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.
Deb, Joan Osborne also did an album of Bob Dylan songs. She’s going to be performing here in Buffalo in April so Diane and I bought tickets.
We are big fans of Joan Osborne ever since Standing in the Shadows of Motown. That’s where she did “Heat Wave” and “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted.”
We have her BRING IT ON HOME album of covers:
I Don’t Need No Doctor
Bring It On Home
Roll Like a Big Wheel
Game of Love (Ike Turner)
Broken Wings
Shoorah! Shoorah! (Allen Toussaint)
I Want To Be Loved (Willie Dixon)
The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
Shake Your Hips
I’m Qualified
Champagne and Wine (Otis Redding)
Rhymes (Al Green)
We’ve seen her at some benefit concerts, like Steve Earle’s. In one, after her set, she said she had to get home because she had a 13 year old daughter.
Jeff, I’ll have to find my BRING IT ON HOME CD and listen to it again.
I generally like what I’ve heard from her, but never pursued her work beyond the few ineluctable hits. I should check these out…thanks for the pointer.
Todd, many cover albums are disappointments, but BREAKFAST IN BED is very listenable!
Not familiar with her at all.
I will be checking it out.
Beth, I think you would enjoy Joan Osborne’s covers of these soul songs.
I’ve been a fan ever since “One of Us” (unlike Deb). We’ve seen her in concert several times. At one, somebody in the audience called out for “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted,” and she complied. Then she was asked to do “Heat Wave,” and she laughed and said that needed too many musicians.
Jeff, Diane and I are looking forward to seeing and hearing Joan Osborne singing Dylan songs in April.
The version I was boosting was a video performance! You can probably Google it! The CDs look inviting, too! Heat Wave is one of my fab faves!