Search - Barb Jungr :: Love Me Tender

Bizarre but lovely mellow Elvis tribute

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 05/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me say straight away that a lot of Elvis Presley fans will not like this at all, even including some of those who normally like tribute albums. The one thing that nobody can deny upon hearing this music is that Barb completely re-interpreted the songs to suit herself, almost always at a slower pace than Elvis took the songs. Indeed some of them, especially Are you lonesome tonight?, are so slow that a cruel person might suggest that even a tortoise would get bored waiting. Yet this album has much to commend it once you get over the shock of the arrangements.



Actually, anybody who is familiar with the music of Alison Krauss may be better prepared than most for this album. While Alison's music is very different from Barb's, Alison has been known to take classic songs and re-interpret them at a much slower pace, notable examples being Baby now that I've found you (Foundations) and 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton). The originals were delivered in a bouncy, up-tempo style but Alison`s versions were definitely not.



It is clear from the track listing that Barb regards any song that Elvis recorded as qualifying for inclusion here. Elvis certainly recorded all the songs chosen except one (Looking for Elvis) that Barb co-wrote with Adrian York, but it is fair to say that some of the songs are more commonly associated with other singers. Among the tracks here, my favorites are both songs that Elvis made famous, these being In the ghetto, because it still has a sense of urgency about it despite the mellow mood, and Heartbreak hotel, because slowing the song right down brings out its true meaning, exactly as Alison Krauss did with Baby now that I've found you.



Upon first listening, I thought this was a very strange album, but it it grew on me with repeated playing. Will it grow on you? I don't know, but if you can't accept Barb's slowed-down re-interpretations, at least I warned you not to expect obvious arrangements."