Track Listing

1. For What It's Worth
2. Wake Up Everybody
3. People Got to Be Free
4. Talk
5. What's Happening Brother
6. The Times They Are A-Changin'
7. Get Together
8. Someday We'll All Be Free
9. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
10. Imagine

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10809 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2004-09-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
The velvety voiced Mo' shifts away from his usual matters of the heart to matters of the world on this disc of predominantly covers. He has also abandoned his bluesier roots in favor of a slicker, jazz-based pop. The result is a protest album for the double-latte crowd, most of whom can hum along to chestnuts from the Rascals ("People Got to be Free"), John Lennon ("Imagine"), and Bob Dylan ("The Times They Are A-Changin'"). While a jaunty banjo- and fiddle-flecked version of the Nick Lowe-penned "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" (popularized by Elvis Costello) uses a questionable rearrangement to convey the song's message, Mo' really connects when he raids the soul vaults for tunes by Marvin Gaye, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, and Donny Hathaway. It's a pleasant, subtle, and always professionally performed detour that's as comfy as a warm cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews

What goes around... comes back again
This recording of peace songs of the 1960's and 70's is well performed. Don't expect the music of Keb Mo you're used to. This isn't a blues recording. These are peace oriented folk, rock and pop songs from the past. They are meant to remind us of lessons of the past.

The recordings of 'For What It's Worth,' 'Wake up Everybody,' 'People Got to be Free,' and 'Someday We'll all be Free' are as good or better than the originals. 'Imagine' is well done as well.

The Keb and accoustic piano version of 'The Times They Are a'Changin' without accompaniment is particularly striking.

Ya gotta know why this album's here
Peace...Back By Popular Demand was written as a social statement by the great Keb Mo (aka Kevin Moore).

This whole social consciense thing isn't new for Mr. Moore. He's inserted songs into his previous offerings, for example, Victim of Comfort, an environmental screed.

In case you've been living in a cave lately you should know he's just appeared in Seattle live as part of 'Vote for Change', on 9/27/04. Along with his good friends Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne Keb kicked it out for peace, love, and understanding. He, after some gentle urging from Jackson Browne, played one song from this new set, What's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding.

This is a set of covers, for the most part, but done in Keb's original style. You can't go wrong.

Inspiration from the Past
Keb' Mo's latest set is an excellent collection of great songs from the past. Mo' does a journeyman's job of delivering these tunes, letting the lyric and melodies speak for themselves. One of my favorites is his piano-backed version of Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'." Using piano rather than guitar and Mo's world-weary wisdom result in a hopeful and unique rendition of this classic. The Youngbloods' peace anthem "Get Together" also works exquisitely with Paulinho Da Costa's percolating percussion. Alicia Keys recently re-did Donny Hathaway's classic "Someday We'll All Be Free." Keb's version again polishes this most beautiful of melodies. Other tracks like Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and the Rascals' "People Got to Be Free" also work well. This set is upbeat and hopeful, not too distant from "Big Wide Grin" where Keb' did other cover tunes. This is an excellent set from one of our best. Enjoy!