The Estate of late Soundgarden/Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell had a special surprise for fans this past Friday with the release of a posthumous solo covers album.
No One Sings Like You Anymore finds Cornell playing all instruments on 10 songs from artists that inspired Cornell over the years. The album was recorded back in 2016, making it his final fully-completed album before his untimely 2017 passing.
Aside from his cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience” that was released back in July and became his first solo number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart, the album also includes his take on Lorraine Ellison’s “Stay With Me Baby” from HBO’s ‘Vinyl,’ as well as songs by John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Prince, Howard Tate/Janis Joplin and Electric Light Orchestra.
“We went out to various friends, people in the business, people he respected, to see what they thought… we compiled a bit of a list,” said Brendan O’Brien, who produced and mixed the album, in a statement. Many of the songs chosen were worked out during Cornell’s solo “Songbook” tours.
Said Cornell’s widow Vicky about the album in a statement:
“This album is so special because it is a complete work of art that Chris created from start to finish. His choice of covers provides a personal look into his favorite artists and the songs that touched him. He couldn’t wait to release it. This moment is bittersweet because he should be here doing it himself, but it is with both heartache and joy that we share this special album. All of us could use his voice to help heal and lift us this year, especially during the holiday season. I am so proud of him and this stunning record, which to me illustrates why he will always be beloved, honored, and one the greatest voices of our time.”
Cornell’s daughter Toni reminisced about the making of the album as well, saying in the statement:
“I remember waking up in the morning, having breakfast with him and going with him to the studio. We would take our piano lessons there and Christopher would play video games with [producer] Brendan [O’Brien] and my dad. We got to experience so much with him and have so many amazing memories. I’m really happy to be sharing this album. We love you, daddy.”
“For me, this album represents who my dad was,” Cornell’s son Christopher also added in the statement. “I’m really proud of him and his work. I hope you all love this record as much as I do.”
The full No One Sings Like You Anymore tracklist can be found below. While the album can be heard digitally right now, a physical vinyl edition is slated to hit stores on March 19. Digital streams and vinyl pre-orders can be found here.
Tracklist:
01) Howard Tate/Janis Joplin, “Get It While You Can”
02) Harry Nilsson, “Jump Into The Fire”
03) Ghostland Observatory, “Sad Sad City”
04) Guns N’ Roses, “Patience”
05) Prince, “Nothing Compares 2 U”
06) John Lennon, “Watching The Wheels”
07) Carl Hall, “You Don’t Know Nothing About Love”
08) Electric Light Orchestra, “Showdown”
09) Terry Reid, “To Be Treated Rite”
10) Lorraine Ellison, “Stay With Me Baby”
