Beck album can finally be heard

LONDON — When Beck released Song Reader, his 2012 album of sorts, none of his fans could hear it. That was because it was solely available in the form of a book of sheet music. Of course, there followed a rapid wave of celebrity versions of the unheard songs. Acts who have interpreted the American singer-songwriter’s scores in their live shows include the Mighty Boosh as well as Jenny Lewis and Anne Hathaway.

Now an official, fully recorded album release is planned, with a variety of musicians including Beck each performing one of the 20 songs. The artists joining him include Jack Black, Jarvis Cocker, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, fun., Laura Marling and Norah Jones. Beck will perform the song, Heaven’s Ladder. The album will be called Warby Parker Presents Beck Song Reader (Parker is co-producing the album with Beck).

“Like a kid getting a special package in the mail and opening it up with anticipation, these interpretations of songs from Song Reader have surpassed what I could have imagined when putting the book together,” said Beck.

“The book addressed the idea of a song in its most elemental form, letting others give it a voice. It amazes me to hear how these musicians have made the songs their own and, in the process, revealed that the interpretation is the living, breathing soul of the piece. These interpretations have made the book something new, something better.”

Last year, Beck led a series of concerts during which the songs were performed by artists including Jarvis Cocker and the 61-piece Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH