For her tenth album and first album on a major label in nearly thirty years, legendary soul singer Bettye LaVette will take on the songs of Bob Dylan with the grit and experience that makes her one of the greatest living soul singers. Things Have Changed is a masterpiece of interpretation of one of the greatest songwriters alive, by one of the greatest soul singers alive. Keith Richards and Trombone Shorty guest on the Steve Jordan produced album, which is set for release on Verve Records on March 30th.
Since the great 21st century rediscovery of Bettye LaVette returned her to prominence, she has worked extensively in the rock and folk idioms, with her unique takes on songs by the likes of The Who, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Fiona Apple, and Dolly Parton. But never before has she devoted an entire album to the material of one songwriter.
Things Have Changed spans more than five decades of Dylan songs, from 1964’s immortal “The Times They Are A-Changin’” up to “Ain’t Talkin’,” the epic final track on his 2006 album Modern Times.
“Other people write songs, but he writes vignettes, more prose than poetry. I didn’t find his words to be pretty so much as they are extremely practical or extremely logical. He can work things like ‘go jump off a ledge’ into a song.”
Bettye LaVette has only come face-to-face with Bob Dylan once, at a festival in Italy. Both backstage, Dylan was preparing to go on when his longtime bassist Tony Garnier pointed out Bettye. Dylan immediately stopped, walked over, and grabbed Bettye’s face in his hands and kissed her, and headed out to play his show.
Legend recognized legend.
Things Have Changed sees Dylan’s songs seriously transformed: “I had never really listened to ‘It Ain’t Me Babe,’” she says, “But I had to make it more dismissive—not fast and hard, but like a Jimmy Reed tune. And ‘The Times They Are A-Changin,’ I had to flip that all the way around, so we worked up the groove on a beat box. That just made it extremely surprising.”
To pull off these transformations, LaVette needed a producer who was up to the challenge, and, through Executive Producer Carol Friedman, she found the perfect collaborator in Steve Jordan, former drummer in David Letterman’s house band, who has worked with everyone from Chuck Berry to John Mayer. “Steve was absolutely brilliant,” she says. “He remembers everything he has ever heard in his entire life, and he was able to interpret for the musicians everything I said to him.”
Jordan brought in an A Team of musicians, including Dylan’s long-time guitarist Larry Campbell, bass virtuoso Pino Palladino, and keyboardist Leon Pendarvis. The group was in such sync that the whole album was cut in just three days. Later, Keith Richards added guitar and is featured on “Political World” and New Orleans ace Trombone Shorty joined for “What Was It You Wanted.”
Grammy nominated singer Bettye LaVette has been in show business for nearly six decades. Her first single “My Man – He’s A Lovin’ Man” was released on Atlantic Records in 1962, when she was only 16 years old. She continued recording until her resurgence came in the early aughts with a series of albums of interpretations, and in 2008 she wowed the audience at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony with a heart-wrenching rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me.” Her voice is like no other, and taking on the tricky canon of one of the most substantial songwriters alive is no small feat – but if anyone can match the heart of Bob Dylan, it’s Bettye LaVette.
Track List:
01. Things Have Changed
02. It Ain’t Me Babe
03. Political World
04. Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight
05. Seeing The Real You At Last
06. Mama, You Been On My Mind
07. Ain’t Talkin’
08. The Times They Are A-Changin’
09. What Was It You Wanted
10. Emotionally Yours
11. Do Right To Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
12. Going, Going, Gone
Bettye LaVette US Tour Dates
Friday November 17
The Iridium
New York, NY
Saturday November 18th
The Iridium
New York, NY
Sunday November 19th
The Hamilton Live
Washington, DC
Saturday December 16th
Landmark on Main Street
Port Washington, NY
Sunday December 17th
Rams Head on Stage
Annapolis, MD
Wednesday December 20th
Cohoes Music Hall
Cohoes, NY
Friday December 22nd
Outpost in the Burbs at the First Congregational Church
Montclair, NJ
Thursday January 4th
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Friday January 5th
The Plaza Live
Orlando, FL
Saturday January 6th
The Funky Biscuit
Boca Raton, FL
Sunday January 7th
King Center for the Performing Arts
Melbourne, FL
Thursday January 11th
The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
San Antonio, TX
Friday January 12th
The Heights Theater
Houston, TX
Saturday January 13th
The Kessler Theater
Dallas, TX
Friday February 9th
The Center for the Arts in Natick
Natick, MA
Saturday February 10th
The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
Old Saybrook, CT
Thursday April 5th
World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, PA
Friday April 13th
Old Town School of Folk
Chicago, IL
Thursday April 19th
Freight & Salvage
Berkeley, CA
Friday April 20th
Freight & Salvage
Berkeley, CA
Sunday April 22nd
Aladdin Theater
Portland, OR
1 Comment
It’s going to be a splendid tour!