The man behind classic songs like Summer of '69, Please forgive me and Heaven, takes a new path on his new album where he's taking other artists' classics and making them his own. Tracks of my Years is his first studio album since 2008′s 11 provides a selection of covers recorded during a two year period with one brand new original song thrown into the mix. The Canadian who came on the scene releasing Reckless back in 1984, his trademark husky vocals have been a trademark thrilling fans worldwide. This album sees him re-work some of the songs he grew up with, his interpretations of 16 classics that would have inspired him when he was younger.

You have The Beatles Any Time at All, done here superbly where Adams’ vocals suit the song well, and it is infinitely superior to the original. Next up is the only new track on the album, a classic love ballad done in perfect Adams’ style, written with Jim Vallance, She Knows Me.  It manages to fit in the playlist well. Another well known track covered by many I Can’t Stop Loving You is slow and comforting. Up next is Kiss and Say Goodbye, probably one of the least recorded songs by any other artist and with that record you can bet that Adams has done well. Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan makes Adams take on the great legend in his own endearing way. There’s a bit of rock and roll in this set for that quick jive swing. We have the Chuck Berry penned and Bill Haley & the Comets super hit Rock and Roll Music Adams has stuck to the original piece and done a good job.

CCR’s Down on the Corner to a bit unknown pieces like Never My Love has a slow pitch with bluesy guitars. Sunny made famous by Boney M was originally written by Bobby Hebb in the forty-eight hours that followed after the death of JFK and his own older brother, Harold, who was stabbed the same day. Moving ahead we have the album title and Motown classic The Tracks of My Tears made famous by Smokey Robinson and covered by Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin and a few others. As move to the end of the album we have God Only Knows a song that was recently covered by teen pop sensation

The Deluxe version also has additional tracks: You’ve Been a Friend to Me, a re-mixing of a song released by Bryan Adams in 2009; the unforgettable Kris Kristofferson Help Me Make It Through the Night, C’mon Everybody (originally by Eddie Cochran); Two Many Rivers to Cross (originally by Jimmy Cliff) and You Shook Me (recorded by Muddy Waters).

A great collection and a work that every Adams fan should possess. No doubt many will question that these songs have been recorded so many times by so many huge names, why do it again, but then if one were to read his introduction on the inlay opening pages, you would come to known that these tracks must have specific meanings to Adams and it is his way of celebrating the music that inspired him.

Rating: ****

-  Reviewed by Verus Ferreira