Prolific producer Phil Ramone passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Credits from the Pope of Pop‘s over 50 years in music include Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Stevie Wonder… the list of legends that Ramone worked with truly goes on and on, an impressive discography that will forever remain unmatched.

Honoring that legacy in some small way, here are five of my favorite cover songs produced by Phil Ramone:

Frank Sinatra & Aretha Franklin – “What Now My Love,” from Duets (1993)

Shelby Lynne – “Anyone Who Had A Heart” (Dionne Warwick cover), from Just A Little Lovin’ (2008)

George Michael – “Feeling Good” (Nina Simone cover), recorded during sessions for Songs From The Last Century (1999) and released on Twenty Five (U.S. version, 2006)

Sinead O’Connor – “Success Has Made A Failure Of Our Home” (Loretta Lynn cover), from Am I Not Your Girl? (1992)

Everything But The Girl – “The Only Living Boy In New York” (Simon & Garfunkel cover), from Home Movies (1993)

EBTG’s Ben Watt weighed in on Twitter with this remembrance of working with Ramone:

I learnt more from Phil Ramone in 4 hrs than many producers have taught me in a lifetime. A king of sonic dimension & simplicity. Big loss.

— Ben Watt (@ben_watt) March 30, 2020

Like Watt, many artists and musical colleagues, from Barbra Streisand to Quincy Jones, have responded to the news of Ramone’s death by offering personal testaments to Phil Ramone’s talents and, perhaps more importantly, his kind and nurturing nature.