Album: Mick Hucknall, American Soul (Simplyred.com)

Doubtless inspired by the success of his Bobby Bland tribute album, American Soul features Mick Hucknall's covers of soul standards, his elastic definition of the genre affording one of the album's highlights, a version of Antony Hegarty's "Hope There's Someone" whose serpentine frailty he negotiates beautifully. There's an assured balance of passion and restraint in his takes on "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "I Only Have Eyes For You", though his "Lonely Avenue" lacks Ray Charles' relaxed slouch. But "It's Impossible" is out of place here, more Great American Songbook than soul.

Download: Let Me Down Easy; Hope There's Someone; I'd Rather Go Blind