MORSE PORTNOY GEORGE – Cover To Cover Anthology [Vol.1&2 Remastered + New Vol.3] (2020)

Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy and Randy George are well known as experts in their field. Some time ago, these masterminds of progressive rock and metal began to record cover versions of legendary songs of which 13 landed on the ‘Cover To Cover’ album, released in 2006. In 2012 the journey continued with ‘Cover 2 Cover’, and now 2020 the third strike follows with ‘Cov3r to Cov3r’.
‘Cov3r To Cov3r’ is a standalone disc, however also this ‘Cover To Cover Anthology (Vol. 1 – 3)’ will be available, collecting all 3 instalments together with the first two albums being newly re-sequenced and remastered, and with brand new artwork, created by Thomas Ewerhard (Sons of Apollo, Avantasia).

To conclude in one summary sentence, their “debut” ‘Cover To Cover’ is wholesome and impressive, new freshly remastered.
Ranging from remarkably identical, well produced replicas of some tracks (Badge – Cream, Day after Day – Badfinger), good choice of songs (the live and imho better version of Maybe I’m Amazed – Wings) and occasional impressive reworking (a chugging Pleasant Valley Sunday rather than the original manic pop).

First things first, kudos to Neal Morse, who uses a chameleonic voice to replicate the vocal style on the likes of Clapton’s Badge, McCartney’s Maybe I’m Amazed, a reasonable Bowie (Rock N Roll Suicide) and he gives a Harrisonesque nasal delivery on his What Is Life.
Secondly, the choice of songs is impressive, with “forgotten” tracks such as those by Badfinger, Chicago, Cat Stevens and Tuesday Afternoon by Moody Blues, with its nice electric violin, and which incidently segues perfectly into a delicately reworked version of Blind Faith’s I Can’t Find My Way Home.

Thirdly, I don’t get any ego in this project. The interest in the songs seems genuine. In fact, like the raucous Who rendition where Portnoy does his best Keith Moon and George likewise John Entwhistle, the rendition of Joe Jackson’s I’m the Man seems to spill over into honest live exuberance.

“Cover 2 Cover, the second album, is quite different. What’s so good about this one is that they don’t revisit old ground covered in the first album.
A good selection of quality ‘new wave’ mixes seamlessly with some respectful nods to prog, a broadening of genre to include some West Coast, with the surprisingly proggy Osmonds single Crazy Horses.
It’s almost as if this album is free from any of the tension of the first album trying to walk the line between replica and respect. This 2nd record shows deference, but the band seem looser and more openly enthusiastic.

Morse’s diverse vocals continue but this time the band seem to have assumed more ownership of the songs rather than respectful replication. There’s genuine joy in some of their respectful replicas – the enthusiasm of Boz Scaggs’ Lido Shuffle, the enjoyable subtleties of Police’s Driven to Tears, and Steely Dan’s Rikki Don’t Lose that Number, the shuffling The Letter – Joe Cocker, and the prog-out of Jethro Tull’s The Teacher.
The classics are respectfully covered (my favorite being Styx’s Come Sail Away, Jethro Tull and an inspired King Crimson) as are the lesser-known (Lemons never Forget – Bee Gees, anyone?).
And Neil Young gets a 10 minute medley rendition (and here’s where covers come to the fore when you didn’t like the original vocalist’s renditions…..). Oh, and Crazy Horses is a raucous cod-progmetal joy!

Now the new, third album ‘Cov3r To Cov3r’ and anthology joint release; more variety, more melodic than the previous records, including some well known singles, some obscurities and some from the archives.
The highlight is the opener No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (Yes), featuring guest lead vocals from Yes’ Jon Davison in more muscular version than the original.

As respectful as ever, as enthusiastic as always, it’s a great album which throws up an interesting observation – classic tracks remain classic tracks regardless of performance, but the lesser tracks can’t always be uplifted to higher echelons even with sterling performances. Hence Life on Mars – David Bowie, Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street, etc, stand out.
Other tracks get deserved recognition (It Don’t Come Easy – Ringo Starr, Baby Blue – Badfinger), there’s an excellent interpretations of Tom Petty’s Runnin’ Down a Dream, while closer ‘Let Love Rule’ (Lenny Kravitz) is just another winner.

As on their previous albums, the three exceptional musicians manage to capture the original vibe of each song. Morse / Portnoy / George don’t move too far away from the original, but still add a touch of their own to their interpretations, which makes this 3-CD a wonderful musical listening pleasure.

This is a really fun project and it’s noticeable that Prog and Metal are not really the focus while selecting songs. Instead, the guys follow their passion for very-well crafted Rock music and by that pay homage to their musical heroes.
All three albums are certainly worth discovering and listening to. Timeless music delivered by 3 of the best musicians in the business.
Highly Recommended

Cover To Cover 1 (2020 Remastered):
01. Where The Streets Have No Name (U2)
02. I’m The Man (Joe Jackson)
03. What Is Life? (George Harrison)
04. Badge (Cream)
05. Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney)
06. Day After Day (Badfinger)
07. Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees)
08. Tuesday Afternoon (The Moody Blues)
09. Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith)
10. I’m Free / Sparks (The Who)
11. Where Do The Children Play (Cat Stevens)
12. Feelin’ Stronger Everyday (Chicago)
13. Rock N Roll Suicide (David Bowie)

Cover 2 Cover (2020 Remastered):
01. (What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love & Understanding (Elvis Costello)
02. Lido Shuffle (Boz Scaggs)
03. Crazy Horses (The Osmonds)
04. Driven To Tears (The Police)
05. Come Sail Away (Styx)
06. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number (Steely Dan)
07. Lemons Never Forget (The Bee Gees)
08. The Letter (Joe Cocker)
09. I Saw The Light (Todd Rundgren)
10. Teacher (Jethro Tull)
11. Southern Man/Needle And The Damage Done/Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young)
12. Starless (King Crimson)

Cov3r To Cov3r (New Album 2020):
01. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (Yes)
02. Hymn 43 (Jethro Tull)
03. Life On Mars (David Bowie)
04. Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
05. It Don’t Come Easy (Ringo Starr)
06. Baby Blue (Badfinger)
07. One More Red Nightmare (King Crimson)
08. Black Coffee In Bed (Squeeze)
09. Tempted (Squeeze)
10. Runnin’ Down A Dream (Tom Petty)
11. Let Love Rule (Lenny Kravitz)

Neal Morse – vocals, keyboards, guitar, producer
Randy George – bass
Mike Portnoy – drums, vocals
Jon Davison (Yes) – guest vocals

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