Isley Brothers, David Kushner, Brandy & More Come Together for ‘By Any Means: The Album’

Anzie Blue Records and Surf Club have partnered on a new release: By Any Means: The Album. Arriving Sept. 25, the multi-generational project encompasses music from and inspired by the Paramount Pictures’ film By Any Means currently in theaters. Grammy Award-winning legends The Isley Brothers and platinum-selling singer-songwriter David Kushner are paired on the earlier-released original title track, which was also the lead single, penned by 17-time Academy Award nominee Diane Warren.

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Distributed globally by The Orchard, By Any Means: The Album boasts a diverse array of additional talent including Brandy, Keb’ Mo’ and Tone Stith. In keeping with the film’s racial disparity theme, these singers reimagine songs recorded by legendary artists that symbolize the sound and spirit of the ‘60s. Those iconic artists and songs include Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Ray Charles (“Georgia on My Mind”) Sam Cooke (“A Change Is Gonna Come”) and James Brown (“Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”).

The majority of the album was recorded in less than a week at the storied FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala. In addition to the title song, the tracklist includes two more songs from the film: Elsie’s cover of the Nina Simone-popularized “I Love Your Lovin’ Ways” and a reinterpretation of The Impressions’ “Talking About My Baby” by Parson James and Ashby. Tapped as the project’s second single is the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.”

Ole Smoky Distillery CEO Mike Novy, whose firm is handling marketing for the album, said in a statement, “We’re proud to partner with these artists and the music community to bring such iconic American songs to life. Nothing brings people together like music.”

Grammy-nominated Anzie Blue Records’ country artist Pynk Beard, who doubled as the project’s musical director, performs “We Shall Overcome,” whose Fran Strine-directed video will also premiere Sept. 25. Strine, who’s with F26 Productions (Dolly Parton’s Live at London O2 Arena film), directed the Sept. 4-released “By Any Means” music video as well.

Of recording “We Shall Overcome,” Pynk Beard commented, “There are very few songs that transcend time quite like this one. I’m honored to be a part of this project and particularly this song. The lyrics speak to the hope that I think we should all share for this world. Hate will not win. We will overcome.”

Net proceeds from By Any Means: The Album sales will benefit the Black Music Action Coalition, whose initiatives advance equity and provide support for next-gen artists, creatives and music industry professionals. Future plans on behalf of the project include an upcoming tour by Beard and select album artists.

Surf Club cofounder and Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Drake) and Dr. Blum (Twenty One Pilots, Big Sean, Nas) executive produced By Any Means: The Album. Parasol Music, cofounded by Martin Wave, served as creative and production partner.

Released Sept. 4, By Any Means stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. Sharing the inspiration behind the empowering title song for both the film and album, Warren noted in part, “I wanted to write a song that captured the spirit of the film, which is about those who go beyond the rules to do what is necessary. My idea was to take an iconic artist who came from that era and pair them with an artist from this current era.

“The Isley Brothers … are as amazing today as they were when performing during the time of these events; they are so authentic to this story. David Kushner is a great young singer who sounds like he could have come from that era too. The combination … is pure magic. Together they have created a song that could live in many eras to come.”