If American Idol wants someone who can demonstrate the art of "making a song your own," they need to reach out to Bettye LaVette. On this album, LaVette takes classic British rock songs and offers radical renovations that play to her powerful soul and funk artistry. There is a lot of poetic justice here, as 60's British rockers borrowed heavily from the Motown/soul catalogue during the 1960s.LaVette is one of those soul artists that "almost made it" in the 1960s, faded from sight, and resurfaced decades later, with blazing talent (check out Howard Tate and Solomon burke for other superb examples). Her voice packs a powerful emotional punch; you believe her when she sings "It Don't Come Easy," and you hear the pain when she sings ""Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."Each of the songs here is a work of art; there is no "filler." Standouts for me:1. The driving, funky delivery of the Beatles "The Word": beautiful brass, outstanding back-up singing, and Bettye's silky/sandpapery vocals.2. "Isn't It a Pity": George Harrison's words take on additional poignancy thanks to the sparse, slower arrangement and Bettye's incredible vocals.3. "It Don't Come Easy": Ringo Starr's pop song is transformed into a classic, classy Blues number. Bettye speaks with authority about "paying some dues."4. "Maybe I'm Amazed": McCartney's beautiful song is a perfect vehicle for the raw power of LaVette's voice.5. "Salt of the Earth": I'm a sucker for masterful back-up singing, and this twist on the Stone's song delivers a small sample of perfection (LaVette arranged the background vocals on all the songs on the album).The CD contains a bonus track: LaVette's performance of "Love Reigns Over Me," that blew Pete Townsend's mind at the Kennedy Center Honors" concert in 2008.If you can get your hands on it, be sure to check out "Child of the Seventies," the album LaVette recorded decades ago that remained unreleased until a few years ago, and her last two albums, Scene of the Crime and "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise."