Chris Isaak grew up listen to the songs put out by Memphis’s Sun Records run by Sam Phillips. So many great artists started at Sun Records: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis! Now, with Beyond the Sun Isaak pays homage to that classic music with a marvelous collection of Sun Records songs, some familiar and some not. I’ve always liked Chris Isaak, but most people only know him from his early hit, “Wicked Game.” Isaak is a musical chameleon. He can sing and perform in almost any style. That may have hindered his career because Isaak isn’t associated with any particular branch of music. If you love these old songs as much as I do, you’ll be delighted at the interpretations Chris Isaak gives them. And, the sound on this CD is great! Check out the video below. GRADE: A
TRACK LISTING
CD 1:
1. Ring Of Fire
2. Trying To Get To You
3. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
4. Great Balls Of Fire
5. Can’t Help Falling In Love
6. Dixie Fried
7. How’s The World Treating You
8. It’s Now Or Never
9. Miss Pearl
10. Live It Up
11. I Walk The Line
12. So Long I’m Gone
13. She’s Not You
14. My Happiness
CD 2:
1. My Baby Left Me 2:01
2. Oh, Pretty Woman 2:52
3. Doin’ The Best I Can 3:17
4. Your True Love 1:57
5. Crazy Arms 2:48
6. Lovely Loretta 2:47
7. Everybody’s In The Mood 2:16
8. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry 2:05
9. Love Me 2:45
10. Doncha’ Think It’s Time 2:04
11. That Lucky Old Sun
Chris Isaak – Beyond the Sun EPK from VanguardVideo on Vimeo.
I’m putting it on my Christmas list right now–love the songs and love the performer!
Not many people are aware that Isaak has also had an acting career and has been in several movies. In fact, a few weeks ago, he was hosting TCM’s evening line-up, subbing for Robert Osborne.
I missed Chris Isaak on TCM, Deb. You’re right: he’s a terrific performer. This SUN RECORDS CD is a labor of love. And it shows. Who wouldn’t want BEYOND THE SUN under their Christmas tree?
I’ve seen bit of his tv work. He was very funny and charming.
I have all of Chris Isaak’s CDs, Drongo. I can recommend them all even though Isaak plays several different genres of music. There are plenty of great songs on this 2 CD collection. Don’t settle for the single CD collection that’s in most stores.
And “Baby did a bad bad thing” is a great song.
Hope my library has it. Off to check.
I hope your library bought the Deluxe 2-CD version, Patti. It comes in a single CD package with only the first disk. But that’s only half this great music.
Okay, not what I’m listening to it, I can vouch for it’s being a lot of fun. However, while the songs are tunes that were recorded at one time or another by Sun artists, a lot of them weren’t recorded until later, when the artists were on other labels.
Okay, not what I’m listening to it, I can vouch for it’s being a lot of fun. However, while the songs are tunes that were recorded at one time or another by Sun artists, a lot of them weren’t recorded until later, when the artists were on other labels. Maybe that’s part of what “Beyond the Sun” means.
According to Chris Isaak’s promotional video, he just recorded the songs he remembered from Sun Records, Bill. Maybe his memories were slightly off. Isaak does a credible cover of “Oh, Pretty Woman.”
I got this for Joe on a pre-order. He loves it!
I love BEYOND THE SUN, too, Beth! Great songs sung by a great artist. What more can you ask for?