John Legend & The Roots dug in the crates to find a selection of classic and obscure sides from the ’60s and ’70s for their collaborative album of cover songs, Wake Up.
Originally intended to be packaged with John’s last album Evolver as a bonus disc, John & The Roots decided to release the album as a standalone project.
The album is made up of politically and socially aware covers of songs from the 60’s and 70’s, and one original song, “Shine.”
Before the album’s September 21st street date, have a listen to the original songs that John & The Roots covered so you can sing along once you pick up your copy!
1. Les McCann & Eddie Harris “Compared To What”
2. Baby Huey & The Babysitters “Hard Times”
RELATED: VIDEO: John Legend & The Roots “Hard Times”
3. Donny Hathaway “Little Ghetto Boy”*
* Unfortunately, we couldn’t find Donny’s studio version from the soundtrack of Come Back Charleston Blue on YouTube, so here’s the version from his “Donny Hathaway Live!” album.
4. Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes “Wake Up Everybody”
RELATED: AUDIO: John Legend + The Roots “Wake Up Everybody” feat. Common & Melanie Fiona
5. Ernie Hines “Our Generation”
RELATED: AUDIO: John Legend & The Roots “Our Generation”
6. Prince Lincoln Thompson & The Royal Rasses “Love the Way It Should Be”
7. Mike James Kirkland “Hang On in There”
8. Bill Withers “I Can’t Write Left Handed”
RELATED: John Legend & The Roots “I Can’t Write Left Handed”
9. Marvin Gaye “Wholy Holy”
10. Nina Simone “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”
