Stars Reimagine 60s Classics for 'By Any Means' Album Benefiting Music Charity
The compilation 'By Any Means: The Album' arrives Sept. 25, featuring reimagined 60s classics from artists like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke. Recorded at FAME Studios, the project includes contributions from the Isley Brothers, Brandy, and David Kushner. Proceeds will benefit the Black Music Action Coalition.
The album was recorded in under a week at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, a venue steeped in soul music history. Executive producers Hit-Boy and Dr. Blum oversaw the project, with Pynk Beard serving as musical director and also performing the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," whose video premieres alongside the album.
The tracklist draws from iconic 1960s recordings by Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Nina Simone, and The Impressions. Diane Warren penned the title track, pairing The Isley Brothers with David Kushner. The film itself stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg, and the album's net proceeds support the Black Music Action Coalition's equity initiatives.
This project could amplify awareness of racial disparity themes through widely accessible music, potentially reaching audiences beyond typical activism channels. The multi-generational artist lineup may bridge older and younger listeners, fostering dialogue about civil rights history. Proceeds supporting the Black Music Action Coalition could meaningfully aid emerging professionals, though the album's commercial performance will determine the scale of that impact.