"I think she sang for like 10 minutes."Īlong with "Under the Influence" the recording sessions also produced a Christmas EP, "Under the Influence: Holiday Edition." Its eight tunes feature lead vocals by Cee Lo Green, Colbie Caillat and none other than Paul McCartney (on "Wonderful Christmastime"). "You can only imagine what it's like to have these folks (like Parton) come in and just knock out a solo to 'Jolene' in one take," Nottingham says. While scheduling issues meant most of the guest artists recorded their vocals separately, Parton and Bareilles came to studios Straight No Chaser was using to record their vocals - a special thrill for the group. They seamlessly string together Fun.'s hits "Some Nights" and "We Are Young," and also perform solid versions of Gavin DeGraw's "Soldier" and Ed Sheeran's "Lego House." Other songs show the guys in Straight No Chaser are up to date on current music. Fans of soul get medleys of Ray Charles ("What'd I Say"/"Hit the Road Jack"/"Mas Que Nada") and Bill Withers ("Use Me"/"Ain't No Sunshine"). Motown is also represented with a cover of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," featuring Sara Bareilles. Stevie Wonder does "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" - a song Straight No Chaser performed on its own on its 2008 EP, "Six Pack." Here the guys in Straight No Chaser not only add backing vocals but also mimic horns, the song's prominent bass line and sprightly beat. Parton joins the group on one of her signature hits, "Jolene." Straight No Chaser backs Parton's familiar vocal with a peppy rhythm and even some clever instrumental-type lines that add color to the track. The song selection showcases the diversity of the musical tastes of the group, which includes Nottingham, Walter Chase, Randy Stine, Jerome Collins, Michael Luginbill, Charlie Mechling, Tyler Trepp, Seggie Isho, Dave Roberts and Steve Morgan. "We have Stevie Wonder on our album? Come on. That's the only explanation I could come up with," Nottingham jokes. "As far as landing some of those names, I just assumed that our management blackmailed them. It includes Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Phil Collins, Jason Mraz, Seal and Rob Thomas (of Matchbox Twenty). What helps make "Under the Influence" more of an event is that several of the artists that originated the songs join Straight No Chaser on vocals.Īnd this isn't a B-list group of guests. So we can bring a lot of those influences to bear on what we sing."Īlbums highlighting an artist's influences are nothing new. Between the 10 of us, we like a lot of different music. "That's part of what I think makes us interesting to our audiences. "Our influences are exactly the same influences that you would probably find in just about any other band," Nottingham says. What the album also shows, according to Straight No Chaser vocalist Don Nottingham, is that the group's tastes aren't as left field as some might assume. As the title of the latest Straight No Chaser album, "Under the Influence," suggests, its songs are meant to give listeners a window into some of the artists who inspired the 10-member a cappella group.
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