Annie Lennox Previews Her New Album ‘Nostalgia’

By Mark Strickland

On Tuesday (8/12), Capitol Music Group and Blue Note Records welcomed their radio, press, and music friends to a sneak preview of the forthcoming Annie Lennox album, entitled Nostalgia, at the Masonic Lodge on the grounds of the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Nostalgia is a collection of songs that embody America’s history of music and culture.  Six tracks from the new album were presented to the audience, including the legendary songs “Memphis In June” (Carmichael/Webster), “Georgia On My Mind” (Carmichael/Gorrell), “I Put A Spell On You” (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins), “Summertime” (George Gershwin), “I Cover The Waterfront”  and “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday.

Blue Note President and Producer Don Was introduced Annie Lennox to the crowd prior to her discussing the project with Rolling Stone Contributing Editor Anthony DeCurtis.

During the interview, Annie Lennox discussed the making of the album, the musical styling of artists and performers such as George Gershwin, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and how these songs and performers reflected the times in America, dealing with issues such as civil rights, domestic violence and the birth of the Blues.