Last week, Cap’n Bob wrote an enthusiastic comment about Joan Osborne’s version of “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” the classic Jimmy Ruffin soul song. I looked for my copy of Osborne’s Breakfast in Bed (2007), couldn’t find it, so I ordered another copy (you have no idea how many times this happens!).
Breakfast in Bed features six original Joan Osborne songs and covers of soul songs from the 1970s and 1980s. The album concludes with two songs from Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Martha and the Vandellas‘ “Heat Wave” and Jimmy Ruffin‘s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?” plus a Bonus Track, Curtis Mayfield’s “Everybody Needs a Friend.”
Cap’n Bob is right about the marvelous version of “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” Joan Osborne sings. Almost as good is Osborne’s rendition of the Hall & Oates hit, “Sara Smile.” If you love this music as much as I do, you’ll enjoy Joan Osborne’s mellow interpretations of these wonderful tunes. Are you a Joan Osborne fan? GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
- “I’ve Got to Use My Imagination” (Gerry Goffin, Barry Goldberg)
- “Ain’t No Sunshine” (Bill Withers)
- “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Jim Weatherly)
- “Baby Is a Butterfly” (Osborne)
- “Breakfast in Bed” (Eddie Hinton, Donnie Fritts)
- “Cream Dream” (Osborne)
- “Natural High” (Charles McCormick)
- “Heart of Stone” (Osborne)
- “Sara Smile” (Daryl Hall, John Oates)
- “Eliminate the Night” (Osborne)
- “Break Up to Make Up” (Thom Bell, Linda Creed, Kenneth Gamble)
- “I Know What’s Goin’ On” (Osborne)
- “Alone with You” (Osborne)
- “Kiss and Say Goodbye” (Winfred Lovett)
- “Heat Wave” (Holland–Dozier–Holland)
- “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (William Weatherspoon, James Dean, Paul Riser)
- “Everybody Needs a Friend” (Curtis Mayfield) (bonus track)
The only song I really know by her is “What If God Were One of Us?”—which is not on my list of favorites. However, I’m always listening for interesting/unusual/unexpected cover versions, so I’ll definitely give this a listen on Spotify.