Wendy Moten’s debut country EP I’ve Got You Covered, produced by Vince Gill, is currently being played on mediabase billboard reporting stations. Partnering with Musik Radio Promotions, the debut single, “Driving Nails In My Coffin, also charted throughout the world.
Wendy Moten may have launched her career as a pop/R&B artist and taken cool detours into jazz throughout her fascinating career, but her heart clearly belongs to Nashville. Living and immersing in Music City for the past 23 years, the multi-talented vocalist has toured with Faith Hill & Tim McGraw (2005-2018) and Martina McBride (2014-2016) – and since 2016, has been on the road with the legendary Vince Gill (the man she calls “Emperor of Nashville”) when he hasn’t been touring with the Eagles. Their dynamic working relationship, and the 21-time Grammy winner’s long-held appreciation for Wendy’s versatility, culminates now in I’ve Got You Covered, an extraordinary passion project she’s had in her sights for years.
Produced by Gill and featuring the elite among Nashville’s most legendary hit making session musicians, the nine-track collection is the singer’s long-awaited moment in the country music spotlight. Effortlessly and intuitively inhabiting classic but lately little heard songs hand-picked by Gill, Wendy finds her groove – and her spiritual musical home – celebrating the gloried history of traditional country music by singing what she calls “real stories and real songs.”
I’ve Got You Covered is an immense effort by Wendy Moten that truly unveils the singer’s passion for country music and the depth of her vocal expertise. As reflected by the album’s title, I’ve Got You Covered is a revival of some of country music’s greatest contributions from the 60’s and 70’s in real time. Successfully, Wendy is able to reinvent songs by Ernest Tubb (“Driving Nails in My Coffin”), Jeannie Seely (“Don’t Touch Me”), Bobby Gentry (“Ode to Billie Joe”), George Jones (“Walk Through This World With Me”), and quite a few others.
One of the outstanding gems from this 9-track treasure chest is Til I Get It Right. The song was originally performed by Tammy Wynette in 1972. Wendy Moten is able to make this phenomenal tune her own with a sincere vocal performance that demonstrates the incalculable range of her voice. Wendy’s utterances of enchantment seamlessly glide over an acoustic landscape of guitar strums, soft drums, and a transcendent harp recorded in an easy tempo, making Til I Get It Right one of the most beautiful songs released in 2020.
Ode To Billie Joe is a popular tune that finds itself among the collection of songs covered by Wendy Moten. Originally written and produced by Bobbie Gentry, Wendy is able to cast an awe of nostalgia in her enthralling interpretation of the country-pop classic. The track has a refreshing feel while maintaining much of its original lore and structure. Wendy breathes an incredible timelessness into Ode To Billie Joe that leaves the listener at the crossroads of how life used to be in comparison to today while exposing this post-modern generation to another level of creativity that is often described as a “Southern gothic” narrative.
Wendy continues to impress the listener with the alluring sounds of Going Away Party. This song was originally performed by Jeff & Sheri Easter and is certainly made anew in the vocal arms of Wendy Moten. This rendition expounds upon the brilliantly crafted melody and its smooth instrumentation that features a variety of organic sounds which include the track’s moving percussive sounds, guitar swells, and rich bassline. Going Away Party is another monumental anchor of continuity that breeds a touch of immortality into I’ve Got You Covered.
Another exceptional tune from I’ve Got You Covered is the album-opener Driving Nails In My Coffin. This is an adventurous track with an upbeat vibe and an exquisite take on Ernest Tubb’s original version. Wendy’s spirited recital is cinematic and paints a vision that is relative to overcoming our own personal challenges. Wendy presents Driving Nails In My Coffin in a way that is full of life and meaning.
Overall, I’ve Got You Covered is a tremendous effort by Wendy Moten that serves as a memorable salute to country music greats and acts as a strong reminder of how this genre has shaped and formatted life in America and abroad. Wendy Moten is an exceptional singer that is a legend in her own right. I’ve Got You Covered is a masterpiece for the ages.
