Mandy Moore "Coverage"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#117 in the Series) is Mandy Moore, Coverage.

I told you I’d pull out some weird things on this blog. Well I bet this one really blows your mind!

Back to Ms. Moore. I bet your saying ‘What the ^%$( is he smoking!’ But take a look at this album. It’s an album full of cover tunes. (How many of those have we seen the past few years?) But what makes this one interesting is the song list that she chooses.

Her performance of these songs was quite good. Some not so much but others were pretty solid.

But let’s look at the songs. I was shocked when I saw this list. She really choose some of the best tunes of the 70s + 80s.

First up is XTC’s “Senses Working Overtime.” Not a bad place to start. Good version too. Second song is The Waterboy’s “The Whole of the Moon.” You got to be kidding me. What a choice!! I hope Mike Scott got to cash a check on that one.

Song Three, Todd Rundgren’s “Can We Still Be Friends.” Four is Carole King’s “I Feel The Earth Move.”

Song Five is Elton’s “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.” Six, A great version of Joan Armatrading’s “Drop The Pilot.”

Song Seven. Cat Steven’s “Moonshadow.”  The rest of the album includes things like Joe Jackson’s “Breaking Us In Two” Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me” and John Hiatt’s “Have a Little Faith in Me.”

I’m not expecting anyone to run out and but this. But I just felt that the I’d mention this album because the song list just shocked the hell out of me. I thought you might get a kick out of hearing about it. I think it’s pretty ‘Cool!’ This might be one of the best song listings on an album of covers that I’ve ever seen.

I’ve heard other younger pop stars cover classic songs in the past and the usually completely destroy the songs. No, these versions will not be for everyone, but they are strong and in more cases then not, quite true to the originals. I like the idea of her covering these. Heck, if she can bring these songs to a whole new audience and generation, then more power to her.

Coverage was released in 2003 and hit #14 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts.

— Larry Carta Chicago Illinois USA 

Track listing

All songs produced by John Fields.

1. “Senses Working Overtime” – Andy Partridge 4:08
2. “The Whole of the Moon” – Mike Scott 5:01
3. “Can We Still Be Friends?” – Todd Rundgren 3:38
4. “I Feel the Earth Move” – Carole King 3:08
5. “Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters”  Bernie Taupin; Elton John 4:49
6. “Drop the Pilot” Joan Armatrading 3:43
7. “Moonshadow” Cat Stevens 2:59
8. “One Way or Another” Debbie Harry; Nigel Harrison 3:31
9. “Breaking Us in Two” Joe Jackson 4:26
10. “Anticipation”  Carly Simon 3:21
11. “Help Me”  Joni Mitchell 3:29
12. “Have a Little Faith in Me” John Hiatt  4:02

Personnel

• Mandy Moore – Vocals
• Jim Anton – Bass
• Kevin Augunas – Bass (Electric), Engineer
• Tommy Barbarella – Synthesizer, Piano, Organ (Hammond), Piano (Electric)
• Michael Bland – Drums
• Monika Blunder – Make-Up
• D.J. Bonebrake – Vibraphone
• Ken Chastain – Bass, Percussion, Tambourine
• Julius Collins – Vocals
• Dorian Crozier – Percussion, Drums
• Evan Dando – Guitar (Acoustic)
• John Fields – Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), French Horn, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer, Engineer, String Arrangements, Mixing, Effects, Guitar (Baritone)
• Dirk Freymuth – Guitar
• Loren Gold – Piano
• Billy Hawn – Percussion
• Eric Heywood – Pedal Steel
• Kenny Holmen – Flute, Sax (Tenor)
• Dave Jensen – Trumpet
• Kathy Jensen – Sax (Baritone)
• Ameena Maria Khawaja – Cello
• Noah Levy – Drums
• Matt Mahaffey – Piano, Drums, Engineer, Chamberlin, Effects, Mini Moog
• George Scot McKelvey – Guitar
• Danielle Nesmith – Violin
• Mike Ruekberg – Guitar (Acoustic)
• Phil Solem – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
• Audrey Solomon – Violin
• Steve Strand – Trumpet
• Danny Wilde – Vocals
• Dan Wilson – Vocals
• Jordon Zadorozny – Guitar