By shelz.

Cover songs are always dangerous for the daring artist who attempts to recreate a slice of history.  Sometimes they work; think Luther’s rendition of The Carpenter’s “Superstar,” Maxwell’s hauntingly beautiful take on Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” or Norman Connors and Phyllis Hyman’s killer version of The Stylistics “Betcha By Golly Wow.” However, more times than not it turns into a watered down sing-a-long that should have been left on the classics station in peace.

Then when you multiply that 1 in a lifetime chance that you will even come close to the original greatness by 11, you have opened up an opportunity to do something incredibly special or incredibly fail.  Craig David has taken on that challenge by covering 11 classic soul songs for his latest LP, Signed Sealed, Delivered. And while he did manage to throw in some great new material for the last track, it was too little, too late.

Craig doesn’t sound bad as he tackles material from Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Al Green; songs that are revered and loved in the soul soundscape. Unfortunately, in his attempt at tribute, he changed very little of the vocal delivery on most of the tracks and going toe to toe with Stevie et al is just bad business for Mr. David.

The album begins with the least Memorexed of all the copies, One More Lie (Standing in the Shadows.) It’s a sped up, electro-funk, 70’s disco track that draws heavily from The Four Tops “Standing in the Shadows of Love.” The lyrics are different and since David doesn’t have Levi Stubbs’ raspy holler, the delivery is much smoother.

There is a pair of Stevie Wonder songs in this mix, the title track and “For Once In My Life,” that stick closer to the original script.  “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” finds Craig giving his best Stevie Wonder impersonation over a slightly updated version of the original production. The same goes for “For Once in My Life.”  It’s close, but of you like the song, you will prefer the original.

I could continue with the track list, but why?  “Mercy Mercy Me,” “Sittin on the Dock of the Bay,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “Let’s Stay Together” are all nicely covered in a high school talent show kind of way.  If it’s any consolation, I’m sure David would have been the winner.

The closer on this album is “This Could Be Love,” the only piece of original material on the album.  It’s a jazzy adult pop piece that is lush, fun, progresses nicely, and makes you wonder why he bothered with the first 11 songs. As much as he tried, he did nothing special with any of the tunes, instead turning them into Karaoke night specials.  After a couple of martinis I can (and have) belted out a Stevie Wonder song at the local bar.  Why pay Craig David to do it for me?

 out of 5

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