LG Radio Presents -
Inspired
The greatest cover versions from the greatest voices, along with the stories behind some of the biggest hits of the last fifty years. This radio series features songs from Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Van Morrison and many others, that have been recorded by a whole range of artists, including Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Connick, Gregory Porter, Christina Aguilera, Emeli Sande, Rod Stewart, Marvin Gaye, Don McLean and many more.
LG Radio Presents -
Inspired
Episode 1
We start with a superb cover version of the Eagles very last US Number 1from 1979, courtesy of Michael Bublé. We’ll hear a song written by someone who started out DJ’ing at his local squash club, before going on to become one of the most successful recording artists of all time. We’ll hear the lead singer of The Doobie Brothers pay tribute to Van Morrison, there’s a truly inspired recording from the brilliant Lake Street Dive and another inspired interpretation from Karen Souza, with her version of a Bruce Hornsby classic.
Episode 2
This episode starts off with a classic from the pen of Steve Miller, given an inspired big band arrangement by Robin McKelle. We’ll also hear an inspired version of the biggest song of 1983; a very different version of the Grammy award winning song that Prince nearly gave away to a friend, but decided last minute to keep it for himself. Plus we’ll hear an inspired version of the song MTV viewers voted the most popular of the entire 1980s amongst others.
Episode 3
Cassandra Beck gets this episode started with a truly inspired version of a Fleetwood Mac classic and we hear an amazingly different version of Bruce Springsteen’s first Grammy Award winning song, courtesy of Morgan James. There’s a songs written by Tom Waits and we’ll hear about the short story that inspired a story a spaceman….
Episode 4
In this episode of the radio show where you’ll probably know the songs, but perhaps not these versions, we’ll start off with a song whose co-writer missed out receiving his Grammy award for it, because he was in the toilet having a pee. There’s a version of a Van Morrison classic, courtesy of some of Nashville’s finest musicians and how did Mick Hucknall feel, when the song he wrote when he was just 17 years old, ended up being covered by one of his musical heroes? As ever, Leo has selected many inspired cover versions, to share in this episode.
Episode 5
We get started with a roaring Big Band version of Sly Stone’s 1973 masterpiece, from the amazing vocals of Jamie Davis. Georgie Fame joins Diana Krall for a re-recording of his biggest hit and amongst many others, we’ll hear a reworking of a Bob Dylan song and Beverley Knight sings the song first recorded by a Dutch Trombonist, before the Rolling Stones turned it into a massive hit, with an inspired cover of their own.
Episode 6
Episode 6 of Leo’s radio series that serves up some of the most inspired cover versions around begins with a cover of the song that the Kinks Dave Davies only had time to record once before studio time ran out. We’ll also hear the song Joni Mitchell felt inspired to write after looking out of her hotel window, an amazing take on Brill Building song that had gave The Drifters a massive hit, from the piano playing singer Peter Cincotti. Oleta Adams pays a visit to the Billy Joel songbook and we’ll hear a song Grace Grundy recorded in her bedroom, that came out of the romantic break-up between members of Fleetwood Mac.
Episode 7
Wilson Pickett begins proceedings this episode, with his truly inspired version of a Beatles classic. Then it’s a packed show, including compositions by Neil Diamond and Tony Joe White. There’s a superb cover version of the song that a married couple called Mr & Mrs Bryant composed in 1957, that nobody had wanted, until The Everly Brothers recorded it and sold millions of copies. With vocals from Gladys Knight, Halie Loren, Madeleine Payroux and David Ruffin, you’re in for a real treat.
Episode 8
The show begins with Derek Trucks giving us his blues-soaked version a song that had started out life as a jazz instrumental; we’ll hear the results of a George Harrison produced recording session for the great Doris Troy and we’ll find out which song Bruce Springsteen’s manager had convinced him not to give away to another singer. Plus there’s something from the various compositional pens of Peter Gabriel and Noel Gallagher, with some very inspired cover versions.
Episode 9
Marvin Gaye sings the Bealtes, Rod Stewart sings Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Glass sings Bruce Springsteen and there’s an amazingly inspired version of a Jacksons song – an amazing selection of cover versions for you !
Episode 10
Gregory Porter is first up in this episode with a Dobie Gray hit, then we’ll hear a cover of a Stevie Wonder hit that could not be more different from the original! We’ll hear a version of a Beyonce hit reworked for the Great Gatsby soundtrack; Carleen Anderson covers a Faces favourite and we’ll a song written by the great Etta James, covered by one of today’s stars…
Episode 11
The Police’s debut single is re-worked for our opener in this episode, The Faces cover Paul McCartney and we’ll hear a very different and inspired version of a Prince classic, from the great Etta James. There’s a Phil Collins song that’s been re-worked by the jazz singer Tony Desare and Peter Grant gives us his inspired cover of a Kaiser Chiefs hit.
Episode 12
A 1968 soul hit inspirationally re-arranged by Jamie Cullum opens up proceedings in this episode, before we head off to hear covers of songs written by the likes of Bacharach & David, Dolly Parton and Ben E. King, as well as version of a song made famous by Celine Dion, as you will never had heard it before!
Episode 13
Bob Dylan penned our first one in this episode and once we’ve heard Curtis Stigers brilliantly re-invent it, there’s a Sam Smith hit reworked to sound as if it might have come out of New Orleans in the 1960s. Then it’s Jack Savoretti’s turn to give us an inspired cover of a Willie Nelson song, before we hear a cover of a Bee Gees classic from the incredible voice of Lizz Wright, before we hear Rod Stewart pay his respects to Van Morrison.
Episode 14
There’s a Kinks song reworked for this Episode; Bacharach & David’s studio engineer teams up with Neil Sedaka to sing a duet; Lavern Butler gives us ‘Make It Easy On Yourself’; plus there’s some inspired covers of Carole King and Bruce Springsteen.
