A stalwart staple of any artist’s repertoire has become the duet album. Call it what you want – the contractual obligation album – but Elton John, Kenny Rogers, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett are just a few of the singers who pulled the clutch move with generally great success. Sting joins that roster with “Duets” (A&M), and it’s not what you’d expect. Rather than stuff the record with Police songs, Gordon Sumner, a.k.a. Sting, has gathered some memorable duets over the last 20 years and “Duets” showcases his knack for being a musician’s musician. The song selections are nicely obscure with a few memorable tracks acting as unit shifters. The album highlights lesser known talents like Algerian rai artist Cheb Mami on “Dessert Rose,” which is seated well next to “Don’t Make Me Wait,” a song from Sting’s joint album “44/876” with Shaggy from 2018. More under-the-radar artists Mylene Farmer and Melody Gardot appear, as do more famous songstresses like Annie Lennox and Mary J. Blige. The latter oozes exuberance on “Whenever I Say Your Name,” as both she and Sting play to their strengths, he with moodiness, she with borderline funk. “Duets” is no greatest hits compilation, but instead a subtle groove with which Sting can get a little introspective. And the album doesn’t limit itself, including instrumental star power by Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock and Chris Botti. Sting mostly gives up the spotlight and the result is a bevy of moods for the listener’s benefit.

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The Clash’s Joe Strummer, who died in 2002, gets a little help extending his former outfit’s legacy with “Assembly” (Dark Horse Records), a collection which adroitly selects watershed moments from his solo career. The songwriting chops of Joe Strummer and Mick Jones and their output of outstanding Clash albums like “Sandinista!” and “Combat Rock” make them one of the most consistent influencers of British punk rock and new wave music while employing elements of a variety of ska, reggae, dub and funk. “Assembly” commences with two of the best songs that Strummer recorded with his longtime backing band, the Mescaleros: the winsome “Coma Girl” is steady and rollicking, while “Johnny Appleseed” crescendos as Strummer dispels wit and wisdom like, “If you’re after getting the honey/Then you don’t go killing all the bees.” As the former Clash frontman, Strummer knew how to conduct himself, and his band, for that matter. His untamable rock ‘n roll spirit rears vividly on the album, which includes live versions of the Clash songs “I Fought The Law,” (originally recorded by the Bobby Fuller Four in 1966), and “Rudie Can’t Fail.” Boasting liner notes by fan and musician Jakob Dylan (Bob’s son), the record has some gems, including 1986’s “Love Kills,” the rocker Strummer wrote for director Alex Cox’s movie before it was retitled “Sid and Nancy.” Strummer left this planet far too soon and with fan favorites and archival rarities, “Assembly is much more than a generic “best of,” it’s a celebration of Joe’s musical genius.

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With “No One Sings Like You Anymore” (Universal), the late Chris Cornell’s album of 10 cover songs finally sees the light of day. Recorded in 2016, a year before his death, the tunes included here were originally made famous by the likes of John Lennon, Janis Joplin, Guns N’ Roses and others. Cornell (former Soundgarden, Audioslave frontman), adds a funkiness to ELO’s “Showdown,” stripping off the bed of strings to create a foot-stomping track with ragged affect. Lennon’s “Watching the Wheels” gets peppier treatment than the original version, the song practically happy, as it weaves two men who were both dads, gone too soon, enjoying the little things in life. Cynics may say this new album is just a cash grab, but Cornell had the gift of interpreting others’ songs with shimmering outturns. Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” made famous by Sinead O’Connor, might just be getting a run for the money, as Cornell delivers a soul-baring acoustic version. And the album’s opener, a folk/pop take on Janis Joplin’s “Get It While You Can,” is almost recognizable as Cornell brings a cinematic vibe to the song – and creates a soundscape with an effortlessly chilling tone. “No One Sings Like You Anymore” is aptly titled, not just because of the weight that it carries, but also because it’s further testament to a voice that sounds hopeful and tragic all at once. Nothing compares to Chris Cornell.

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“In Another World” (BMG) is the 20th album by Cheap Trick, perhaps the hardest working live band playing the road today and yes, Rick Nielsen still plays a five-neck custom guitar. Produced by longtime associate Julian Raymond, the album flaunts what Trick does best – crafting indelible rock with oversized hooks, mischievous lyrics and inexorable energy. The track “Boys and Girls and Rock and Roll” is a guitar-licky romp while “Light Up The Fire” denounces any fears for wear and tear on the band’s sound or their resolve. It’s a pummeling track, with age-defying, soaring rock vocals from Zander – and turns out to be an ear hugger in the short-run. The 16 tracks don’t electrify the sound boards, but as Trick guitarist Robin Zander said, “This band is held together by music. It’s the super glue that keeps us writing and putting records out.” And they’ve been doing that for five decades, so you do the math.

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