Hear Band of Heathens ‘America The Beautiful’ Now

The Band of Heathens have announced an ambitious new project, a re-envisioning of Ray Charles’ 1972 album A Message From The People. The band chose to re-record the often forgotten album because of its moving commentary on social justice, abuse-of-power, and its vision for a stronger, more-unified America.

Aptly titled A Message From The People Revisited, the record offers new takes on the original album’s ten tracks including “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong,” “Heaven Help Us All,” “Hey Mister,” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” presented in The Band of Heathens’ own voice while staying true to the weight and tone of the originals – as well as Charles’ own indelible interpretations. Also included is a gospel-infused version of “America The Beautiful,” which the group has shared today.

Listen: “America The Beautiful”

Remarking on the power of Charles’ 1972 version of the song, the band notes that “Ray saved for us his most powerful message and the perfect coda; the definitive version of ‘America The Beautiful’ is absolutely glorious. It is quite simply the apotheosis of soul.”