Today’s 1995 album isn’t exactly new to me — it found a home in my CD collection when I married my wife 27 years ago. But I haven’t spent enough time with it over the years to consider it a favorite.

Annie Lennox’s Medusa was her second solo album after taking a break from Eurythmics in 1990. Her first release, Diva, was a very successful collection of original pop soul songs. This one had a similar sound but focused entirely on covers of other artists’ material.

Covers albums are a hit-or-miss affair. Even the best ones feel a bit unnecessary. I’m all for a well-placed cover song in the middle of an album of originals, but most covers albums feel more like contractual obligations than artistic statements.

Medusa might be an exception, and that’s entirely due to Lennox’s gorgeous, expressive voice. If I can hear her wrap those vocals around hits by Bob Marley, Paul Simon, Procol Harum, and Neil Young, why would I pass up that opportunity?

Even better is when an album like this brings exposure to a little-known song and turns it into a hit a decade after the fact. That’s what happened to ‘No More “I Love You’s”,’ originally released in 1986 by British band The Lover Speaks. Lennox turned that New Wave track into something ethereal and majestic.

Medusa didn’t quite reach the commercial heights of Diva but it was a success, going double platinum in both the U.S. and the UK and selling more than 6 million copies worldwide. It was the last major hit of Lennox’s career.

(Note: Happy Birthday to daily commenter Dana!)