A few weeks ago I attended a Joan Osborne concert (you can read my review here) and since then I’ve been playing several Joan Osborne CDs. My favorite Joan Osborne album is Breakfast in Bed with its covers of many hit songs. Included on this CD is Osborne’s stirring rendition of “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” from Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Also great is Osborne singing “Heat Wave.”
How Sweet It Is is almost as good as Breakfast in Bed with Osborne singing standards like “I’ll Be Around,” “How Sweet It Is,” “War,” and “Everybody Is a Star.”
Also worth listening to is Righteous Love with songs like Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” and “Love Is Alive.” If Joan Osborne visits Western New York again, I plan to attend her concert! How many of these songs do you remember?
GRADES: Breakfast in Bed: A
How Sweet It Is: B+
Righteous Love: B
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)
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | I’ll Be Around Written-By – Phil Hurtt, Thomas Randolph Bell | 4:31 | |
| 2 | Think Written-By – Aretha Franklin, Ted White | 3:38 | |
| 3 | How Sweet It Is Written-By – Lamont Herbert Dozier, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland* | 4:21 | |
| 4 | Smiling Faces Sometimes Written-By – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield | 4:44 | |
| 5 | Love’s In Need Of Love Today Written-By – Stevie Wonder | 4:12 | |
| 6 | These Arms Of Mine Written-By – Otis Redding | 4:39 | |
| 7 | Only You Know And I Know Written-By – Dave Mason | 3:45 | |
| 8 | War Written-By – Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield | 5:50 | |
| 9 | Why Can’t We Live Together Written-By – Timothy E. Thomas | 4:57 | |
| 10 | Axis: Bold As Love Written-By – Jimi Hendrix | 4:03 | |
| 11 | The Weight Written-By – Robbie Robertson | 5:13 | |
| 12 | Everybody Is A Star Written-By – Sylvester Stewart | 3:15 |
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Running Out Of Time Written-By – Joan Osborne, Louie Perez | 4:45 | |
| 2 | Righteous Love Written-By – Joan Osborne, Joseph Arthur | 4:15 | |
| 3 | Safety In Numbers Written-By – Erik Della Penna, Joan Osborne | 4:28 | |
| 4 | Love Is Alive Written-By – Gary Wright | 3:26 | |
| 5 | Angel Face Written-By – Andreas Uetz, Joan Osborne, Joseph Arthur, Louie Perez | 3:35 | |
| 6 | Grand Illusion Written-By – Erik Della Penna, Jack Petruzzelli, Joan Osborne, Rainy Orteca | 4:02 | |
| 7 | If I Was Your Man Written-By – Joan Osborne, Joseph Arthur, Louie Perez, Rick Cherthoff*, Rob Hyman | 4:58 | |
| 8 | Baby Love Producer – Aaron Corness Written-By – Erik Della Penna, Jack Petruzzelli, Joan Osborne, Rainy Orteca | 4:17 | |
| 9 | Hurricane Written-By – Erik Della Penna, Jack Petruzzelli, Joan Osborne, Mike Mangini | 4:16 | |
| 10 | Poison Apples (Hallelujah) Written-By – Joan Osborne, Rick Cherthoff*, Rob Hyman | 4:18 | |
| 11 | Make You Feel My Love Producer – Rick Wil* Written-By – Bob Dylan | 4:02 |
