GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS: Look for an "alternate" version of "Stay With Me" by Capitol's Sam Smith with special guest Mary J. Blige.
A video featuring the pair together onstage premieres today on Good Morning America and VEVO
while the track hits multiple radio formats. The new version goes on sale at
iTunes imminently. Smith calls working with Blige "one of the biggest highlights of my career so far," noting he's been her fan since boyhood. For her part, Blige hails "Sam's true soulful voice," which she calls "the first of this kind I have heard since Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson and all the great soulful male voices of the '80s. I'm completely blown away by his talent, soul and sincerity." Word has it Blige was in the studio with Rodney Jerkins and praised Smith; Jerkins, who'd been working on a "Stay" remix, suggested she have a go at the track. As we note below, Smith's forthcoming album, In the Lonely Hour, bowed at #1 in the U.K., and "Stay With Me" is currently the #2 single; it's #9 at iTunes U.S. as of this writing. (6/2a)
