On her new album Uncovered, out Sept. 25 on Fantasy Records, acclaimed singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin covers songs from some of the most admired writers in popular music history.
These 12 tunes include encompass Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, Robbie Robertson and Graham Nash compositions and more. As Shawn says: "Unless a song moves you, it doesn't matter what you do with it."
Following 1994’s critically lauded release Cover Girl, Uncovered is Colvin’s second complete album to feature interpretations of songs written by other people. Eagles guitarist Steuart Smith, who produced Cover Girl, returns, with Stewart Lerman, as producer for Uncovered. The album also features guest vocalists David Crosby (on Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street") and Marc Cohn (on "Give me a Little Sign," made famous by Bretton Wood).
For Colvin, the difference between the two cover albums is that the now, the three-time Grammy-winner is a fully seasoned writer and interpreter. "The songs on Cover Girl were actually staples of my live act at the time," Shawn explains. "This wasn't the case with Uncovered. Some of these songs I knew how to play, others I learned for the purpose of recording this album. Until you learn a song, you don't know if you can bring anything to it."
She continues, "Twenty-one years later, even though I am primarily known as the composer of my material, I've never tired of learning covers, and I had more than a few in the hopper. It seemed fitting to get together with Steuart once more and record a follow-up to Cover Girl."
Uncovered includes Colvin’s interpretation of Tom Waits’ ballad “Hold On” (co-written by Waits with his wife Kathleen Brenan). Colvin will feature that song in performance on her upcoming tour with Don Henley, as well as her version of the Graham Nash composition "I Used to Be a King," the latter in part a nod to Colvin’s deep admiration of (and friendship with) the members of Crosby, Still, and Nash.
The album closes with "Til I Get It Right," the Red Lane-Larry Henley composition taken to the top of the country charts by Tammy Wynette in 1973. It is this last song, a statement of controlled passion and resilience that is presented more faithfully to the original recording than any of Uncovered's other numbers. It also encapsulates the intent of the album as a whole.
"The title 'Uncovered' has a few meanings," Shawn reveals. "It means uncovering as in an excavation, and uncovered in the sense of vulnerability. This album was made very spontaneously, we didn't over-think or overdub it. One of my friends said to me, 'You sound so exposed on this record!' and I think that's the thematic key, vulnerability."
Shawn Colvin will open Don Henley’s tour of North America beginning Oct. 3 in Phoenix, AZ. Full dates listed below.
Uncovered iTunes pre-order available 8/7 here: http://smarturl.it/uncovered
Track Listing:
1. Tougher than the Rest (Bruce Springsteen)
2. American Tune (Paul Simon)
3. Baker Street Feat. David Crosby (Gerry Rafferty)
4. Hold On (Kathleen Brenan-Tom Waits)
5. I Used To Be A King (Graham Nash)
6. Private Universe (Neil Finn)
7. Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away (Stevie Wonder)
8. Gimme A Little Sign Feat. Marc Cohn (Jerry Winn-Alfred Smith-Joseph Hooven)
9. Acadian Driftwood (Robbie Robertson)
10. Lodi (John C. Fogerty)
11. Not A Drop of Rain (Robert Earl Keen Jr.)
12. 'Till I Get it Right (Red Lane-Larry Henley)
On tour:
*with Don Henley
9/11/2015 – Pawling, NY @ Daryl’s House
9/12/2015 – Hastings-On-Hudson, NY @ Purple Crayon
9/13/2015 – Rockport, MA @ Shalin Liu Performance Center
10/3/2015 - Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre*
10/5/2015 - San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic*
10/6/2015 – Healdsburg, CA @ The Raven Performing Arts
10/7/2015 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl*
10/9/2015 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum*
10/11/2015 – Folsom, CA @ Harris Center for the Arts
10/13/2015 - Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre*
10/15/2015 - Dallas, TX @ Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie*
10/17/2015 - Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre*
10/18/2015 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium*
11/2/2015 - New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre*
11/3/2015 - Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre*
11/5/2015 - Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall*
11/7/2015 - Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre*
11/8/2015 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre*
11/10/2015 - Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre*
11/12/2015 - Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music*
11/18/2015 – Berkley, CA @ Freight and Salvage
11/19/2015 – Berkley, CA @ Freight and Salvage
11/20/2015 – Napa, CA @ City Winery
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