Vocalist
Merry Clayton's musical story was articulated in the Oscar-winning 20 Feet from Stardom, a documentary about backing vocalists on countless classic rock, pop, soul, and gospel hit records.
Clayton's duet with
Mick Jagger on the
Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" in 1969 is a prime example. Before that appearance, she'd been a professional for nearly a decade. In 1962, at the age of 16, she duetted with
Bobby Darin, then joined
Ray Charles'
Raelettes. Since then her voice has graced literally hundreds of charting and legendary recordings. Between 1970 and 1975 she issued three albums for producer
Lou Adler's Ode label, and a pair of excellent gospel outings, 1980's
Emotion and 1994's Miracles. In 2014
Clayton was in a car accident and suffered the amputation of both legs below the knee. She spent five months in the hospital, but responded to the news of her loss with gratitude when told she could still sing. The following year she appeared on
Coldplay's "A Head Full of Dreams."
Beautiful Scars was co-produced by
Adler and Grammy-winning gospel songwriter, vocalist, and instrumentalist
Terry Young, who contributed five songs to the set. It opens with a new read of
Leon Russell's "A Song for You."
Clayton initially covered it on her 1970 debut album, and she and her late husband, the great saxophonist
Curtis Amy, chose it as their song.
Adler honored that by dubbing in
Amy's original 1970 saxophone solo.
Clayton's performance affirms that her voice has lost none of its suppleness, elasticity, or passion. She follows with a rousing version of
Sam Cooke's "Touch the Hem of His Garment," fronting a gospel choir a cappella, showcasing her power and authority. "Love Is a Mighty River" was penned for her by
Coldplay's
Chris Martin. A piano, Hammond B-3, and South Africa's
Soweto Gospel Choir underscore her conviction and positivity. Likewise,
Diane Warren penned the powerful title track for her.
Clayton's delivery is initially soft and subtle, but she gradually ratchets the song into a soaring, anthemic testament of hope and faith. She's surrounded by tasteful strings, electric guitars, processional drums, and cascading keyboards. She rocks the house with
Young's stomping "He Made a Way." Its riveting tempo, combined with
Clayton's muscular delivery, revels in the influences of
Dorothy Love Coates and
Mahalia Jackson. The soul-gospel of "Oh What a Friend" frames that voice in swinging horns, funky wah-wah guitars, and shimmering percussion.
Clayton croons above it, offering a stirring expression of spiritual gratitude.
Beautiful Scars closes with a glorious medley of
Stuart Hamblen's "It's No Secret What God Can Do,"
the Five Stairsteps' "Ooh Child," and
Jackie DeShannon's "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," sung in duet with her teenaged granddaughter Kyliyah backed by a strident gospel choir.
Beautiful Scars is glorious. It's not a comeback album but an astonishing new chapter in the book of
Clayton's epic life. ~ Thom Jurek