The Persuasions › The Persuasions Sing The Beatles

THE PERSUASIONS SING THE BEATLES is a tribute CD where the songs are performed completely accapella.

The Persuasions: Jerry Lawson, Jayvotis Washington, Ray Sanders, Jim Hayes (vocals).

Includes liner notes by Ken Kessler.

Personnel: Jim Hayes, Jerry Lawson, Ray Sanders, Jayotis Washington (vocals).

Liner Note Author: Ken Kessler.

Recording information: St. Peter's Church, New York, NY (04/30/2001-05/02/2001).

Editor: Nicholas Prout.

Photographer: Janette Beckman.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Lloyd "Butch" Phillips; Dave Revels.

Arranger: Jerry Lawson.

It may be easy to get cynical toward a project like this, especially with so many Beatles cover albums floating around. But leave it to the Persuasions, a 40-year-old a cappella singing group, to make virtually every kind of Beatles song fit into their style. They turn "Come Together" into doo wop, "Oh! Darling" becomes a sweet soul ballad, even "Don't Let Me Down" becomes an impassioned R&B track. A few songs lose a little bit of steam from these renditions, especially "Love Me Do." But these aren't bad versions of these songs; they just take a different route from the original. What the album proves more than anything else is what incredible pop songs these are. For this to work at all is a miracle, let alone for it to be a solid, enjoyable album. Few bands have written material that translates to other genres as well as the Beatles, and in the hands of the wonderful Persuasions, these take on a whole new life of their own. Fans of a cappella soul, as well as fans of the band, should check this out. These are some unique and excellent readings of these classics. ~ Bradley Torreano

Genre:

• Doo Wop

Music Categories:

• Oldies: Doowop