The cover of “Jem Records Celebrates David Bowie.”
Eleven artists contributed tracks to JEM Records Celebrates David Bowie, the latest in the series of albums paying tribute to all-time great classic-rock songwriters. And more than half of them will perform at a concert celebrating the release of the album at The Cutting Room in New York, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.
The Weeklings, The Grip Weeds, The Cynz and The Midnight Callers are on the bill, with Richard Barone and Paul Collins appearing as “special guests.”
The Midnight Callers contributed one of the album’s most radical reinterpretations, a version of “Changes” that turns Bowie’s cabaret ballad into a brash rock anthem. And The Cynz tackle the album’s most obscure song: “Can’t Help Thinking About Me,” a single from 1966 that didn’t have much of an impact at that time, though Bowie also re-recorded it in 2000 for his album Toy, which was posthumously released in 2021.
The Grip Weeds contribute a lush, psychedelic version on “Space Oddity,” The Weeklings have fun strutting their way through “Diamond Dogs,” and Collins embraces the raw, propulsive energy of “Hang on to Yourself.” Barone contributes a dynamic live version of “Starman,” recorded at The “Mazzoni Center Honors George Takei” event that took place in November 2024 at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
You can listen to the album contributions by the six artists participating in the Cutting Room show, below.
Previous albums in JEM’s series have featured the songs of John Lennon, Brian Wilson, Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, and Mick Jagger & Keith Richards. Marty Scott, co-founder and president of the Jersey-based label, says he will announce the next songwriter or songwriting team to be featured in the series, at The Cutting Room show.
Tickets are available at thecuttingroomnyc.com. For more on the album, visit jemrecordings.com.
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