R&B with TLC

R&B

Joan Osborne

That "One of Us" -- a waif-like, pop rumination on God's existence -- became a mega hit for Joan Osborne in 1995 was a fluke of the charts. Osborne's honey-whiskey voice and bare-it-all style were more suited to the rock, blues, and folk filling the rest of "Relish," her first major-label studio album. Moreover, since then, Osborne has proved her versatility in handling everything from melodic pop to twangy country. On her new album, Osborne looks toward Motown, with worshipful, full-throated covers of R&B classics plus six original songs, each written with such R&B style that you first wonder if you've heard that tune before. With brassy confidence, Osborne covers "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "I've Got to Use My Imagination" (hits for Gladys Knight and the Pips) with spirit and verve. She nearly turns the schmaltzy chestnut "Break Up to Make Up" into a credibly heartrending ballad. Better is Osborne's fiery performances of "Heat Wave" and "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted." The best track, however, is "Breakfast in Bed," a Dusty Springfield tune that Osborne infuses with longing. As for Osborne's own tunes, see if you can pick them out. (Hint: check out tracks 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 13.) Osborne even seems to have her own equivalent of the Pips. [Stephanie Schorow]

Joan Osborne will perform at the Lowell Summer Music Series in Boarding House Park on June 29.