The grand diva of them all, Barbra Streisand, has many things going to keep her in the spotlight for months—and this is not including her involvement as a vocal supporter of the Democratic Party.
The icon unearthed hard-to-find recordings that compose the 11-track collection Release Me. It is impossible for me not to think of those who have parodied Streisand while hearing the sentimental standards like "Being Good Isn't Good Enough," "Willow Weep for Me" or "With One More Look at You." Her take on "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" with Randy Newman accompanying her on the piano is superb, but not enough for me to forget the versions by Bette Midler, Dusty Springfield, Nina Simone or even Katie Melua.
Greats like Diana Krall, Seal, Lea Michele, Tony Bennett and Barry Manilow salute the enduring megastar on the DVD and Blu-Ray release A MusiCares Tribute to Barbra Streisand. This Shout! Factory video is due out Nov. 13 and closes with Streisand performing "Windmills of Your Mind" and "The Promise (I'll Never Say Goodbye)." Proceeds will go to MusiCares, a non-profit organization that provides funds, services and resources to musicians in need.
The perfectionist's tour brings her to United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., on Friday, Oct. 26, with Chris Botti and Il Divo on the bill. During her homecoming concert in Brooklyn, Streisand's openly gay son, Jason Gould, joined her on "This Masquerade" and "How Deep Is the Ocean." Streisand will play Seth Rogen's mother in the upcoming comedy The Guilt Trip. Now let's see if the multitalented star will pop up on Glee for a cameo. Her best was an appearance on Saturday Night Live during the Linda Richman skit in 1992 alongside Madonna and Roseanne.
I was not expecting to like No Doubt's comeback effort, Push and Shove. Over the years, I dug the quartet's hits "Simple Kind of Life" and "Hella Good." But I was not "b-a-n-a-n-a-s" with the overkill of the less-than-stellar cover of "It's My Life" and Gwen Stefani's sellout solo material. My outlook changed upon hearing the end of "Settle Down," the opening track on Push and Shove. Here, the Californians slow it down to ride a gorgeous groove. Busy Signal and Major Lazer guest on the fun title track, which is the set's most upbeat number. Just try not to sing along with Stefani on the pop ditties like "Undercover" and "Undone." "Sparkle" shines while reflecting on the past with its horns and rhythm. Push and Shove is a pleasant surprise and a welcome return for No Doubt.
Cat Power has seen many incarnations over the years—ranging from her stripped-down covers to her blues efforts—while her trademark vocal delivery remains intact. Her latest, Sun, has the singer-songwriter tiptoeing into slightly more electronic territory as heard on the stunningly beautiful title track and "Manhattan." There is an homage to her idol Bob Dylan on "Nothin But Time," where Iggy Pop is a guest vocalist. Similarly, "Human Being" has a timeless classic-rock feel to it. Power comes to Riviera, 4746 N. Racine Ave., on Sunday, Oct. 28, to promote Sun.
I am still waiting for a proper release of Power's spin on David Bowie's "Space Oddity" that was featured in Lincoln car commercial. Need more? Check out her dazzling collaboration with British dance outfit Faithless, "A Kind of Peace."
A dear friend asked me to help him put together a playlist of midtempo songs that would appeal to a broad group of people of all ages. One of the first songs to come to mind is "Kandi" by One EskimO.
When I first heard One EskimO, I thought the relaxed-vibe with guitars and a laid back drum beat recalled a modernization of Faithless's 1996 song "Don't Leave." It turns out that Rollo, one of the founders of Faithless, helped co-write and co-produce One EskimO's self-titled outing.
On "Kandi," having a cheating lover never sounded so good. The soulful track uses Candi Staton's take on "He Called Me Baby" as its backbone over strumming guitars and a playful tambourine. The final result is brilliant. With "Amazing," One EskimO proves it can make great chill out music. One EskimO has a fan in Ellen DeGeneres, having appeared on her show previously.
I visited City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph St., for the first time to see Joan Osborne. Here, patrons enjoyed the fruits of the Windy City's only functioning urban winery as the soulful siren belted out favorites like "One of Us" alongside the remarkable remakes from her latest, Bring It on Home. The venue offers a spacious yet intimate supper-club setting in the concert hall. The West Loop spot collaborated with the "St. Teresa" singer, so she could sponsor a wine, which was a delicious blend of Zinfandel and Syrah.
Lesbian artists Kaki King, Cheryl Wheeler and Sandra Bernhard as well as noteworthy acts Shawn Colvin and Bettye LaVette are scheduled to perform at City Winery Chicago. For a complete schedule, please visit www.citywinery.com/chicago.
Bummed that there is no Reeling film festival this year? Here are some of my favorite LGBT-themed music-related movies: Edgeplay: A Film about the Runaways, Hit So Hard, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Leave It on the Floor and Prey for Rock n' Roll. We must wait patiently for forthcoming biopics on queer singers Sylvester, Freddie Mercury and Janis Joplin.
