(March 17, 2022) Tackling an Isley Brothers classic can be a rewarding musical experience, but bringing it back to the public consciousness in a form that doesn’t deter from the richness of the original is a daunting task. Several artists have managed the feat successfully over the years: Whitney Houston’s take on “For the Love of You” and Evelyn “Champagne” King’s rendition of “Footsteps in the Dark” spring to mind. Now, international collective Output/Input is aiming to join the ranks with a faithful cover of 1980’s “Here We Go Again.”
Helmed by producer/multi-instrumentalist Melvin Lee Davis (O’Bryan, Chaka Khan) with drummer Jay Williams, guitarist Kanghyun Bu, percussionist Adam Kovacs, and keyboardists Jesse Milliner and Daeun Kim along with the Triple H Horns, Output/Input achieved recognition last year with “Soul Deep.” For its follow-up, the group spotlights revered session vocalist Audrey Wheeler-Downing and Brent Carter, who has recently served as a frontman for Average White Band and Tower of Power. The pair trades lines smoothly and affectionately on “Here We Go Again,” injecting a fresh dynamic into the romantic midtempo tune’s distinguished bass punctuations and keyboard ostinatos.
Wheeler-Downing, who first shone brightly the same year the original “Here We Go Again” was released as lead vocalist on Unlimited Touch’s “Searching to Find the One,” has returned to the solo spotlight more frequently in recent years on a number of original projects from songwriter James Day. Here, she reminds us of her way with a classic melody, harmonizing alluringly and complementing Carter’s rich, Luther Vandross-esque tenor tones with classy phrasing. Most impressively, both singers maintain their artistic identities while never overstepping the vibe that made the original record such an enchanting masterpiece.
The song will be released in April, but we're proud to have the World Premiere today. Check out this excellent new take on a classic.
by Justin Kantor
World Premiere!
Output/Input featuring
Audrey Wheeler-Downing and Brent Carter
“Here We Go Again”
