markronson-version music reviews Virgin Media
British-born producer du jour and famous chums save the life of the humble cover version
Cover versions have been dragged into a festering pit of reality TV contestant singles, so Mark Ronson could well be seen as their saviour. The British-born, New York-based DJ-cum-producer arranged a version of Just for a Radiohead covers album – transforming it into a funky, Seventies brass-led Stax-style version – and it worked so well, he decided to do the same to other tracks he treasures.
The result is Version – an album reminiscent of those hits of the day collections Ronson’s hero Quincy Jones used to release. Ronson’s trump card is his impressive address book of pop star mates. Having recently produced tracks for Lily Allen, Robbie Williams and Amy Winehouse (Back To Black’s fat, brassy sound echoes throughout Version), Ronson has pulled in favours for vocal duties.
Version's first half is impressive stuff. Ronson contrives to make Coldplay sound fun on his Sixties theme tune-style instrumental of God Put A Smile Upon My Face, before Lily Allen brings her melodic cheek to Kaiser Chiefs' Oh My God. The Smiths' Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before is arguably better as a string-led soul anthem sung by Daniel Merriweather, Britney’s Toxic becomes bouncy, sexed-up New Orleans funk (with the late Ol' Dirty Bastard spitting rhymes on the verse) while The Zutons’ Valerie is morphed into a Sixties girl band stomper with added balls from La Winehouse.
The aforementioned Just apart, much of the second half lacks the first’s irresistible fun. Versions of LSF (Kasabian) and Apply Some Pressure (Maxïmo Park) pointlessly feature the original vocalist while Robbie’s impression of Tim Burgess on The Only One I Know is toe-curling. Those aside, these reworkings reward on repeated listening and provide further evidence of Ronson as a producer of rare talent.
More to try:
Mark Ronson: Here Comes The Fuzz
Amy Winehouse: Back To Black
New Orleans Funk Vol. 1
