I bought the new Anne Sofie von Otter and Elvis Costello collabaration album today. It
is a beautiful album including tracks written by Brian Wilson, (Dont Talk Put Your
Head on My Shoulder/ You Still Believe in Me) Tom Waits (Take it With Me/Broken
Bicycles), Paul McCartney(Junk/For No One), Nina Simone, Elvis and others.
Von Otter says this in the notes ...There are some people I would like to thank and
since this is my pop record I know Im allowed. Joni, Carole, Judy C. Carly, Mama Cass
Elliott, Barbra et al whose songs and voices I have always loved and who certainly
inspired me. Quite an accolade from an acknowledged diva.
Sadly no Joni tracks on the album although only 18 of the 27 recorded tracks made it.
Perhaps there is an unreleased Joni item in there = wishful thinking?
Incidentally there was a South Bank Show arts programme on the T.V.in the U.K. the
other night which followed the recording sessions for the album. Interesting to see
two perfectionists battling it out and the difference in recording procedures between
the pop and classical moulds. At one stage Elvis who was producing asked Anne for yet
another take on a song. Von Otter appeared particularly pissed off as she is used to
high preparation before the classical recording sessions then a one-off recording. But
she went with it and acknowledged that Elvis knew what he was doing. Fascinating
stuff.
pyramus
