Everlasting is the second collection of covers
Martina McBride has recorded, following 2005's
Timeless by nearly ten years. A decade isn't the only thing separating the two records.
Timeless was a collection of country covers but
Everlasting has soul in its heart, with the singer tackling R&B standards from
Aretha Franklin ("Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"),
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me by Now"),
the Supremes ("Come See About Me"),
Otis Redding ("I've Been Loving You Too Long"), and
Sam Cooke ("Bring It on Home to Me"). With the assistance of Don Was -- who gives the whole affair a warm, burnished sound; there's a lot of vibe here, even if there isn't a lot of room for the musicians to depart from the groove, nor much reason to --
McBride also expands her scope ever so slightly, giving
Fred Neil's "Little Bit of Rain" a Memphis flavor, swinging through
Etta James' "In the Basement" with
Kelly Clarkson, and bopping through a version of
Little Walter's "My Babe" that's certainly cleaner than the original but maintains a little of that Chess mojo. There's warmth in Was' production and honey in
McBride's voice and if the combination can sometimes result in too-sweet tea, it's nevertheless soothing. [
Everlasting was also released on vinyl.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine