After much anticipation, Maxwell has released a studio version of his cover of Al Green‘s “Simply Beautiful.”
The legendary singer produced the delightful rendition with his longtime collaborators Hod David and Shedrick Mitchell.
Speaking on his “Simply Beautiful” cover, Maxwell shares, “The first time I heard Al Green’s music, I was amazed. He is such an icon, I mean what a brilliant musician and songwriter. It’s been an honor to get in the studio and record one of his songs.”
Before releasing his breathtaking cover, Maxwell shared a behind-the-scenes video of him recording the song. The two-minute clip shows Maxwell in the studio surrounded by musicians, ranging from violinists to horn players, and background vocalists.
“Simply Beautiful” is Maxwell’s first song release in nearly three years. In November 2021, he released his bedroom jam, “OFF,” which blasted to No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Produced by Maxwell and Hod David, “OFF” was declared the first offering from his long-awaited album, blacksummers’NIGHT.
While “Simply Beautiful” is a new release, Rated R&B has confirmed that it’s a standalone single for now.
Before “OFF,” Maxwell released “Shame” in 2018, which was then referred to as the lead single from NIGHT. “The song is about removing that mask of expectation and letting go of the shame of being real and vulnerable,” Maxwell explained to Pitchfork.
It’s been eight years since Maxwell last released an album. His 2016 LP, blackSUMMERS’night, was released on July 1 as the second installment of his trilogy, which began with 2009’s BLACKsummers’night.
SUMMERS’ featured the Grammy-winning single “Lake By the Ocean,” which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Circling back to “Simply Beautiful,” the original song appears on Al Green‘s 1972 album, I’m Still in Love with You. The nine-track classic album spawned two top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “I’m Still in Love with You” (No. 3 peak) and “Look What You Done For Me” (No. 4 peak).
I’m Still in Love with You also included Green’s other signature track, “Love and Happiness.”
For some Maxwell fans, his decision to release an official cover of “Simply Beautiful” comes as no surprise. He initially covered the song at the 2008 BET Awards as part of a tribute to Green. He has also incorporated the song into his setlists since his 2009 BLACKsummer’snight Tour.
Speaking of tours, Maxwell will launch The Serenade Tour on Sept. 14 in Hollywood, Florida. Jazmine Sullivan and October London will join him on the 27-city trek, where they will make stops in Baltimore, Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, and Chicago. The R&B tour will wrap up on Oct. 27 in Los Angeles.
In February 2025, Maxwell will embark on his second annual Urban Hang Suite Cruise, which is named after his lauded debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite.
In addition to Maxwell, the cruise will feature performances by Anthony Hamilton, Marsha Ambrosius, Lalah Hathaway, Terrace Martin, Avery*Sunshine, and more.
Stream Maxwell’s cover of Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful” below.
