Released April 9,1981 | Recorded 1977 Length 43:45 | |
Producer Marty Paich and David Paich | ||
Songs of the Beatles is a 1981 album by Sarah Vaughan of songs by The Beatles.
Contents
The album contains songs written and originally performed by The Beatles with contemporaneous pop and jazz arrangements. On "Something" Vaughan was accompanied by the Brazilian singer and musician Marcos Valle. It was recorded in 1977 but was not released until 1981 due to a recording contract problem.
Reception
On balance, Los Angeles Times jazz writer Leonard Feather is favorable in his assessment, awarding the album three and a half stars, notwithstanding some ill-advised commercial trimmings:
Recorded several years ago, inexplicably shelved and now belatedly released, this is neither the ill-advised venture one might fear nor a vital part of musical history. Produced and arranged by the father and son team of Marty and David Paich, it has its moments of superior Vaughan, notably on "Eleanor Rigby" and "Here, There and Everywhere." What went wrong is mostly the fault of the producers: overdressed arrangements ("Fool on the Hill"); overdubbed background singers of which Vaughan was not even made aware; a tiresome tenor sax and rigid rhythm on "Come Together." For the most part, though, on the strength of her indomitable musicianship and the inherent virtues of some of the tunes, Vaughan overcomes.
Track listing
All songs written by Lennon–McCartney unless otherwise noted:- "Get Back" – 2:55
- "And I Love Her" – 4:08
- "Eleanor Rigby" – 3:48
- "The Fool on the Hill" – 4:15
- "You Never Give Me Your Money" – 2:48
- "Come Together" – 3:22
- "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" – 3:31
- "Blackbird" – 3:34
- "Something" (George Harrison) – 4:16
- "Here, There and Everywhere" – 2:49
- "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:08
- "Yesterday" – 4:02
- "Hey Jude" – 1:09
Personnel
Recorded in 1977: