On Wake Up!, the funkiest, most flexible band on the planet backs one of the most skilled and accomplished singer/keyboardists in modern R&B. Stirred by
Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and the social climate,
the Roots and
John Legend, with appearances from Black Thought,
C.L. Smooth,
Common,
Melanie Fiona, and
Malik Yusef, reinterpret a soul-dominated set of ever-relevant songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s. A few exceptions aside, the source material will be unfamiliar to the average fan of the artists. In January 1976, the motivational “Wake Up Everybody” was a number one R&B single for the
Teddy Pendergrass-led Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. During the 2000s, versions of Eugene McDaniels' fiery “Compared to What” appeared in unlikely forms: a soft-drink commercial starring
Mya and
Common, and an episode of
Lost, when a
Les McCann and
Eddie Harris take played on the Swan turntable. Otherwise, the majority of those who play this album will hear it with a fresh set of ears. The intent is not to improve upon the originals but to update them, introduce them to a younger audience, and inspire. The burning passion of the players cannot be denied, whether conveyed during the hushed “Wholy Holy” (first recorded for
Marvin Gaye's What’s Going On) or the muscular “Our Generation” (Ernie Hines). Older folks who approach the album for the sake of hearing a band play old-school rhythm & blues should familiarize themselves with the
Roots catalog, beginning with Game Theory, Rising Down, and How I Got Over. Those albums are just as significant and vital as the songs honored here. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi
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