Belinda Carlisle - who wowed Coachella Festival crowds last spring with The Go-Go's - releases her ninth solo album and the first devoted solely to cover tunes, 'Once Upon a Time in California' on Friday via Demon Music.
This thoroughly enchanting collection represents the singer's first full-length studio effort since 2017's 'Wilder Shores' (the Diane Warren-penned 'Kismet' EP arrived in 2023). The 10 tracks on 'Once Upon a Time in California,' primarily spanning 1965-75, were ones that Carlisle listened to on AM pop radio as a young girl in LA and helped inspire her to become a singer. Carlisle owned three of the chosen selections on 7" vinyl singles back then. Astute followers will recognize three covers from prior collections.
For Carlisle's take on the Harry Nilsson hit “One” (a #5 hit for Three Dog Night in 1969), she went for a jazz-styled approach that concludes with manic piano work and said in a press release, "I've never done anything like this before, so I think it might be a surprise for some of my fans." Another Nilsson number, "Everybody's Talkin'," from the "Midnight Cowboy" soundtrack, contains glorious vocals.
About The Hollies-popularized "The Air That I Breathe" (done with full-bodied vocals on 'California'), Carlisle stated, "this song has always been one of my very favorites growing up. I love the lyrics and the complicated melody. This was on the list I originally made of songs that I wanted to sing if I ever did a cover album. During the pandemic, I started performing karaoke style on my Instagram every Saturday and called it “Saturday Serenades.” This one got such a good response that I thought 'This definitely should be a contender for the album.' I'm so happy with the way it turned out."
Additionally, Carlisle said her upbeat version of The Youngbloods’ “Get Together” was initially lyrically relevant "when it was released during the Vietnam war and it's relevant today with all of the craziness going on in our world. I recorded it firstly because I love it and secondly because I think it is perfect for this time."
Bacharach & David's "Anyone Who Had a Heart," best known for the hit Dionne Warwick rendition, kicks the 'California' album off in fine dramatic fashion.
Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind," featuring elegant, intricate acoustic guitar, a sublime string section, a sweeping thrust and prominent female backing vocals, is simply gorgeous, bettering the original.
Another standout here is Leon Russell & Bonnie Bramlett's "Superstar," popularized by The Carpenters. Carlisle's joyous chorus vocal delivery along with a bittersweet melody, is superb.
All told, 'Once Upon a Time in California' is a must-have for fans of Belinda Carlisle's solo career hits like "Heaven is a Place on Earth," "Circle in the Sand," and "I Get Weak."
Available configurations include CD, vinyl and digital. Order HERE
George Paul
