The four selections are with Gene Simmons, Olivia Newton-John, Dionne Warwick, and Willie Nelson. OK! Good chose these artists because they were active at the same time as Engelbert and that would add to the seventies feel of the EP.
The EP begins with the Blood Sweat and Tears song "Spinning Wheel" with Gene Simmons. The first verse started had me wondering where they were going with this song. Genes raspy voice does not blend well with Engelberts but they sing it with a lightheartedness that pulls it together. Near the end Englebert throws in a jab at Genes tongue and the song ends nicely. The next track is Shirley Bassey's hit song "Never, Never, Never" with Olivia Newton-John and it is an excellent cut and I feel that their voices complement each other although Olivia's voice could have been louder. Track three is "It Matters To Me" with Dionne Warwick and it is very good, for what they are trying to accomplish, but can anyone compare to the original by Faith Hill. The EP ends with a Bob Dylan song that has been covered by Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, Kelly Clarkson and several others, "To Make You Feel My Love" with Willie Nelson is a decent version of this song, they sound good together and it puts a good finish to the EP.
OK! Good Records did an admirable job putting their idea to vinyl and I would like to add it to my collection, in fact I would like to see the entire "Engelbert Calling" CD on vinyl. They have released many independent artists and this is their first project with a major artist and I hope to see more vinyl from them. If you like to hear some of the great voices of the seventies then you need to give this a listen.
