop/rock and R&B and whose
influence has been felt the world over. When it comes to the pen and
piano combo few people can match the sheer quality and consistency of
Collins. Quincy Jones once told me that a good song is one that can be
sung by anyone and will sound as if it was always their song. He also
said that a great song can make an average singer sound incredible but
an average song cannot make an incredible singer sound like anything.
It's a testament to Collins' penmanship that the selection of his songs
covered on this CD by contemporary R&B and hip-hop staples all
sound as if they were penned specifically for them and whose
performances showcase artists on the very top of their game.
However, perhaps more important is the fact that the artists featured
on here were all admirers of Collins' work from the onset and willingly
partook in this celebration with personal favourites in mind before
they stepped into the recording studio.
"I'm a huge Phil Collins" fan states singer/songwriter Brian McKnight
who interprets the soulful I Wish It Would Rain Down. "I think that the
first time that I really wanted to actually go out and buy a Phil
Collins album was when I saw Against All Odds (covered on here by
Montell Jordan). That was my first real 'God, I've got to see what this
guy's all about' and I went back and listened to everything. So just to
be a part of this and show the actual respect that I have for the
musician, the writer, for the singer. You know it's a great
opportunity."
Brandy (and her brother Ray J), who have covered one of Collins' most
cherished and respected hits, Another Day In Paradise, share McKnight's
sentiments.
"It's great being involved for two reasons. Firstly because we're such
big fans of Phil Collins and secondly because the message (in Another
Day In Paradise, which is about homelessness) is incredible."
The genesis (excuse the pun) for this album came about when Collins'
Hit & Run publishing company were inundated with requests by
hip-hop and R&B artists to either sample or cover his songs
(rappers DMX and Queen Pen are just some of the artists who have used
Collins' material in recent years). A light bulb went off and when the
initial idea was bandied about to artists, producers and managers the
overwhelming thumbs up made the subsequent album a no brainer. Indeed,
even whilst the album was being recording superstars Mariah Carey and
Eminem both paid respect to Collins; Carey by undertaking her own cover
of Against All Odds (which appeared on her CD, Rainbow and Eminem by
mentioning In The Air Tonight (ironically covered on here by another
rapper, Lil' Kim) on his worldwide smash Stan.
Collins, who, other than the obvious, had no input on this album and
only heard it for the first time after it was completed is
characteristically humbled by the attention paid to his work.
"I'm just very flattered that the artists and people who put it
together had taken the time and energy to do this" he says. "What
impressed me when I heard it was just what a high level of singing
there is on there. I mean all the singers really sing their asses off!
My main influence alongside the Beatles who were influenced by early
R&B was Motown, Stax and Atlantic. Even though I'm white and from
Middlesex there's a hint of that, I think that comes out in my music
bit sounds different. I remember when I was working with the Earth,
Wind & Fire guys (Collins used the EW&F horn section as part of
his own band for many years and of course duetted with EW&F front
man Philip Bailey on "Easy Lover" - completely reinterpreted on this
album by former SWV lead singer Coko) and they heard my music and said,
"hey man, this is like our stuff but it's kinda regal!" I think the
boundaries go when you talk to musicians. There are only two types of
music. Good and bad."
Additional production credits for "In The Air Tonight", "Sussudio",
"This Must Be Love", "Easy Lover", and "One More Night" go to
Boogieman, responsible for Bootsy Collins, Randy Crawford and many,
many others.
Jeff Lorez (Blues & Soul magazine)
The Mighty Groove Of PHIL COLLINS
It all began with the astonished look on the face of the interviewer.
When he asked the hiphop icon Ice-T who was his greatest musical
influence in the 80's, he answered: "Phil Collins"! And without even
the slightest hint of irony. On the contrary, in the R&B and hiphop
scene, the man from Britain with the groove in his blood demands
respect."I'm a Phil Collins fan" confessed Sean "Puffy" Combs, for
example, in a '97 edition of Face magazine,"he's the man!" DMX, Coolio,
Mil Troy and Queen Pam have sampled Phil Collins' songs, and Miriah
Carey, The Isley Bros, and countless others have all asked to do cover
versions of his work. Even Eminem, the badboy of the current hiphop
scene, has rapped in his song "Stan", "You know that song by Phil
Collins, 'In The Air Tonight', about that guy who coulda saved that
other guy from drowning but didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at the
show found him ... that's kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from
drowning...:"
It's a fact, in pop music today there's no other artist with more soul
than Phil Collins. Lots of grooves, lots of emotion, and even the song
structures are so full of soul that the only other genre you can
compare it with is the black underground. Collins' version of the
Supremes' hit, "Can't Hurry Love", his collaboration with the top
R&B artists in the business and the extremely high quality of his
songwriting, have granted Phil Collins true cult status in the black
community. For many years now the requests for cover versions and
sample clearances, as well as for personal cooperations with Phil
Collins, have been mounting up both at Phil Collins' management's Hit
& Run office and also at WEA Records Germany.
Because of these developments, the idea gradually took hold to
undertake a sensational experiment - to produce a concept album which
will combine on one album some of the best R&B and hiphop artists,
along with black music producers, to show off the hits of the
groovin'-est of all songwriters in R&B dress, represented
exclusively worldwide by WEA Records in Germany.
And now the time has finally come. After three years of preparation,
Hit & Run Music, WEA Records Germany and Atlantic Records are happy
to announce the release of "Urban Renewal - Featuring The Songs of Phil
Collins". It is indeed an album that will surpass all expectations, one
in which the hottests artists, working together with the most prominent
producers, deliver the most cult-worthy concept album imaginable.
Wu Tang's head rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard interprets "Sussudio", Lil' Kim
sings the super hit "In The Air Tonight" in a duet with the master
himself, and Brandy makes "Another Day In Paradise" shine, singing with
her brother Ray J. for the first time. Kelis is also in there, along
with Deborah Cox, Joe, Brian McKnight, Montell Jordan, Debelah Morgan
and many others. To make it short and sweet: all the big-name R&B
vocalists were enthusiastic about the idea of interpreting such songs
as "One More Night", "This Must Be Love", "Easy Lover", "Something
Happened On The Way To Heaven", "Against All Odds", "Separate Lives",
and others.
In addition, the list of producers includes some of the best in the
business: The Neptunes, Guy Roche, Joe, Justin Trugman, Shep Crawford,
DJ Clark Kent, TQ, Malik Pendleton and other top-flight producers
didn't let anything get in the way of their taking part in this
project.
Phil Collins on "Urban Renewal":
"I'm very flattered", said Phil Collins. And as he says it, his
mischievous grin turns into a radiant laugh. A few minutes previously,
the just-turned 50 pop star had listened to the final version of "Urban
Renewal" for the first time in a suite at the Hotel Beau Rivage, near
his home on Lake Geneva. On the album are interpretations of some of
his songs by stars from the R&B and hiphop scenes, from Li'l Kim to
Brandy and from Ol' Dirty Bastard to Kelis. Collins is surprised,
happy, and even flattered. "I'm my own sharpest critic. And I attach a
lot of importances to all the bad reviews I've ever read about my
music. This album should be a lesson to all my critics. That is would
simply be just good songs which a lot of people like is not the point.
When I listen to their album, it's almost as if I'm able to walk up
straight again. Because not all of the artists who sing my songs on the
album can be wrong." Absolutely not, since it has to do with some of
the biggest names in black music and across so many different genres,
from the hiphop of Wu Tang Clansman Ol' Dirty Bastard to the funk
approach of Kelis, all the way to the gentle soul of Brandy, Coko, and
Deborah Cox. And with producers like The Neptunes (Kelis and Noreaga),
Montell Jordan, and the Boogieman (Deichkind and A-ha).
Whoever has to seriously examines the musical direction of "Urban
Renewal" has not done their homework. Phil Collins calls Sonny Payne,
the longstanding drummer of the Count Basie Big Band, his greatest
influence in playing drums. When the question revolves around singing,
names like Marvin Gaye and The Four Tops are mentioned. For the latter,
he wrote and produced, in collaboration with Motown legend Lamont
Dozier, the title song to the film, Buster. Along with Phil Balley, the
lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire, he developed a longstanding,
friendly and professional relationship which, not least of all,
produced "Easy Lover" and "Walkin' OnThe Chinese Wall". At the Super
Bowl not long ago, he sang along with Tony Braxton and his own Phil
Collins Big Band, to which names like George Duke, Nathan East, James
Carter, Oleta Adams and Quincy Jones belonged. Maria Carey and the
Isley Brothers have covered his songs, and hiphoppers from DMX and
Coolio to Li'l Troy and Queen Pen have sampled them. Meantime Eminem
mentions Phil Collins and "In The Air Tonight" in his hit song, "Stan".
Last of all, Sean "Puffy" Combs confessed in an edition of The Face:
"I'm a fan. Phil Collins is the man."
"Whatever happens, I'm sure that everyone is going to have their own
opinion about whether the album was worth all the trouble. I'm just
happy that someone was listening!" And with this laughter on his lips
he adds: "I never listen to my own albums. But you can be sure I'm
going to listen to this CD often and with the greatest pleasure."
Interview and text: Goetz Buehler, February 2001
Brandy and Ray J - "Another Day In Paradise"
With her debut album of the same name, Brandy, singer and actress, had
already exploded into the hiphop and R&B scene in 1994, and in
1996, with "Missing You" from the soundtrack of Set It Off, she
confirmed her success. With her roles in the sitcom Moesha and in the
Disney TV production of Cinderella she has been working on her
reputation as a true multi-talent. In 1998 she released her next
successful album "Never Say Never". Brandy has been awarded platinum
many times in the States, and worldwide is the most successful R&B
vocalist of the last 20 years. In Europe her greatest success was
probably her unforgettable duet with Monica which garnered a Grammy for
"The Boy Is Mine", and which remained # 1 in the German singles charts
for weeks and weeks, and achieved gold status. "Another Day In
Paradise" has Brandy in a duet with her brother Ray J., and was
produced by Guy Roche who also worked on "Never Say Never", and who
played a major part as producer, programmer and arranger of Christina
Aguilera's debut album.
Further remixes of the first single release of "Urban Renewal" came
from the norvegian producerteam Stargate (En Vogue, Sisqo, Craig
Davis), as well as Black Legend and Knee Deep, who worked on the track
for house DJs.
"It's great being involved for two reasons. Firstly because we're such
big fans of Phil Collins and secondly because the message (in Another
Day In Paradise, which is about homelessness) is incredible."
Ol'Dirty Bastard -"Sussudio"
Ol' Dirty Bastard is the scandal-laden front rapper of the Wu Tang
Clan, one of the most spectacular hiphop formations of the last 10
years. His solo debut, "Return of the 36 Chambers" (following up on the
1993 Wu Tang "Enter The Wu Tang-36 Chambers" debut album), was produced
by Wu Tang Clan member Prince Rakeem. In 1999, his second solo album
followed, "Nigga Please".
"Sussudio" originated under the hand of producer Justin Trugman, with
additional work by Clark Kent and Boogieman. Justin Trugman has also
produced albums for Heltah Skeltah, OGC and the original soundtrack of
the film, "Scary Movie".
Deborah Cox - "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven"
Deborah Cox was discovered by Clive Davis right after her graduation
from high school. By then she had already had a career of a few years
as studio singer for TV commercials. Her debut "Deborah Cox" (1995) was
produced with a few high-end names, namely Babyface, Dallas Austin and
Keith Crouch. Her follow-up album "One Wish" came out in 1998 and
contained among others the R&B chart topper "We Can't Be Friends".
The '99 single "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" held the leading spot in
the Billboard Hot R&B singles charts for over 10 weeks, as well as
the Hot R&B singles sales and the Hot R&B airplay charts, not
to mention 8 weeks at # 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 100 singles.
"Something Happened On The Way To Heaven" was produced by top producer
Shep Crawford, who was also responsible for acts like Boyz II Men,
98°, and Tamia.
"I've always be a huge fan of Phil's music!"
Dane Bowers from Another Level - feat. Kelis "This Must Be Love"
Bobak Kianoush, Mark Baron, Dane Bowers and Wayne Williams make up the
British R&B quartet, Another Level, whose singles, "Freak Me", and
"Guess I Was A Fool" shot straight into the UK charts. In 1998 they
were the support band on the Janet Jackson Tour, shortly before they
released their own album, "Another Level". On "This Must Be Love", Dane
Bowers joins up with the fascinating Kelis to deliver a touching duet
with her.
The producer on "This Must Be Love" is no one less than Montell Jordan
himself, who in 1995 had a worldwide hit of his own as vocalist on
"This Is How We Do It".
"Phil Collins is a donk!. He's the man. I have a lot of respect for him."
Lil' Kim - "In The Air Tonight"
She is considered to be one of the toughest and above all sexiest
rappers around. Lil' Kim, who spent her childhood as a street kid, made
her debut on Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s first album, "Conspiracy", not least
of all by means of support from Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G. She
started her solo career with the release of her first album "Hard Core"
on which Sean "Puffy" Combs, Jermaine Dupri and Prestige all made
sizeable contributions. Her first single, "No Time", a duet with
"Puffy" Combs went immediately to # 1. Last year she followed up with
her long-awaited album "Notorious K.I.M.".
On "In The Air Tonight" Lil' Kim sings with Phil Collins himself.
Production was taken over by Clark Kent who has made a name for himself
for his work with Mary J. Blige, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Pete Rock.
Coko - "Easy Lover"
The singer Coko, alias Cheryl Gamble belonged to one of the most
successful R&B formations, SWV, which had a decisive influence on
the charts of the 90's. After the group broke up in 1998, Coko steered
towards a solo career, releasing the single "Sunshine", and in 1999,
the album "Hot Coko".
"Hey man, this is like our stuff but it's kinda regal!"
Kelis - "I Don`t Care Anymore"
Kelis comes from Harlem in New York and made her breakthrough in 1999
when she performed side by side and brilliantly with Ol' Dirty Bastard
as his human beatbox on the track "Got Your Money". Her debut album
"Kaleidoscope" was released in December of 2000 and was produced by The
Neptunes who are also responsible for the sound on "I Don't Care
Anymore". The Neptunes belong to the superstar faction of the U.S.
producer scene. They established themselves in the shortest imaginable
time as one of the most wanted production teams of the present day.
Among their clients are Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mystikal, and Jay-Z, as well
as Guru, Noreaga, and SWV. Among others, The Neptunes produced MC Lytes
most successful album "Seven & Seven".
Joe - "Can`t Turn Back The Years"
With his debut album, "Everything", Joe Thomas' name exploded on the
scene and was followed up a year later with "All That I Am" which went
platinum. In 1998 Joe collaborated on the Mariah Carey single, "Thank
God I Found You". His soundtrack contribution "I Wanna Know" for the
film "The Wood" reached the top 5 on the R&B charts and prepared
the foundation for Joe's new album, "My Name is Joe". Altogether Joe
was nominated for four Grammys in 2001. He produced "Can't Turn Back
The Years" himself.
Debelah Morgan - "Do You Remember"
The voice, ability and radiance of DEBELAH MORGAN leave no room for
doubt: she is among the greatest R&B vocalists of the day. Her
voice range comprises five octaves, and at the age of 8 she composed
her first song, just before she started her own girl's choir. At 15 she
was already entrusted as teacher for the gospel choir at the University
of Arizona, as well as being awarded the prize for Miss Teen Black
Arizona. Shortly thereafter she was awarded the silver medal of the
NAACP internation music competition. In 1994 she released her debut
album "Debelah", and in 1998 went on to release the follow up, "It's
Not Over" on the Motown label, so rich in tradition. Her current
Atlantic album, "Dance With Me", was recently released in Europe as
well, peaking at # 53 in the charts. Her single of the same title had
previously stormed into the charts, entering at # 14.
"Do You Remember" was produced and arranged by Giloh Morgan and DEBELAH
MORGAN herself. On the album you'll find a remix by the renowned
Stargate team.
Montell Jordan -"Against All Odds"
Songwriting, singing, producing - Montell Jordan is known in every
musical quarter. He began his career in his hometown of L.A. at talent
competitions, church choirs, and later in nightclubs. With his party
hymn, "This Is How We Do It", he landed a number 1 hit in 1995, selling
over a million copies. "More" (1996) and "Let's Ride" (1998)
consolidated his reputation and in 1999 Jordan released his 4th album
"Get It On Tonite". Altogether he has racked up four platinum singles
and five gold awards. On "Against All Odds", Jordan collaborated with
Shep Crawford on production.
Changing Faces - " One More Night"
Cassandra Lucas and Clarisse Rose are the Changing Faces. The New York
duo combines soul and gospel with hiphop influences. R. Kelly wrote the
singles "Stroke You Up" and "Foolin' Around" for them, both of which
went into the top 10 on the R&B charts. Their debut "Changing
Faces" went gold in the U.S., reaching # 1 on the charts. "All Day, All
Night" (1997), their 2nd album, contained the single "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T"
which went to number 1 on the R&B charts and number 8 on the pop
charts.
"One More Night" was produced by Guy Roche.
TQ - "All Of My Life"
His single "Westside" shot high into the charts a few months ago and
went all the way to gold. TQ is the newcomer who has achieved a big
reputation in practically no time at all. Born in Alabama and resettled
in ghetto-city L.A., he presented raw street life scenarios on his
debut album "The Second Coming" in 2000, which quickly gave his
reputation high credibility among R&B artists. He produced "All Of
My Life" himself.
Brian McKnight - "I Wish It Would Rain Down"
Brian McKnight, brother of Take 6 member, Claude, was able to land his
first single "The Way Love Goes" on the Billboard charts at # 11. His
debut album "Brian McKnight" came out in 1991. "Love Is", his duet with
Vanessa Williams from the TV series "Beverly Hills 90210" made it to #
3 on the Billboard charts in 1992. Since then McKnight has been able to
establish himself as an outstanding songwriter, multi-talented musician
and producer of rank. In 1995 he released his 2nd album "I Remember
You" and in 1997 came out with "Anytime", the album produced by Sean
"Puffy" Combs. Following that in 1998 came "Bethlehem", his Christmas
album, and he returned yet again in 1999 with "Back At One". He
produced "I Wish It Would Rain Down" himself.
"I love the way he (Phil) bends and breaks the rules, but still makes it work."
"I'm a huge Phil Collins fan. I think that the first time that I really
wanted to actually go out and buy a Phil Collins album was when I saw
Against All Odds (covered on here by Montell Jordan). That was my first
real 'God, I've got to see what this guy's all about' and I went back
and listened to everything. So just to be a part of this and show the
actual respect that I have for the musician, the writer, for the
singer. You know it's a great opportunity."
Malik Pendleton - "Take Me Home"
New Jersey-born Malik Pendleton is an old hand in the songwriting game.
He has written songs for 702, Diana Ross, George Benson and SWV, among
others. His collaboration with Mary J. Blige on the track "Seven Days"
for her album "Share My World" brought him the "Rhythm and Soul Music
Award of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers" in
1999. On his debut album, "Look Around", he worked with Me' Shell,
Angie Stone, and Roots drummer Ahmir Thompson.
Pendleton also produced his cut, "Take Me Home", himself
Ich fühle mich geschmeichelt", sagt Phil Collins. Dabei zieht er
die Mundwinkel vom verschmitzten Grinsen zum strahlenden Lachen. Vor
wenigen Minuten hat der gerade 50jährige Popstar in einer Suite
des Hotels Beau Rivage, nahe seines Hauses am Genfer See, zum ersten
mal in voller Länge Urban Renewal gehört. Das Album, auf dem
Stars aus R&B und Hip Hop, von Lil`Kim bis Brandy, vom Ol`Dirty
Bastard bis zu Kelis, einige seiner Songs interpretieren. Collins ist
überrascht, erfreut und eben geschmeichelt. "Ich bin mein
schärfster Kritiker. Und ich messe all der negativen Kritik, die
ich über meine Musik gelesen habe, eine Menge bei. Dieses Album
ist auch so etwas, wie ein Denkzettel an meine Kritiker. Dass es auch
einfach gute Songs sein könnten, die viele Leute mögen, kommt
nicht in Frage. Wenn ich dieses Album höre, ist es fast so, als
könne ich wieder aufrecht gehen. Denn nicht alle von den
Künstlern, die darauf meine Songs singen, können völlig
falsch liegen."
Die Idee ist nicht ganz neu und unglaublich wirkungsvoll: Man nehme
einen Hit aus den achtziger Jahren, als die Zielgruppe sich noch in der
Vorschule tummelte, und übergibt ihn einem erfahrenen Produzenten.
Der steckt ihn darauf hin ins neueste Soundgewand; jetzt fehlt nur noch
ein populärer Sangeskünstler am Mikrofon - fertig ist der
Hit. Puff Daddy lässt grüßen.
Und wenn sich gerade jener Sean "Puffy" Combs und darüber hinaus
noch Rap-Urgestein Ice-T als fanatische Phil Collins Fans outen, was
läge da näher, als sich dessen Hits zu schnappen und oben
genanntes Rezept ein weiteres Mal zur empfohlenen Anwendung zu bringen.
Am Ende steht dann "Urban Renewal feat. The Songs Of Phil Collins", ein
15 Tracks umfassendes sog. Tribute-to-Album.
Das Line up lässt R'n'B Herzen sicher höher schlagen:
Lil´Kim, Kelis, TQ, Coko, Ol'Dirty Bastard (ja wirklich, der
exzellente Vollfreak aus Wu-town), Brandy J (in kongenialer
Zusammenarbeit mit Bruder Ray) und eine Reihe weiterer Vertreter der
Musik, die innerhalb der etwas jüngeren Hörerschaft gerne als
Soul missgedeutet wird, kommen da zum Zuge. Dazu gesellen sich u.a. die
Produzenten Guy Roche, Malik Templeton, Justin Trugman und Shep
Crawford. Es sind also Profis am Werk.
Und so klingt "Urban Renewal " denn auch: sehr professionell. Alle
Titel wurden konsequent zu R'n'B Songs gemorpht, die Produktion ist
erstklassig, nichts stört die grenzenlose Harmonie. Die Beats
grooven in bekannter Manier vor sich hin, die Stimmen sind glasklar. Je
nach Bedarf wird vielstimmig gehaucht oder kehlig gegurrt. Das ganze
Album folgt dem selben Flow. Das ist sicher seine größte
Stärke.
Und seine große Schwäche. Das Lebenswerk Phil Collins' im
R'n'B Format. Sonst noch was? Leider nicht. Es wird nicht einmal
ansatzweise der Versuch unternommen, die Songs in irgendeiner Art und
Weise zu interpretieren. It´s all the same. The same sauce. The
soft sauce. Haben die Stücke, aus der Kehle ihres Schöpfers
vernommen (auch wenn Phil nicht gerade als Mann der musikalischen
Extreme gilt) alle einen eigenen Charakter, so hören wir auf
"Urban Renewal" einen 15-teiligen R'n'B Song mit den Worten Mr.
Collins'. Es gibt kein Ab. Und somit auch kein Auf. Alles
plätschert auf einer Ebene. So kann halt keine Spannung entstehen.
Soll sie auch gar nicht. Hier sollen wohltemperierte,
Mainstreamradio-taugliche Charthits generiert werden, was schon mit der
ersten Auskopplung "Another Day In Paradise" gelang. Gratuliere. Als
nächstes dürfte "In The Air Tonight" an der Reihe sein. Zumal
es sich Mr. Collins nicht nehmen ließ, seinen Superhit im Duett
mit Lil'Kim höchstselbst zu intonieren. Vielleicht macht auch
"Against all Odds" oder "One More Night" das Rennen um die Ehre der
zweiten Single. Mal sehen.
Summa summarum ergibt das einen musikalischen Schongang mit vokalem
Weichspüler auf hohem produktionstechnischen Niveau. Für
"Soulbrothers und - Sisters" ist dies sicher sehr o.k. und somit auch
bedenkenlos zum Ankauf empfohlen. Was der altehrwürdige Phil
Collins Fan empfinden mag, entzieht sich meiner Vorstellung. Vielleicht
Ekel. Möglicherweise Verständnis oder gar Liebe? Fest steht
jedenfalls: Der kleine Mann mit der Glatze hat von dem, was früher
mal mit "Soul" umschrieben wurde, sehr viel mehr in die Wiege gelegt
bekommen, als die gesamte Riege der auf "U.R." vertretenen Moneymaker.
Der Rest der Welt höre sich bitte in etwa einem halben Jahr das
sanfte Geplätscher der seelenvollen Gelddruckmaschine beim
Spaziergang durch den Supermarkt seines Vertrauens an. Sehr
entspannend, gähn.
Latstark www.laut.de
When you consider the major influences on hip-hop and R&B, George
Clinton, James Brown and Roger Troutman probably come to mind a whole
lot quicker than Phil Collins does. Phil still gets love from the
streets, though -- so much love, in fact, that a tribute album was
released in April on WEA Germany. Urban Renewal Featuring the Songs of
Phil Collins includes hip-hop and R&B artists such as Kelis, Joe,
Brian McKnight and Ol' Dirty Bastard (rambling incoherently over a
synthesized version of "Sussudio") rendering Collins' most famous tunes.
The album was conceived, a source close to the project said, because
Collins has had to field so many requests from hip-hop and R&B acts
over the years -- including DMX, who integrated part of "In the Air
Tonight" into "I Can Feel It" -- wishing to sample his records.
Although his sampled voice appears on one track, Collins had nothing to
do with the album other than to give it his blessing.
Urban Renewal's first single is a duet consisting of Brandy and her
brother, Ray J, covering "Another Day in Paradise." The song's video,
which depicts the siblings as two angels documenting the plight of a
homeless woman begging for money to buy shoes, has already hit airwaves
abroad.
Lil' Kim has the next single off the album with "In the Air Tonight."
Kim will shoot the video next week, according to a source close to the
project. In it, Kim will weave a story about payback, rhyming "Drop top
rollin', diamonds on my neck, Bentley ballin', me and ni---- getting
high all day, straight to the top 'cause we on our way; coming for
y'all, comin' for y'all, I got something for y'all," at which point
Collins' sampled voice provides the song's hook.
WEA has no plans to release the record or its videos in the United
States, the source said, but it may reach other international markets.
Für manche ist R'n'B einfach ein Weichspüler und was für
den einen der R'n'B, ist für den anderen die Musik von Phil
Collins. Die Zeiten, in denen er sich mit Genesis progressiv Art Rock
auf die Fahnen geschrieben hatte, gehören schon lange der
Vergangenheit an. Und was passiert, wenn R'n'B- und HipHop-Stars sich
an die Songs des Superstar heranwagen? Weichspüler +
Weichspüler = Weichspüler hoch zwei? Mitnichten. "Urban
Renewal - The Songs Of Phil Collins" hält einige wirklich fette
Interpretationen bereit.
Klar, Songs wie "Another Day In Paradise" klingen auch bei Brandy und
Ray J ultra-soft und dass sich Montell Jordan "Against All Odds"
ausgesucht hat, liegt nahe, denn der Sänger ist ja auch sonst eher
Fachmann für Schmusiges. Nebenbei sei bemerkt, dass der Song in
seinen Händen wirklich besser aufgehoben ist als in denen einer
Mariah Carey... Auch Brian McKnight greift zielsicher in die
Balladenschublade und zog sich "I Wish It Could Rain Down" an Land, ein
Song, der weniger schmalzig als im Original gelingt, dafür aber
auch etwas beliebiger klingt.
Wenig gemeinsam mit dem schnellen Original hat auch "Sussudio" von Ol'
Dirty Bastard: Funk bis zum Abwinken und lässige Raps lassen den
Song in komplett neuem Gewand erscheinen.Absolutes Highlight des
Albums: "In The Air Tonight", dass Samples des Altmeisters verwendet,
aber von Lil' Kim frech bearbeitet wurde.
Die Balladen weichen teilweise nicht großartig vom Original ab
und so gilt für einige Cover, was allgemein an Tributealben
kritisiert wird: Warum ein gelungenes Original in ähnlicher Weise
interpretieren? Besser wird es dadurch nicht...Trotzdem: "Urban Renewal
- The Songs Of Phil Collins" verfügt über einige interessante
Tracks, die mit weichgespülten Weichspülern nicht gemeinsam
haben...
SoundChannel.de
Man mag zu Phil Collins stehen, wie man will. Aber dass er in seiner
Karriere eine Vielzahl unvergesslicher Hits im Spannungsfeld zwischen
Pop und Soul geschrieben hat, die auch heute noch jedes Kind im Schlaf
mitsummen kann, ist nicht von der Hand zu weisen. Was lag also
näher, als einige der besten Künstler aus den Bereichen Soul,
R&B und HipHop zu bitten, einmal ihre Interpretationen dieser Songs
vorzulegen. Das Ergebnis ist mehr als überzeugend. Die Bandbreite
reicht von Brandy's und Ray J's Version von "Another Day In Paradise",
der ersten Singleauskopplung, über Ol' Dirty Bastards (Wu-Tang
Clan) Interpretation von "Sussudio" bis zu Lil' Kim, die mit
freundlicher Unterstützung vom Meister selbst dessen
größten Hit, "In The Air Tonight", in ein
zeitgemäßes Gewand kleidet. Weitere Highlights steuern
außerdem Kelis mit dem unwiderstehlich groovenden "I Don't Care
Anymore", Joe mit einer einfühlsam gesungenen Version von "Can't
Turn Back The Years" und natürlich Montell Jordan mit dem
wunderschön arrangierten "Against All Odds" bei. In der
Vergangenheit konnten viele ähnlich gelagerte Tribute-Alben den
hohen Erwartungen nicht gerecht werden. Urban Renewal ist in jeder
Hinsicht eine gelungene Ausnahme dieser Regel.
Norbert Schiegl, Amazon.de
"Urban Renewal" is an ode to Phil Collins, one of the best-loved
vocalists in the world. The album features amongst the most talented
artists in the R&B and hip-hop world - Brandy, Lil’ Kim,
Brian McKnight, Debelah Morgan, Ol’Dirty Bastard and others -
collaborating to cover Collins' greatest hits.
The album has been in the making for three years and reflects Phil
Collins’ attitude of not confining his music to one specific
genre. It is an album which not only appeals to avid Phil Collins fans
but also to lovers of R&B and hip-hop.
What must be stressed from the outset is that the songs on this album
shouldn’t be compared to Collins’ versions – they are
quality tracks in its own right.
“Urban Renewal” kicks off with Collins’
“Another Day In Paradise” from his 1989 album “But
Seriously.” This version is done by the smoky-voiced Brandy and
her brother Ray J. They pull out all the stops and the result is a
familiar track done R&B style, which has already received a huge
amount of airplay.
Track three “Sussudio” off Collins’ 1982 “Hello
I Must Be Going” is one of the highlights on the album, simply
because it’s Ol’Dirty Bastard at his best. He lets out a
full-blown rap attack holding nothing back, in a track which must at
least be played four or five times to get the full effect.
Track four “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” off
the “Serious Hits…Live!” album is done by soul diva
Deborah Cox in a slow and moving rendition. Track five “This Must
Be Love” performed by Dane Bowers (from Another Level) featuring
rage-filled Kelis is also a cover that gives a whole new sound to this
groundbreaking mix.
“In The Air Tonight”, track six, must be the best track on
the album. This Collins’ classic is covered by bad girl
Lil’ Kim and is nothing short of out-of-this-world. It’s
the only track on the album featuring Collins himself and the result is
a combination that simply cannot go without recognition. The
collaboration of these two, both top performers in their own genres,
produces a song that is a true classic. It begins a lot like the
original with Phil doing his
‘I-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight-thing’ but then
does a total 360 degree flip when Lil’ Kim blows up, holding
nothing back as usual.
Other tracks on the album include “Against All Odds” by
Montell Jordan, "I Wish It Would Rain Down” by Brain McKnight,
“One More Night” by Changing Faces, “Can’t Turn
Back The Years” performed by Joe and “Do You
Remember” by Irish bombshell Debelah Morgan
If you like at least one Phil Collins’ song or one of the artists
featured on this album then this you should check out this album. The
exquisite line-up speaks for itself and you might just find that one
listen is not enough.
by Lameez Abrahams AfricasGateway.com Freelance Journalist
"Urban Renewal" is an ode to Phil Collins, one of the best-loved
vocalists in the world. The album features amongst the most talented
artists in the R&B and hip-hop world - Brandy, Lil’ Kim,
Brian McKnight, Debelah Morgan, Ol’Dirty Bastard and others -
collaborating to cover Collins' greatest hits.
The album has been in the making for three years and reflects Phil
Collins’ attitude of not confining his music to one specific
genre. It is an album which not only appeals to avid Phil Collins fans
but also to lovers of R&B and hip-hop.
What must be stressed from the outset is that the songs on this album
shouldn’t be compared to Collins’ versions – they are
quality tracks in its own right.
“Urban Renewal” kicks off with Collins’
“Another Day In Paradise” from his 1989 album “But
Seriously.” This version is done by the smoky-voiced Brandy and
her brother Ray J. They pull out all the stops and the result is a
familiar track done R&B style, which has already received a huge
amount of airplay.
Track three “Sussudio” off Collins’ 1982 “Hello
I Must Be Going” is one of the highlights on the album, simply
because it’s Ol’Dirty Bastard at his best. He lets out a
full-blown rap attack holding nothing back, in a track which must at
least be played four or five times to get the full effect.
Track four “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” off
the “Serious Hits…Live!” album is done by soul diva
Deborah Cox in a slow and moving rendition. Track five “This Must
Be Love” performed by Dane Bowers (from Another Level) featuring
rage-filled Kelis is also a cover that gives a whole new sound to this
groundbreaking mix.
“In The Air Tonight”, track six, must be the best track on
the album. This Collins’ classic is covered by bad girl
Lil’ Kim and is nothing short of out-of-this-world. It’s
the only track on the album featuring Collins himself and the result is
a combination that simply cannot go without recognition. The
collaboration of these two, both top performers in their own genres,
produces a song that is a true classic. It begins a lot like the
original with Phil doing his
‘I-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight-thing’ but then
does a total 360 degree flip when Lil’ Kim blows up, holding
nothing back as usual.
Other tracks on the album include “Against All Odds” by
Montell Jordan, "I Wish It Would Rain Down” by Brain McKnight,
“One More Night” by Changing Faces, “Can’t Turn
Back The Years” performed by Joe and “Do You
Remember” by Irish bombshell Debelah Morgan
If you like at least one Phil Collins’ song or one of the artists
featured on this album then this you should check out this album. The
exquisite line-up speaks for itself and you might just find that one
listen is not enough.
reviewed by Lameez Abrahams2001 CD WEA WEA-833
Liner Notes
Here's a quick test. Name three Phil Collins songs. Now sing the
chorus'. Not too difficult is it? What is far more difficult than most
people imagine, however, is writing songs, that, to coin a phrase, make
the whole world sing. Phil Collins is one of those uniquely talented
individuals who, throughout his thirty year career both with Genesis
and as a solo artist has written an continual stream of classics that
have happily flitted twixt the idioms of pop/rock and R&B and whose
influence has been felt the world over. When it comes to the pen and
piano combo few people can match the sheer quality and consistency of
Collins. Quincy Jones once told me that a good song is one that can be
sung by anyone and will sound as if it was always their song. He also
said that a great song can make an average singer sound incredible but
an average song cannot make an incredible singer sound like anything.
It's a testament to Collins' penmanship that the selection of his songs
covered on this CD by contemporary R&B and hip-hop staples all
sound as if they were penned specifically for them and whose
performances showcase artists on the very top of their game.
However, perhaps more important is the fact that the artists featured
on here were all admirers of Collins' work from the onset and willingly
partook in this celebration with personal favourites in mind before
they stepped into the recording studio.
"I'm a huge Phil Collins" fan states singer/songwriter Brian McKnight
who interprets the soulful I Wish It Would Rain Down. "I think that the
first time that I really wanted to actually go out and buy a Phil
Collins album was when I saw Against All Odds (covered on here by
Montell Jordan). That was my first real 'God, I've got to see what this
guy's all about' and I went back and listened to everything. So just to
be a part of this and show the actual respect that I have for the
musician, the writer, for the singer. You know it's a great
opportunity."
Brandy (and her brother Ray J), who have covered one of Collins' most
cherished and respected hits, Another Day In Paradise, share McKnight's
sentiments.
"It's great being involved for two reasons. Firstly because we're such
big fans of Phil Collins and secondly because the message (in Another
Day In Paradise, which is about homelessness) is incredible."
The genesis (excuse the pun) for this album came about when Collins'
Hit & Run publishing company were inundated with requests by
hip-hop and R&B artists to either sample or cover his songs
(rappers DMX and Queen Pen are just some of the artists who have used
Collins' material in recent years). A light bulb went off and when the
initial idea was bandied about to artists, producers and managers the
overwhelming thumbs up made the subsequent album a no brainer. Indeed,
even whilst the album was being recording superstars Mariah Carey and
Eminem both paid respect to Collins; Carey by undertaking her own cover
of Against All Odds (which appeared on her CD, Rainbow and Eminem by
mentioning In The Air Tonight (ironically covered on here by another
rapper, Lil' Kim) on his worldwide smash Stan.
Collins, who, other than the obvious, had no input on this album and
only heard it for the first time after it was completed is
characteristically humbled by the attention paid to his work.
"I'm just very flattered that the artists and people who put it
together had taken the time and energy to do this" he says. "What
impressed me when I heard it was just what a high level of singing
there is on there. I mean all the singers really sing their asses off!
My main influence alongside the Beatles who were influenced by early
R&B was Motown, Stax and Atlantic. Even though I'm white and from
Middlesex there's a hint of that, I think that comes out in my music
bit sounds different. I remember when I was working with the Earth,
Wind & Fire guys (Collins used the EW&F horn section as part of
his own band for many years and of course duetted with EW&F front
man Philip Bailey on "Easy Lover" - completely reinterpreted on this
album by former SWV lead singer Coko) and they heard my music and said,
"hey man, this is like our stuff but it's kinda regal!" I think the
boundaries go when you talk to musicians. There are only two types of
music. Good and bad."
Additional production credits for "In The Air Tonight", "Sussudio",
"This Must Be Love", "Easy Lover", and "One More Night" go to
Boogieman, responsible for Bootsy Collins, Randy Crawford and many,
many others.
Jeff Lorez (Blues & Soul magazine)
The Mighty Groove Of PHIL COLLINS
It all began with the astonished look on the face of the interviewer.
When he asked the hiphop icon Ice-T who was his greatest musical
influence in the 80's, he answered: "Phil Collins"! And without even
the slightest hint of irony. On the contrary, in the R&B and hiphop
scene, the man from Britain with the groove in his blood demands
respect."I'm a Phil Collins fan" confessed Sean "Puffy" Combs, for
example, in a '97 edition of Face magazine,"he's the man!" DMX, Coolio,
Mil Troy and Queen Pam have sampled Phil Collins' songs, and Miriah
Carey, The Isley Bros, and countless others have all asked to do cover
versions of his work. Even Eminem, the badboy of the current hiphop
scene, has rapped in his song "Stan", "You know that song by Phil
Collins, 'In The Air Tonight', about that guy who coulda saved that
other guy from drowning but didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at the
show found him ... that's kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from
drowning...:"
It's a fact, in pop music today there's no other artist with more soul
than Phil Collins. Lots of grooves, lots of emotion, and even the song
structures are so full of soul that the only other genre you can
compare it with is the black underground. Collins' version of the
Supremes' hit, "Can't Hurry Love", his collaboration with the top
R&B artists in the business and the extremely high quality of his
songwriting, have granted Phil Collins true cult status in the black
community. For many years now the requests for cover versions and
sample clearances, as well as for personal cooperations with Phil
Collins, have been mounting up both at Phil Collins' management's Hit
& Run office and also at WEA Records Germany.
Because of these developments, the idea gradually took hold to
undertake a sensational experiment - to produce a concept album which
will combine on one album some of the best R&B and hiphop artists,
along with black music producers, to show off the hits of the
groovin'-est of all songwriters in R&B dress, represented
exclusively worldwide by WEA Records in Germany.
And now the time has finally come. After three years of preparation,
Hit & Run Music, WEA Records Germany and Atlantic Records are happy
to announce the release of "Urban Renewal - Featuring The Songs of Phil
Collins". It is indeed an album that will surpass all expectations, one
in which the hottests artists, working together with the most prominent
producers, deliver the most cult-worthy concept album imaginable.
Wu Tang's head rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard interprets "Sussudio", Lil' Kim
sings the super hit "In The Air Tonight" in a duet with the master
himself, and Brandy makes "Another Day In Paradise" shine, singing with
her brother Ray J. for the first time. Kelis is also in there, along
with Deborah Cox, Joe, Brian McKnight, Montell Jordan, Debelah Morgan
and many others. To make it short and sweet: all the big-name R&B
vocalists were enthusiastic about the idea of interpreting such songs
as "One More Night", "This Must Be Love", "Easy Lover", "Something
Happened On The Way To Heaven", "Against All Odds", "Separate Lives",
and others.
In addition, the list of producers includes some of the best in the
business: The Neptunes, Guy Roche, Joe, Justin Trugman, Shep Crawford,
DJ Clark Kent, TQ, Malik Pendleton and other top-flight producers
didn't let anything get in the way of their taking part in this
project.
Phil Collins on "Urban Renewal":
"I'm very flattered", said Phil Collins. And as he says it, his
mischievous grin turns into a radiant laugh. A few minutes previously,
the just-turned 50 pop star had listened to the final version of "Urban
Renewal" for the first time in a suite at the Hotel Beau Rivage, near
his home on Lake Geneva. On the album are interpretations of some of
his songs by stars from the R&B and hiphop scenes, from Li'l Kim to
Brandy and from Ol' Dirty Bastard to Kelis. Collins is surprised,
happy, and even flattered. "I'm my own sharpest critic. And I attach a
lot of importances to all the bad reviews I've ever read about my
music. This album should be a lesson to all my critics. That is would
simply be just good songs which a lot of people like is not the point.
When I listen to their album, it's almost as if I'm able to walk up
straight again. Because not all of the artists who sing my songs on the
album can be wrong." Absolutely not, since it has to do with some of
the biggest names in black music and across so many different genres,
from the hiphop of Wu Tang Clansman Ol' Dirty Bastard to the funk
approach of Kelis, all the way to the gentle soul of Brandy, Coko, and
Deborah Cox. And with producers like The Neptunes (Kelis and Noreaga),
Montell Jordan, and the Boogieman (Deichkind and A-ha).
Whoever has to seriously examines the musical direction of "Urban
Renewal" has not done their homework. Phil Collins calls Sonny Payne,
the longstanding drummer of the Count Basie Big Band, his greatest
influence in playing drums. When the question revolves around singing,
names like Marvin Gaye and The Four Tops are mentioned. For the latter,
he wrote and produced, in collaboration with Motown legend Lamont
Dozier, the title song to the film, Buster. Along with Phil Balley, the
lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire, he developed a longstanding,
friendly and professional relationship which, not least of all,
produced "Easy Lover" and "Walkin' OnThe Chinese Wall". At the Super
Bowl not long ago, he sang along with Tony Braxton and his own Phil
Collins Big Band, to which names like George Duke, Nathan East, James
Carter, Oleta Adams and Quincy Jones belonged. Maria Carey and the
Isley Brothers have covered his songs, and hiphoppers from DMX and
Coolio to Li'l Troy and Queen Pen have sampled them. Meantime Eminem
mentions Phil Collins and "In The Air Tonight" in his hit song, "Stan".
Last of all, Sean "Puffy" Combs confessed in an edition of The Face:
"I'm a fan. Phil Collins is the man."
"Whatever happens, I'm sure that everyone is going to have their own
opinion about whether the album was worth all the trouble. I'm just
happy that someone was listening!" And with this laughter on his lips
he adds: "I never listen to my own albums. But you can be sure I'm
going to listen to this CD often and with the greatest pleasure."
Interview and text: Goetz Buehler, February 2001
Brandy and Ray J - "Another Day In Paradise"
With her debut album of the same name, Brandy, singer and actress, had
already exploded into the hiphop and R&B scene in 1994, and in
1996, with "Missing You" from the soundtrack of Set It Off, she
confirmed her success. With her roles in the sitcom Moesha and in the
Disney TV production of Cinderella she has been working on her
reputation as a true multi-talent. In 1998 she released her next
successful album "Never Say Never". Brandy has been awarded platinum
many times in the States, and worldwide is the most successful R&B
vocalist of the last 20 years. In Europe her greatest success was
probably her unforgettable duet with Monica which garnered a Grammy for
"The Boy Is Mine", and which remained # 1 in the German singles charts
for weeks and weeks, and achieved gold status. "Another Day In
Paradise" has Brandy in a duet with her brother Ray J., and was
produced by Guy Roche who also worked on "Never Say Never", and who
played a major part as producer, programmer and arranger of Christina
Aguilera's debut album.
Further remixes of the first single release of "Urban Renewal" came
from the norvegian producerteam Stargate (En Vogue, Sisqo, Craig
Davis), as well as Black Legend and Knee Deep, who worked on the track
for house DJs.
"It's great being involved for two reasons. Firstly because we're such
big fans of Phil Collins and secondly because the message (in Another
Day In Paradise, which is about homelessness) is incredible."
Ol'Dirty Bastard -"Sussudio"
Ol' Dirty Bastard is the scandal-laden front rapper of the Wu Tang
Clan, one of the most spectacular hiphop formations of the last 10
years. His solo debut, "Return of the 36 Chambers" (following up on the
1993 Wu Tang "Enter The Wu Tang-36 Chambers" debut album), was produced
by Wu Tang Clan member Prince Rakeem. In 1999, his second solo album
followed, "Nigga Please".
"Sussudio" originated under the hand of producer Justin Trugman, with
additional work by Clark Kent and Boogieman. Justin Trugman has also
produced albums for Heltah Skeltah, OGC and the original soundtrack of
the film, "Scary Movie".
Deborah Cox - "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven"
Deborah Cox was discovered by Clive Davis right after her graduation
from high school. By then she had already had a career of a few years
as studio singer for TV commercials. Her debut "Deborah Cox" (1995) was
produced with a few high-end names, namely Babyface, Dallas Austin and
Keith Crouch. Her follow-up album "One Wish" came out in 1998 and
contained among others the R&B chart topper "We Can't Be Friends".
The '99 single "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" held the leading spot in
the Billboard Hot R&B singles charts for over 10 weeks, as well as
the Hot R&B singles sales and the Hot R&B airplay charts, not
to mention 8 weeks at # 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 100 singles.
"Something Happened On The Way To Heaven" was produced by top producer
Shep Crawford, who was also responsible for acts like Boyz II Men,
98°, and Tamia.
"I've always be a huge fan of Phil's music!"
Dane Bowers from Another Level - feat. Kelis "This Must Be Love"
Bobak Kianoush, Mark Baron, Dane Bowers and Wayne Williams make up the
British R&B quartet, Another Level, whose singles, "Freak Me", and
"Guess I Was A Fool" shot straight into the UK charts. In 1998 they
were the support band on the Janet Jackson Tour, shortly before they
released their own album, "Another Level". On "This Must Be Love", Dane
Bowers joins up with the fascinating Kelis to deliver a touching duet
with her.
The producer on "This Must Be Love" is no one less than Montell Jordan
himself, who in 1995 had a worldwide hit of his own as vocalist on
"This Is How We Do It".
"Phil Collins is a donk!. He's the man. I have a lot of respect for him."
Lil' Kim - "In The Air Tonight"
She is considered to be one of the toughest and above all sexiest
rappers around. Lil' Kim, who spent her childhood as a street kid, made
her debut on Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s first album, "Conspiracy", not least
of all by means of support from Biggie Smalls aka Notorious B.I.G. She
started her solo career with the release of her first album "Hard Core"
on which Sean "Puffy" Combs, Jermaine Dupri and Prestige all made
sizeable contributions. Her first single, "No Time", a duet with
"Puffy" Combs went immediately to # 1. Last year she followed up with
her long-awaited album "Notorious K.I.M.".
On "In The Air Tonight" Lil' Kim sings with Phil Collins himself.
Production was taken over by Clark Kent who has made a name for himself
for his work with Mary J. Blige, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Pete Rock.
Coko - "Easy Lover"
The singer Coko, alias Cheryl Gamble belonged to one of the most
successful R&B formations, SWV, which had a decisive influence on
the charts of the 90's. After the group broke up in 1998, Coko steered
towards a solo career, releasing the single "Sunshine", and in 1999,
the album "Hot Coko".
"Hey man, this is like our stuff but it's kinda regal!"
Kelis - "I Don`t Care Anymore"
Kelis comes from Harlem in New York and made her breakthrough in 1999
when she performed side by side and brilliantly with Ol' Dirty Bastard
as his human beatbox on the track "Got Your Money". Her debut album
"Kaleidoscope" was released in December of 2000 and was produced by The
Neptunes who are also responsible for the sound on "I Don't Care
Anymore". The Neptunes belong to the superstar faction of the U.S.
producer scene. They established themselves in the shortest imaginable
time as one of the most wanted production teams of the present day.
Among their clients are Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mystikal, and Jay-Z, as well
as Guru, Noreaga, and SWV. Among others, The Neptunes produced MC Lytes
most successful album "Seven & Seven".
Joe - "Can`t Turn Back The Years"
With his debut album, "Everything", Joe Thomas' name exploded on the
scene and was followed up a year later with "All That I Am" which went
platinum. In 1998 Joe collaborated on the Mariah Carey single, "Thank
God I Found You". His soundtrack contribution "I Wanna Know" for the
film "The Wood" reached the top 5 on the R&B charts and prepared
the foundation for Joe's new album, "My Name is Joe". Altogether Joe
was nominated for four Grammys in 2001. He produced "Can't Turn Back
The Years" himself.
Debelah Morgan - "Do You Remember"
The voice, ability and radiance of DEBELAH MORGAN leave no room for
doubt: she is among the greatest R&B vocalists of the day. Her
voice range comprises five octaves, and at the age of 8 she composed
her first song, just before she started her own girl's choir. At 15 she
was already entrusted as teacher for the gospel choir at the University
of Arizona, as well as being awarded the prize for Miss Teen Black
Arizona. Shortly thereafter she was awarded the silver medal of the
NAACP internation music competition. In 1994 she released her debut
album "Debelah", and in 1998 went on to release the follow up, "It's
Not Over" on the Motown label, so rich in tradition. Her current
Atlantic album, "Dance With Me", was recently released in Europe as
well, peaking at # 53 in the charts. Her single of the same title had
previously stormed into the charts, entering at # 14.
"Do You Remember" was produced and arranged by Giloh Morgan and DEBELAH
MORGAN herself. On the album you'll find a remix by the renowned
Stargate team.
Montell Jordan -"Against All Odds"
Songwriting, singing, producing - Montell Jordan is known in every
musical quarter. He began his career in his hometown of L.A. at talent
competitions, church choirs, and later in nightclubs. With his party
hymn, "This Is How We Do It", he landed a number 1 hit in 1995, selling
over a million copies. "More" (1996) and "Let's Ride" (1998)
consolidated his reputation and in 1999 Jordan released his 4th album
"Get It On Tonite". Altogether he has racked up four platinum singles
and five gold awards. On "Against All Odds", Jordan collaborated with
Shep Crawford on production.
Changing Faces - " One More Night"
Cassandra Lucas and Clarisse Rose are the Changing Faces. The New York
duo combines soul and gospel with hiphop influences. R. Kelly wrote the
singles "Stroke You Up" and "Foolin' Around" for them, both of which
went into the top 10 on the R&B charts. Their debut "Changing
Faces" went gold in the U.S., reaching # 1 on the charts. "All Day, All
Night" (1997), their 2nd album, contained the single "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T"
which went to number 1 on the R&B charts and number 8 on the pop
charts.
"One More Night" was produced by Guy Roche.
TQ - "All Of My Life"
His single "Westside" shot high into the charts a few months ago and
went all the way to gold. TQ is the newcomer who has achieved a big
reputation in practically no time at all. Born in Alabama and resettled
in ghetto-city L.A., he presented raw street life scenarios on his
debut album "The Second Coming" in 2000, which quickly gave his
reputation high credibility among R&B artists. He produced "All Of
My Life" himself.
Brian McKnight - "I Wish It Would Rain Down"
Brian McKnight, brother of Take 6 member, Claude, was able to land his
first single "The Way Love Goes" on the Billboard charts at # 11. His
debut album "Brian McKnight" came out in 1991. "Love Is", his duet with
Vanessa Williams from the TV series "Beverly Hills 90210" made it to #
3 on the Billboard charts in 1992. Since then McKnight has been able to
establish himself as an outstanding songwriter, multi-talented musician
and producer of rank. In 1995 he released his 2nd album "I Remember
You" and in 1997 came out with "Anytime", the album produced by Sean
"Puffy" Combs. Following that in 1998 came "Bethlehem", his Christmas
album, and he returned yet again in 1999 with "Back At One". He
produced "I Wish It Would Rain Down" himself.
"I love the way he (Phil) bends and breaks the rules, but still makes it work."
"I'm a huge Phil Collins fan. I think that the first time that I really
wanted to actually go out and buy a Phil Collins album was when I saw
Against All Odds (covered on here by Montell Jordan). That was my first
real 'God, I've got to see what this guy's all about' and I went back
and listened to everything. So just to be a part of this and show the
actual respect that I have for the musician, the writer, for the
singer. You know it's a great opportunity."
Malik Pendleton - "Take Me Home"
New Jersey-born Malik Pendleton is an old hand in the songwriting game.
He has written songs for 702, Diana Ross, George Benson and SWV, among
others. His collaboration with Mary J. Blige on the track "Seven Days"
for her album "Share My World" brought him the "Rhythm and Soul Music
Award of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers" in
1999. On his debut album, "Look Around", he worked with Me' Shell,
Angie Stone, and Roots drummer Ahmir Thompson.
Pendleton also produced his cut, "Take Me Home", himself
Ich fühle mich geschmeichelt", sagt Phil Collins. Dabei zieht er
die Mundwinkel vom verschmitzten Grinsen zum strahlenden Lachen. Vor
wenigen Minuten hat der gerade 50jährige Popstar in einer Suite
des Hotels Beau Rivage, nahe seines Hauses am Genfer See, zum ersten
mal in voller Länge Urban Renewal gehört. Das Album, auf dem
Stars aus R&B und Hip Hop, von Lil`Kim bis Brandy, vom Ol`Dirty
Bastard bis zu Kelis, einige seiner Songs interpretieren. Collins ist
überrascht, erfreut und eben geschmeichelt. "Ich bin mein
schärfster Kritiker. Und ich messe all der negativen Kritik, die
ich über meine Musik gelesen habe, eine Menge bei. Dieses Album
ist auch so etwas, wie ein Denkzettel an meine Kritiker. Dass es auch
einfach gute Songs sein könnten, die viele Leute mögen, kommt
nicht in Frage. Wenn ich dieses Album höre, ist es fast so, als
könne ich wieder aufrecht gehen. Denn nicht alle von den
Künstlern, die darauf meine Songs singen, können völlig
falsch liegen."
Die Idee ist nicht ganz neu und unglaublich wirkungsvoll: Man nehme
einen Hit aus den achtziger Jahren, als die Zielgruppe sich noch in der
Vorschule tummelte, und übergibt ihn einem erfahrenen Produzenten.
Der steckt ihn darauf hin ins neueste Soundgewand; jetzt fehlt nur noch
ein populärer Sangeskünstler am Mikrofon - fertig ist der
Hit. Puff Daddy lässt grüßen.
Und wenn sich gerade jener Sean "Puffy" Combs und darüber hinaus
noch Rap-Urgestein Ice-T als fanatische Phil Collins Fans outen, was
läge da näher, als sich dessen Hits zu schnappen und oben
genanntes Rezept ein weiteres Mal zur empfohlenen Anwendung zu bringen.
Am Ende steht dann "Urban Renewal feat. The Songs Of Phil Collins", ein
15 Tracks umfassendes sog. Tribute-to-Album.
Das Line up lässt R'n'B Herzen sicher höher schlagen:
Lil´Kim, Kelis, TQ, Coko, Ol'Dirty Bastard (ja wirklich, der
exzellente Vollfreak aus Wu-town), Brandy J (in kongenialer
Zusammenarbeit mit Bruder Ray) und eine Reihe weiterer Vertreter der
Musik, die innerhalb der etwas jüngeren Hörerschaft gerne als
Soul missgedeutet wird, kommen da zum Zuge. Dazu gesellen sich u.a. die
Produzenten Guy Roche, Malik Templeton, Justin Trugman und Shep
Crawford. Es sind also Profis am Werk.
Und so klingt "Urban Renewal " denn auch: sehr professionell. Alle
Titel wurden konsequent zu R'n'B Songs gemorpht, die Produktion ist
erstklassig, nichts stört die grenzenlose Harmonie. Die Beats
grooven in bekannter Manier vor sich hin, die Stimmen sind glasklar. Je
nach Bedarf wird vielstimmig gehaucht oder kehlig gegurrt. Das ganze
Album folgt dem selben Flow. Das ist sicher seine größte
Stärke.
Und seine große Schwäche. Das Lebenswerk Phil Collins' im
R'n'B Format. Sonst noch was? Leider nicht. Es wird nicht einmal
ansatzweise der Versuch unternommen, die Songs in irgendeiner Art und
Weise zu interpretieren. It´s all the same. The same sauce. The
soft sauce. Haben die Stücke, aus der Kehle ihres Schöpfers
vernommen (auch wenn Phil nicht gerade als Mann der musikalischen
Extreme gilt) alle einen eigenen Charakter, so hören wir auf
"Urban Renewal" einen 15-teiligen R'n'B Song mit den Worten Mr.
Collins'. Es gibt kein Ab. Und somit auch kein Auf. Alles
plätschert auf einer Ebene. So kann halt keine Spannung entstehen.
Soll sie auch gar nicht. Hier sollen wohltemperierte,
Mainstreamradio-taugliche Charthits generiert werden, was schon mit der
ersten Auskopplung "Another Day In Paradise" gelang. Gratuliere. Als
nächstes dürfte "In The Air Tonight" an der Reihe sein. Zumal
es sich Mr. Collins nicht nehmen ließ, seinen Superhit im Duett
mit Lil'Kim höchstselbst zu intonieren. Vielleicht macht auch
"Against all Odds" oder "One More Night" das Rennen um die Ehre der
zweiten Single. Mal sehen.
Summa summarum ergibt das einen musikalischen Schongang mit vokalem
Weichspüler auf hohem produktionstechnischen Niveau. Für
"Soulbrothers und - Sisters" ist dies sicher sehr o.k. und somit auch
bedenkenlos zum Ankauf empfohlen. Was der altehrwürdige Phil
Collins Fan empfinden mag, entzieht sich meiner Vorstellung. Vielleicht
Ekel. Möglicherweise Verständnis oder gar Liebe? Fest steht
jedenfalls: Der kleine Mann mit der Glatze hat von dem, was früher
mal mit "Soul" umschrieben wurde, sehr viel mehr in die Wiege gelegt
bekommen, als die gesamte Riege der auf "U.R." vertretenen Moneymaker.
Der Rest der Welt höre sich bitte in etwa einem halben Jahr das
sanfte Geplätscher der seelenvollen Gelddruckmaschine beim
Spaziergang durch den Supermarkt seines Vertrauens an. Sehr
entspannend, gähn.
Latstark
www.laut.de
When you consider the major influences on hip-hop and R&B, George
Clinton, James Brown and Roger Troutman probably come to mind a whole
lot quicker than Phil Collins does. Phil still gets love from the
streets, though -- so much love, in fact, that a tribute album was
released in April on WEA Germany. Urban Renewal Featuring the Songs of
Phil Collins includes hip-hop and R&B artists such as Kelis, Joe,
Brian McKnight and Ol' Dirty Bastard (rambling incoherently over a
synthesized version of "Sussudio") rendering Collins' most famous tunes.
The album was conceived, a source close to the project said, because
Collins has had to field so many requests from hip-hop and R&B acts
over the years -- including DMX, who integrated part of "In the Air
Tonight" into "I Can Feel It" -- wishing to sample his records.
Although his sampled voice appears on one track, Collins had nothing to
do with the album other than to give it his blessing.
Urban Renewal's first single is a duet consisting of Brandy and her
brother, Ray J, covering "Another Day in Paradise." The song's video,
which depicts the siblings as two angels documenting the plight of a
homeless woman begging for money to buy shoes, has already hit airwaves
abroad.
Lil' Kim has the next single off the album with "In the Air Tonight."
Kim will shoot the video next week, according to a source close to the
project. In it, Kim will weave a story about payback, rhyming "Drop top
rollin', diamonds on my neck, Bentley ballin', me and ni---- getting
high all day, straight to the top 'cause we on our way; coming for
y'all, comin' for y'all, I got something for y'all," at which point
Collins' sampled voice provides the song's hook.
WEA has no plans to release the record or its videos in the United
States, the source said, but it may reach other international markets.
Für manche ist R'n'B einfach ein Weichspüler und was für
den einen der R'n'B, ist für den anderen die Musik von Phil
Collins. Die Zeiten, in denen er sich mit Genesis progressiv Art Rock
auf die Fahnen geschrieben hatte, gehören schon lange der
Vergangenheit an. Und was passiert, wenn R'n'B- und HipHop-Stars sich
an die Songs des Superstar heranwagen? Weichspüler +
Weichspüler = Weichspüler hoch zwei? Mitnichten. "Urban
Renewal - The Songs Of Phil Collins" hält einige wirklich fette
Interpretationen bereit.
Klar, Songs wie "Another Day In Paradise" klingen auch bei Brandy und
Ray J ultra-soft und dass sich Montell Jordan "Against All Odds"
ausgesucht hat, liegt nahe, denn der Sänger ist ja auch sonst eher
Fachmann für Schmusiges. Nebenbei sei bemerkt, dass der Song in
seinen Händen wirklich besser aufgehoben ist als in denen einer
Mariah Carey... Auch Brian McKnight greift zielsicher in die
Balladenschublade und zog sich "I Wish It Could Rain Down" an Land, ein
Song, der weniger schmalzig als im Original gelingt, dafür aber
auch etwas beliebiger klingt.
Wenig gemeinsam mit dem schnellen Original hat auch "Sussudio" von Ol'
Dirty Bastard: Funk bis zum Abwinken und lässige Raps lassen den
Song in komplett neuem Gewand erscheinen.Absolutes Highlight des
Albums: "In The Air Tonight", dass Samples des Altmeisters verwendet,
aber von Lil' Kim frech bearbeitet wurde.
Die Balladen weichen teilweise nicht großartig vom Original ab
und so gilt für einige Cover, was allgemein an Tributealben
kritisiert wird: Warum ein gelungenes Original in ähnlicher Weise
interpretieren? Besser wird es dadurch nicht...Trotzdem: "Urban Renewal
- The Songs Of Phil Collins" verfügt über einige interessante
Tracks, die mit weichgespülten Weichspülern nicht gemeinsam
haben...
SoundChannel.de
Man mag zu Phil Collins stehen, wie man will. Aber dass er in seiner
Karriere eine Vielzahl unvergesslicher Hits im Spannungsfeld zwischen
Pop und Soul geschrieben hat, die auch heute noch jedes Kind im Schlaf
mitsummen kann, ist nicht von der Hand zu weisen. Was lag also
näher, als einige der besten Künstler aus den Bereichen Soul,
R&B und HipHop zu bitten, einmal ihre Interpretationen dieser Songs
vorzulegen. Das Ergebnis ist mehr als überzeugend. Die Bandbreite
reicht von Brandy's und Ray J's Version von "Another Day In Paradise",
der ersten Singleauskopplung, über Ol' Dirty Bastards (Wu-Tang
Clan) Interpretation von "Sussudio" bis zu Lil' Kim, die mit
freundlicher Unterstützung vom Meister selbst dessen
größten Hit, "In The Air Tonight", in ein
zeitgemäßes Gewand kleidet. Weitere Highlights steuern
außerdem Kelis mit dem unwiderstehlich groovenden "I Don't Care
Anymore", Joe mit einer einfühlsam gesungenen Version von "Can't
Turn Back The Years" und natürlich Montell Jordan mit dem
wunderschön arrangierten "Against All Odds" bei. In der
Vergangenheit konnten viele ähnlich gelagerte Tribute-Alben den
hohen Erwartungen nicht gerecht werden. Urban Renewal ist in jeder
Hinsicht eine gelungene Ausnahme dieser Regel.
Norbert Schiegl, Amazon.de
"Urban Renewal" is an ode to Phil Collins, one of the best-loved
vocalists in the world. The album features amongst the most talented
artists in the R&B and hip-hop world - Brandy, Lil’ Kim,
Brian McKnight, Debelah Morgan, Ol’Dirty Bastard and others -
collaborating to cover Collins' greatest hits.
The album has been in the making for three years and reflects Phil
Collins’ attitude of not confining his music to one specific
genre. It is an album which not only appeals to avid Phil Collins fans
but also to lovers of R&B and hip-hop.
What must be stressed from the outset is that the songs on this album
shouldn’t be compared to Collins’ versions – they are
quality tracks in its own right.
“Urban Renewal” kicks off with Collins’
“Another Day In Paradise” from his 1989 album “But
Seriously.” This version is done by the smoky-voiced Brandy and
her brother Ray J. They pull out all the stops and the result is a
familiar track done R&B style, which has already received a huge
amount of airplay.
Track three “Sussudio” off Collins’ 1982 “Hello
I Must Be Going” is one of the highlights on the album, simply
because it’s Ol’Dirty Bastard at his best. He lets out a
full-blown rap attack holding nothing back, in a track which must at
least be played four or five times to get the full effect.
Track four “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” off
the “Serious Hits…Live!” album is done by soul diva
Deborah Cox in a slow and moving rendition. Track five “This Must
Be Love” performed by Dane Bowers (from Another Level) featuring
rage-filled Kelis is also a cover that gives a whole new sound to this
groundbreaking mix.
“In The Air Tonight”, track six, must be the best track on
the album. This Collins’ classic is covered by bad girl
Lil’ Kim and is nothing short of out-of-this-world. It’s
the only track on the album featuring Collins himself and the result is
a combination that simply cannot go without recognition. The
collaboration of these two, both top performers in their own genres,
produces a song that is a true classic. It begins a lot like the
original with Phil doing his
‘I-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight-thing’ but then
does a total 360 degree flip when Lil’ Kim blows up, holding
nothing back as usual.
Other tracks on the album include “Against All Odds” by
Montell Jordan, "I Wish It Would Rain Down” by Brain McKnight,
“One More Night” by Changing Faces, “Can’t Turn
Back The Years” performed by Joe and “Do You
Remember” by Irish bombshell Debelah Morgan
If you like at least one Phil Collins’ song or one of the artists
featured on this album then this you should check out this album. The
exquisite line-up speaks for itself and you might just find that one
listen is not enough.
by Lameez Abrahams AfricasGateway.com Freelance Journalist
"Urban Renewal" is an ode to Phil Collins, one of the best-loved
vocalists in the world. The album features amongst the most talented
artists in the R&B and hip-hop world - Brandy, Lil’ Kim,
Brian McKnight, Debelah Morgan, Ol’Dirty Bastard and others -
collaborating to cover Collins' greatest hits.
The album has been in the making for three years and reflects Phil
Collins’ attitude of not confining his music to one specific
genre. It is an album which not only appeals to avid Phil Collins fans
but also to lovers of R&B and hip-hop.
What must be stressed from the outset is that the songs on this album
shouldn’t be compared to Collins’ versions – they are
quality tracks in its own right.
“Urban Renewal” kicks off with Collins’
“Another Day In Paradise” from his 1989 album “But
Seriously.” This version is done by the smoky-voiced Brandy and
her brother Ray J. They pull out all the stops and the result is a
familiar track done R&B style, which has already received a huge
amount of airplay.
Track three “Sussudio” off Collins’ 1982 “Hello
I Must Be Going” is one of the highlights on the album, simply
because it’s Ol’Dirty Bastard at his best. He lets out a
full-blown rap attack holding nothing back, in a track which must at
least be played four or five times to get the full effect.
Track four “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” off
the “Serious Hits…Live!” album is done by soul diva
Deborah Cox in a slow and moving rendition. Track five “This Must
Be Love” performed by Dane Bowers (from Another Level) featuring
rage-filled Kelis is also a cover that gives a whole new sound to this
groundbreaking mix.
“In The Air Tonight”, track six, must be the best track on
the album. This Collins’ classic is covered by bad girl
Lil’ Kim and is nothing short of out-of-this-world. It’s
the only track on the album featuring Collins himself and the result is
a combination that simply cannot go without recognition. The
collaboration of these two, both top performers in their own genres,
produces a song that is a true classic. It begins a lot like the
original with Phil doing his
‘I-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight-thing’ but then
does a total 360 degree flip when Lil’ Kim blows up, holding
nothing back as usual.
Other tracks on the album include “Against All Odds” by
Montell Jordan, "I Wish It Would Rain Down” by Brain McKnight,
“One More Night” by Changing Faces, “Can’t Turn
Back The Years” performed by Joe and “Do You
Remember” by Irish bombshell Debelah Morgan
If you like at least one Phil Collins’ song or one of the artists
featured on this album then this you should check out this album. The
exquisite line-up speaks for itself and you might just find that one
listen is not enough.
reviewed by Lameez Abrahams
What does Phil Collins really need as he sits in his villa as a tax
exile counting all his money? That is when he isn’t suing his
ex-backing musicians for earning too much from his old albums. I know!
A tribute album full of top R&B and Hip-Hop artists singing his old
songs. That should add a few extra zeros to the end of his bank
balance. That seems to me to be the only real reason for this album, as
I thought you normally had to be dead to have a tribute album dedicated
to you.
Having said that, the album itself ain’t bad. Love him or hate
him you have to say the geezer has written a decent tune or two! And
some big names contribute to this record. The first single is a Brandy
and Ray J version of "Another Day in Paradise". They don’t take
it anywhere radically different but it’s a guaranteed hit. In
fact most of Phil’s slower or ballad track’s slip quite
easily into the R&B format. So efforts by Changing Faces, Joe,
Deborah Cox and Montell Jordan, though not blowing you away sound OK.
Kelis reverts back to her aggressive "I Hate You" style on her version
of "I Don’t Care Anymore". And Lil Kim does what she does on "In
the Air Tonight". Debelah Morgan and Brian McKnight both do themselves
proud with their contributions. But the highlight for me is Ol’
Dirty Bastard’s interpretation of "Sussudio", he does what you
should do with a cover - he takes it somewhere new and makes it work.
So it’s definitely worth a listen. I just hope that all the
artists on this album have read the small print on their agreements,
cause Phil will probably sue them in a couple of years for over payment
of royalties!
Review by Livingstone Red
What does Phil Collins really need as he sits in his villa as a tax
exile counting all his money? That is when he isn’t suing his
ex-backing musicians for earning too much from his old albums. I know!
A tribute album full of top R&B and Hip-Hop artists singing his old
songs. That should add a few extra zeros to the end of his bank
balance. That seems to me to be the only real reason for this album, as
I thought you normally had to be dead to have a tribute album dedicated
to you.
Having said that, the album itself ain’t bad. Love him or hate
him you have to say the geezer has written a decent tune or two! And
some big names contribute to this record. The first single is a Brandy
and Ray J version of "Another Day in Paradise". They don’t take
it anywhere radically different but it’s a guaranteed hit. In
fact most of Phil’s slower or ballad track’s slip quite
easily into the R&B format. So efforts by Changing Faces, Joe,
Deborah Cox and Montell Jordan, though not blowing you away sound OK.
Kelis reverts back to her aggressive "I Hate You" style on her version
of "I Don’t Care Anymore". And Lil Kim does what she does on "In
the Air Tonight". Debelah Morgan and Brian McKnight both do themselves
proud with their contributions. But the highlight for me is Ol’
Dirty Bastard’s interpretation of "Sussudio", he does what you
should do with a cover - he takes it somewhere new and makes it work.
So it’s definitely worth a listen. I just hope that all the
artists on this album have read the small print on their agreements,
cause Phil will probably sue them in a couple of years for over payment
of royalties!