Let’s try to imagine for a moment that this was a collection of duets that, somehow, managed to hook Brother Ray up with the guys and gals who benefited most from his example. We’d have Gram Parson (probably apologising for trying to take credit for the Cosmic American Music idea), Sly Stone, Nina Simone, Prince, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Jason Pierce, Stevie Wonder – basically anyone who, over the past five decades, has tried to make a righteous sound through blending the sacred and the profane.
Boy, would it rock.
Unfortunately, Genius Loves Company is less concerned with tracing bonds of artistic comradeship than in sucking up to as wide a demographic spread as possible.
Hence the presence of such undesirables as Johnny Mathis, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole and Elton John.
The album does not have the weirdo ambience of Frank Sinatra’s strange duets project. Indeed, in execution it more often than not follows the template laid down by Robson and Jerome rather than Marvin and Tammi.
A notable (and surprising) exception comes on the opening track, ‘Here We Go Again’ – through which the sly old dog purrs seductively at Norah Jones – while Gladys Knight has a spirited cameo during ‘Heaven Help Us All’.
Great as it is to hear that voice one last time (and it stands up well – he’s in bright, if waning, form), this is a pointless, hagiographical exercise.
Invest in The Atlantic Years.