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The discographies of both pop-rocker Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs's former band the Bangles are heavily steeped in 1960s sunshine pop, so it's little surprise that the two would team up for an album of covers devoted to their favorite decade. UNDER THE COVERS VOL. 1 finds Sweet and Hoffs performing songs by the Beatles, Dylan, the Beach Boys, the Velvet Underground, the Zombies, and others, throwing in a few tasty obscurities (the wonderful "I See the Rain" by the Marmalade, for example) and a pair of Neil Young tunes for good measure. Hoffs's sultry singing nicely offsets Sweet's tenor, and the whole is fleshed out by Sweet's alternately jangly and stinging guitar work and Van Dyke Parks's arrangements for keys and strings, making for a fresh, inspired look to yesteryear.
Audio Mixer: Michael Sweet.
Liner Note Author: Van Dyke Parks.
Recording information: Lolina Green Studios, Los Angeles, CA (2005).
Illustrator: Ed Fotheringham.
Photographer: Henry Diltz.
Personnel: Michael Sweet (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, harpsichord, organ, Mellotron, xylophone, tambourine, hand claps, percussion); Susanna Hoffs (vocals, hand claps); Ivan Julian (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Richard Lloyd (guitar, electric guitar); Greg Leisz (electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar); Julie Pusch (violin, viola); Joseph Harvey (cello); Carey LaMothe (trumpet, French horn); Van Dyke Parks (piano, harpsichord, organ); Ric Menck (drums, bongos, shaker, tambourine).
Additional personnel: Susanna Hoffs.
Entertainment Weekly (p.73) - "[T]here's surprising joy to be found in a couple of pros singing songs they love. Hoffs still has that adorable quaver, and Sweet supports her with steady warmth." -- Grade: B+ Uncut (p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "What elevates UNDER THE COVERS above mimicry is the poignancy of the performances from all concerned, and especially from Sweet..." Dirty Linen (p.66) - "[A] taste of the 60s....Just great cover versions of some of the best music of the era." No Depression (p.124) - "Sweet's reedy astringency tempers Hoffs' breathy alto as they bring a warmth to the Velvet Underground's 'Sunday Morning'..."
Susanna Hoffs; Michael Sweet; Susanna Hoffs; Matthew Sweet
Engineer
Michael Sweet
Personnel
Greg Leisz - electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar Van Dyke Parks - piano, harpsichord, organ Michael Sweet - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, harpsichord, organ, Mellotron, xylophone, tambourine, hand claps, percussion Ivan Julian - guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar Matthew Sweet Richard Lloyd - guitar, electric guitar Ric Menck - drums, bongos, shaker, tambourine Carey LaMothe - trumpet, French horn Joseph Harvey - cello Julie Pusch - violin, viola
Superb! Great harmonies and stellar performances of some of the greatest songs of the sixties (some more famous than others). As great as some of the original recordings were, new life has been breathed into most of these tracks through up-to-date recording technology. If you're a fan of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Who, Neil Young, Dylan, The Mamas & the Papas, The Zombies, The Bee Gees (when they were great), or even more semi-obscure artists like Marmalade, Love or The Left Banke Ð this may be the best CD you've heard in quite some tiime. Submitted by coda36 (Doylestown, PA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 2 found this helpful.
Remakes of 60's classics Not much to say, they are both good singers. Their takes don't vary too much from the originals except the sound quality is SOOO much better.
If you liked the originals , you will like these covers. Submitted by deaconbluz (Grover Beach, CA USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Heard on Australia's National Radio Network The snippets I heard on radio were great so I instantaneously ordered a copy on the intenet. It is very rare for me to buy music sight unseen or ear unheard like that, the last time was Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967!. The songs are given a fantastic feel. Can't wait for my copy to arrive, after all I am a 57 year old sixties freak with a radio background as a Commercial Radio/ DJ from Adelaide Australia, in the sixties. This album is a winner, bring on Volume 2.
Alan Carmichael, Adelaide, South Australia Submitted by alan.car (Para Vista, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Truly special summer CD Wow, what a fantastic CD, get in your car, put it on and turn it up. Sweet is one of the all-time "shoulda-been-a-star" rockers. Maybe this album with the incredible Susanna Hoffs will be his crowning success. Submitted by steve7701 (Sierra Vista, AZ, USa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 3 found this helpful.
Crisp Guitars and Sweet Harmonies I've greatly enjoyed the work of both Sweet and Huffs for some time now. The fun paring of the two on a group of covers is sheer magic. I can't think of a cd I've enjoyed more in years. I pray that the title Vol.1 indicates more to come. Each song here is a fresh new rendering of an old favorite. Submitted by kurtvincent (Boston, MA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 3 found this helpful.
Superb!
Remakes of 60's classics
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