New music review: My True Story, Aaron Neville (Blue Note) - Blogs ...

In a sense, it?s unclear with these 12 remakes of doo-wop and R&B classics from the 1950s and early 1960s bring to the table. Nothing is radically reinvented here. But is it necessary to come up with a rational justification for such a celebratory session?

Put it this way: the songs are stone classics, the great Aaron Neville is in fine voice, the band ? which includes Keith Richards ? is rockin? and some old-timers from the era, like Eugene Pitt of the Jive Five (who co-wrote the album?s title song), Bobby Jay of the Teenagers, and Dickie Harmon from the Del-Vikings are singing backup. There?s reason enough to love it.

With Don Was and Richards co-producing, Neville is clearly having as much of a good time with backbeat stompers like Money Honey, Ruby Baby and Work With Me Annie as he does on the slow songs, which have the heartbreaking innocence and poignant melodies of all `50s doo-wop ballads. Listening to him put away beauties like the title track, Tears On My Pillow and Goodnight My Love is all the more wondrous when you realize he?s taking on vocal groups that killed on the originals.

It?s the music, Neville says, that made him the artist he is. We?re thankful for that ? and for these songs, which are, ultimately, the stars of the show.

Rating: ****

Podworthy: My True Story

My True Story will be available Jan. 22. Hear Neville and crew discuss the making of the disc:

And click here to hear a stream of the whole album, courtesy of NPR.

Bernard Perusse

Twitter: @bernieperusse

Source: http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2013/01/18/new-music-review-my-true-story-aaron-neville-blue-note/

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