Album Review: Tracks of My Years – Bryan Adams
10 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on Album Review: Tracks of My Years – Bryan Adams
Tracks of My Years – Bryan Adams (Verve Records, 2014)
For his first studio album in six years, Bryan Adams reached back to the songs that made him want to be a musician. Drawing on classics from the late ’60s and the ’70s, along with one new song, Adams created a musical scrapbook with Tracks of my Years.
While the world only got to know Bryan Adams when he had already established his pop-rock persona, his foundation can be traced back to the rock ‘n’ roll and soul from his early years. That he understands and has deep affection for this music shines through his performances here.
The project’s first single is the only new song, She Knows Me, written by Adams and Jim Vallance, is clearly the most modern composition, but it fits right in between The Beatles‘ ‘Any Time at All’ and Ray Charles’ ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You.’
Adams’ interpretations do not try to reinvent these songs, but neither is he interested in merely copying them. On each track he leaves the foundation in tact, but he painted the walls and rearranged the furniture. Or, in the case of The Beach Boys’ ‘God Only Knows,’ he used whole new decor and turned in into a piano-vocal of great impact.
Other standouts include his comforting rendition of The Addrisi Brothers’ ‘Never My Love,’ and a surprisingly vulnerable version of Bob Dylan‘s ‘Lay Lady Lay.’
Produced by Adams, David Foster, and Bob Rock, the album employs an AM radio vibe to further invoke a time when music wasn’t ruled by corporate interests. There was no search for perfection and lots of freedom. I am not saying there was no ProTools anywhere near this, but the music radiates with an authenticity that I feared was lost to modern releases.
When you purchase this album next week (and you should), I recommend you invest a little extra in the deluxe edition lest you miss out on a stunning version of Kris Kristofferson‘s ‘Help Me Make it Through the Night.’
Track of My Years track list
1. “Any Time At All” – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
2. “She Knows Me” – Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance
3. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Don Gibson
4. “Kiss and Say Goodbye” – Winfred Lovett
5. “Lay Lady Lay” – Bob Dylan
6. “Rock and Roll Music” – Chuck Berry
7. “Down on the Corner” – John Fogerty
8. “Never My Love” – Don Addrisi, Dick Addrisi
9. “Sunny” – Bobby Hebb
10. “The Tracks of My Tears” – Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin
11. “God Only Knows” – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks
12. “You’ve Been a Friend to Me” – Bryan Adams
13. “Many Rivers to Cross” – Jimmy Cliff
14. “C’mon Everybody” – Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart
15. “Help Me Make It Through the Night” – Kris Kristofferson
16. “You Shook Me” – Willie Dixon, J.B. Lenoir
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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