Welcome to WKBC in California, the station with 60’s and 70’s easy listening vibes with covers by none other than Belinda Carlisle. The Go-Go’s sound is gone-gone but her solo vocals are just as reverberating and strong as ever.
Belinda’s new album, Once Upon A Time In California, has mellow covers of classics you may or may not know. Belinda could sing the side effects off a medicine bottle and I’d buy it, but cover albums aren’t my favorite. However, after having waited eight years for a new album and getting teased with her pop-loving EP, Kismet, three years ago; I’ll take what I can get.
What’s funny about cover albums is, most of the time, divas choose songs I’ve never heard. In Belinda’s case that would be the album’s kick off song “Anyone Who Had A Heart” and the final track “Reflections Of My Life”. “Superstar” is the only song I know by the originator, how could I not, it’s synonymous with Karen Carpenter?
The only reason I know the rest of the songs is because of other divas. Thanks to Kathy Troccoli I know “Never My Love” and Wilson Phillips introduced me to “Get Together.” I also know there are diva covers I assume they created…what do you mean “I Saw Him Standing There” wasn’t written by Tiffany?
In my gay opinion, Once Upon A Time In California has an old-school feel and Belinda sounds great. It’s retro vibe is reminiscent of the eras when the originals were recorded, so sit back and enjoy this time machine ride with Belinda through the decades.
