Music Review

Cadillac Records (2008)

EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Dec 02, 2008; Lead Performance: Various Artists; Genre: R&B

 Lady Sings the Blues: Beyonce channels Etta James on the Cadillac Records soundtrack Cadillac Records, Beyonce Knowles
Image credit: Eric Liebowitz
Lady Sings the Blues: Beyonce channels Etta James on the Cadillac Records soundtrack

Jeffrey Wright sings Muddy Waters! Mos Def sings Chuck Berry! Beyoncé sings Etta James! Maybe no one asked to hear the sound of youngish Hollywood raiding the Chess Records vaults on the Cadillac Records soundtrack, but the actors nail just the right blend of reverence and vitality in their covers, which could have made for a fun EP. Instead, they're padded out with assorted contemporary catalog tunes of a vaguely retro flavor — all fine, but thoroughly inessential. Still, anything that might help get those Chess classics back on the pop airwaves can't be all bad. B

Download This: Listen to the song ''I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man'' by Jeffrey Wright

Originally posted Dec 10, 2008 Published in issue #1026 Dec 19, 2008 Order article reprints

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