William Bell Tribute To Appear On Duo's Upcoming LP 'Ohio Players'
The Black Keys are ready for Valentine's Day (or, more accurately, the Day After Valentine's Day) with their cover of William Bell's “I forgot to be your lover.” The two-and-a-half-minute apology faithfully recreates the song (and “faithful” goes a long way, as Keys lovers will remind them), evoking the soulful regret Bell originally sang about in recognition that he had become a careless, self-absorbed oaf.
The song finds Dan Auerbach belting out wretched chords and taunting over orchestral strings lyrics like “Oh, I forgot to be your lover/And I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.” He reckons the twins will come Ohio players album, so named, ostensibly, because it's the hometown of Keys drummer Patrick Carney and Auerbach (get it?). The album arrives on April 5th.
Previously, the duo released “Beautiful People (Stay High),” for which they teamed up with non-Ohio native Dan “The Automator” Nakamura. Other collaborators on Keys' 12th EP (who aren't Ohio players) include Greg Kurstin and Noel Gallagher. “No matter who we work with, we never feel like we're sacrificing who we are,” Auerbach said. “Just like it adds some special flavor. We just expanded that palette with people we wanted to work with. We were there to support them and their ideas, to do what we could to see this moment flourish. But when it came time to finish the album, it was just Pat and me.”
The album will be released after the premiere of a new documentary, This is a movie about the Black Keyswhich will premiere at South by Southwest next month (long after Keys lovers have forgiven them.)
William Bell's lover, too, had a long time to overcome his oblivion. The singer, now 84, scored a No. 45 hit with the single, which he co-wrote with Booker T. Jones, in 1968. Like Keys, many artists have since covered it, including the late dub maestro Lee “Scratch” Perry and mock of the year award recipient Billy Idol.
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