Customer Reviews

Cover to Cover

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Throughout the recording sessions for Neal Morse's last three concept albums, he and sidekicks Randy George and Mike Portnoy would drop their serious musical side to play cover versions of their favorite songs. The "Cover To Cover" disc is the end result of what they did during their spare time in the studio.
Compiled from the "?", "One" and "Testimony" sessions, "Cover To Cover" is an absolute blast to listen to from beginning to end. While the feel is loose and spontaneous, it's never sloppy or slack. If anything, we are given another prime example of just how well Neal, Mike and Randy play off each other in these songs. You can tell just how much fun they were having especially in the versions of The Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and Joe Jackson's "I'm The Man". The take on Chicago's "Feeling Stronger Every Day" kicks rear end with a guest horn section and an extended jam outro. Christian rock legend and guitar extraordinaire Phil Keaggy joins the action for George Harrison's "What is Life?" which sounds uncanningly like a duet between Lennon and McCartney - Neal sounding like John Lennon, Phil sounding much like Paul McCartney. Mike Portnoy shows off his Keith Moon influence in The Who's "I'm Free/Sparks" while Neal's trademark progressive side is heard in the closing medley of The Moody Blues "Tuesday Afternoon" and Blind Faith's "Find My Way Back Home".
Guaranteed, this is a fantastic CD and is great music for driving the vehicle with. For fans of Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy, this is definitely a must. For the casual listener, this is a must for you as well.

I wasn't familiar with these musicians, but I knew all of these songs, so I took a chance. I was happy I did - the artists do a great job at covering these (mostly) very-well known songs. Their versions of "Pleasant Valley Sunday", "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Stronger Every Day" are terrific. The other songs are all really good. This is the perfect album to put on in the car when you go out driving along on a sunny Saturday afternoon with the windows down. Get it !!!

Actually, I would rate this disc at 3.5 stars. Don't get the wrong idea, this is a "good" album, but not an "excellent" album. The musicianship is great as you would expect from these incredible players, but, there is still the "feel" or "emotional" impact that these songs have had in the past that don't seem to make it through on this particular recording, IMO.

I have been a fan of all three of these musicians on all their past projects together, and in their other respective bands, yet I find myself wanting something more when it comes to this project. If you are a Neal, Mike, or Randy fan, I recommend you buy this album, I just can't give it my highest recommendation.

I usually hate cover albums but this one is great. I'm a huge fan of Mike Portnoy's work with Dream Theater, Transatlantic, and Neal's solo albums, and a huge fan of Neal's work with Spock's Beard, solo, and Transatlantic, which is the only reason I bothered with this cover disc. But man, was I surprised. This version of Maybe I'm Amazed is nearly as good as Paul's original, and the covers of some of my favorite classic tracks, like Badge, What is Life, Find My Way Home, and I'm Free are killer. Even the lesser known covers on here are excellent. The playing is top-notch and Neal's voice...my God, is it just incredible. Even if you don't like covers (like me), this is worth it!

Well I'm biased for good music and this fits the bill.I also have all the side projects,OSI,LTE,TRANS,YELLOWCUSTARD,LED,RUSH,WHO,BEATLES TRIBUTES.Neils voice is amazing with Lennon's grittyness and Paul's high notes.Playing is topnotch and the sound is pretty good too.You know they are having fun while working.This is not notefornote but played with passion to the ones that paved the way before.In my teens I was a hardrocker with Led,Black,Deep but now I realize genius takes all forms from pop to jazz to country. My point is these are great songs by great bands.How Neil changes his voice from Bowie to Cat Stevens is a mystery? Neil is a one manband that lets his friends play and us listen. Look at the tracklist and if you like those songs Buy now!!!!

If you are a fan of any of the members of Neal's solo projects, you'll enjoy this collection of cover songs that they recorded over the years. This really shows the range of Neal's vocal abilities and as always gives Mike Portnoy a chance to let us know how the drums should have been played.

I do recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys Spock's Beard, Dream Theater, Transatlantic, and obviously Neal Morse's solo work.

First off, understand that this is a cover album with selections that the musicians enjoyed playing and probably influenced their careers. If you don't enjoy hearing top notch musicians having fun performing covers, then this may not be for you. Now, I'm a huge Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy fan so I've got that bias working for me here - and I also happen to really like many of the songs they chose to cover. It starts off with a cover of Pleasant Valley Sunday (yep, the Monkees - Neil Diamond song) which I think they did purely for fun - but is still enjoyable. Next is Cream's "Badge" which is done well, but no great reach yet.

There are several real 'test' songs on this CD though that show the range of these musicians. The first I feel would be "Maybe I'm Amazed". I've always felt this song really showcased McCartney's vocals and Neal Morse is up to the task - his range and power of emotion on this track is enough to give you shivers. What I really, really think is incredible though is Mike Pornoy's drumming on the "I'm Free/Sparks" Medley - I remember seeing Keith Moon perform "Sparks" as part of a Tommy show with the Who and was blown away at that man's drumming. I never thought I would see another drummer match Moon's energy and ability but I believe Mike Portnoy could - I'd love to see them play this medley live - Portnoy is a virtuoso - an incredible performance for a cover!!!

Now - the ending of this CD. These guys chose to play "Tuesday Afternoon" which is one of the Moody Blues most often covered and beloved songs. It requires near perfection in the vocals and to pull this off - the melodies must mesh seamlessly and cohesively - they do - they not only put together an incredible cover of this song, but actually kick it up a little bit with an electric violin that fits in so very sweetly - then they gently merge this into Neal Morse's own slightly modified version of "Can't Find my Way Home". His vocals on this song can only be described as - "beautiful". Again, the transition is seamless, cohesive and the overall effect is very, very sweet.

I love this CD. I like the selections and think the musicians are as good as they come. I truely hope they do another because this has been a real pleasure to hear some of the songs I enjoyed in earlier years, songs that inspired me, performed and treated so wonderfully here. I wish I could meet the musicians in person to say a heart felt "Thank You" for such an enjoyable offering.

Read the other reviews as well. Look at the track selections here - there are some nice surprises and all tracks are treated respectfully and tastefully - overall, this is the best cover CD I have ever heard from anyone (yes, I've heard others from Queensryche and Rush - this is waaaay better than those). Enjoy.

Hey, this you will enjoy without a doubt. It's well recorded. It's simple, but it's got a "feel" for old rock classics!

Ok, maybe not. I am a die hard fan of these guys, but I only really like a couple of tracks on this CD - Pleasant Valley Sunday and Maybe I'm Amazed (which Neal sings the heck out of). And I've only listened to the CD a few times and it gets put on the shelf.
These are cover tracks that were likely done to "warm up" at the start of the day or "wind down" at the end of the day in the studio sessions.
What acts do covers and who likes covers anyway? Its one thing for a prog band to do a cover of a 20 minute song (like Transatlantic) and add its own flavor and twists to the song. It's another thing when the songs are pop songs. You can't add much unique to a pop song.
My friend and I argue about this all the time. We both play guitar in a band. He refuses to play covers (not even to warm up) and won't even listen to prog cover songs. His logic is that "if you are going to take the time to record a cover, just make a unique prog song that is in the similar style instead". Otherwise it is just a novelty.
I can only recommend this for fanboys.

Ugh...faithful renditions of every song instrumentally...sometimes "too" faithful. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cover and there have been a lot of good ones. However, as much as I respect Neal...I don't like his voice on the majority of these covers. One begins to wonder about an artist that feels the need to do a recording of nothing but covers (if I walk into a store again and hear Rod Stewart crooning a remake of an old torch song, it'll be too soon!). Keep the covers to the occassional odd extra song on a new material release or in concert...nuff said!