MARI WILSON –the self-styled ‘Neasden Queen Of Soul’ – releases her latest album at the beginning of April… ‘Cover Stories’ – an eleven track collection of some of the singer’s favourite songs.
Most people know MARI through her 80’s pop hits –most notably ‘Just What I Always Wanted’, but since those halcyon days she’s never stopped working. She constantly tours and is in-demand on the live jazz circuit. She’s featured in the West production of ‘Sweet Charity’ and also played DUSTY SPRINGFIELD in ‘Dusty, The Musical’. In between all that she finds time to present music shows on BBC Radio London and record her own work.
‘Cover Stories’, however, is markedly different to anything she’s done before – a whole set of cover versions. The chosen songs range from THE BEE GEES’ ‘First Of May’ to BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE’S ‘Everybody Needs A Holiday’ – then there’s material from the songbooks of RON SEXSMITH, KIRSTY McCOLL and CHRISSIE HYNDE. Standouts though are lovely versions of the RONETTES’ ‘Be My Baby’, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD’S ‘I Only Want To Be With You’ and GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS’ ‘Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying’ – a beautiful melody and a surprisingly soulful song.
Using the same five piece band throughout, MARI has created a very chilled and intimate album and the new and very different arrangements allow you to re-examine some classic music in a new light.
MARI WILSON’S ‘COVER STORIES’ is released on Beehive Records on April 2nd… for more info go to www.mariwilson.co.uk
