Music review: A.J. Croce – 鈥楤y Request鈥�
The son of the late Jim Croce, A.J. Croce has been following his own very successful musical path since the release of his eponymous debut album in 1993.
After suffering a tragic loss, Croce finds comfort and strength on his latest offering through the familiarity of songs he would previous perform for close friends and fellow musicians in the intimacy of his home and studio.
鈥淏y Request鈥� features cherished covers from the singer-songwriter鈥檚 past that serve as a nostalgic trip down memory lane when times were filled with great expectations.
Croce鈥檚 10th album is the first release to feature his full touring band of drummer Gary Mallaber, bassist David Barard and guitarist Garrett Stoner.
The set opens with a rousing rendition of Billy Preston鈥檚 鈥淣othing from Nothing鈥� and showcases Croce鈥檚 soulful voice and spirited piano playing.
Croce expresses the heartbreak of losing love on Neil Young鈥檚 鈥淥nly Love Can Break Your Heart,鈥� highlighting the track鈥檚 emotional and melancholy essence.
The Five Stairsteps鈥� 1970 hit 鈥淥oh Child鈥� has Croce affectionately conveying the hope that things will get easier and brighter when we are able to walk in the rays of a beautiful sun. A stroll in the sunshine certainly sounds pretty good right about now.
Croce channels the charisma of a young Rod Stewart with a hearty performance on the Stewart and Ronnie Wood penned 鈥淪tay with Me鈥� originally released in 1971.
Other highlights include Croce鈥檚 deft interpretations of Tom Waits鈥� 鈥淪an Diego Serenade,鈥� Sam Cooke鈥檚 鈥淣othing Can Change This Love,鈥� Allen Toussaint鈥檚 鈥淏rickyard Blues鈥� and a bluesy version of the Beach Boys鈥� 鈥淪ail on Sailor.鈥�
Shorty Long鈥檚 鈥淎in鈥檛 No Justice鈥� closes the set as Croce provides the track with a musical makeover by infusing a little of his own unique funk and R&B stylings.
In the end, 鈥淏y Request鈥� proves to be a moving and memorable treasury of impactful songs covered by a talented artist as he fully embraces the healing powers of music.