Paul Brady - Oh What A World (2000/2016)

Having your songs recorded by folks like Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Tina Turner, and Trisha Yearwood is a decent way to make a living, but Paul Brady wants to be known as an artist in his own right. To be sure, he has the chops as a singer and musician, but his real strength is in his songwriting and connections. The collaborations on Oh What a World are a sight to be seen. Will Jennings, Carole King, and Bob Thiele, among others, teamed up with Brady during the three years he spent traveling around the world writing songs. The result is a bunch of smooth adult contemporary tunes. The blue-eyed soul of King leaps right out of the light groove of "I Believe in Magic." It has a similar feel to Turner's "I Don't Wanna Fight" and would really spring to life with her powerful voice belting it out. A big step away from that is the title track. Brady confesses in the liner notes that this piece -- the result of working with Jennings -- calls to mind a New Orleans funeral band parading through the streets. Other tracks lean into a bit of bluesy rock, alternative country, and acoustic pop, but the best moments are the simple ones, such as "I Believe in Magic," "The Long Goodbye," and "Believe in Me." With their pristine production, mid-tempo melodies, and accessible lyrics, these are ready-made hits for adult contemporary radio. Just add airwaves, top with a good tour, and serve to the masses.