Roughly a decade after she released her first
Shanachie
album, the all-covers
Sweet Classic Soul
,
Maysa
recorded another set of reinterpretations, her ninth full-length for the same label. Compared to
, the source material here is broader, pulling from six decades, stretching back to the '60s for "Mr. Dream Merchant," popularized by
Jerry Butler
. It is highlighted by another
Isley Brothers
quiet storm staple -- "Footsteps in the Dark," a stellar duet with
All-4-One
's
Jamie Jones
. A few other cuts originate from
's late-'70s/early-'80s sweet spot, including the fiery ballads "Inseparable" (
Natalie Cole
) and "Am I Dreaming" (
Atlantic Starr
), and the tears-at-the-rink gem "Inside Out" (
Odyssey
), all performed faithfully, while the title track (
Pat Benatar
) gets a measured and restrained makeover. Updates of a couple early-'90s singles --
Nona Gaye
's "The Things We Do for Love" and
Tevin Campbell
's Top Ten
Babyface
collaboration "Can We Talk" -- lead the album. "As Long as You Love Me," not the
Impressions
song, but the
Justin Bieber
hit from 2012, is the least expected selection by far.
puts as much into it as she does anything else here, a satisfying companion to
and her other covers LPs. ~ Andy Kellman