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Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs go “Under The Covers” again on July 21st

Written by: Matt Wardlaw

I nearly jumped through the computer screen this afternoon when I saw a Twitter update from PauseandPlay.Com mentioning a July release date for a new album from Matthew Sweet and Bangles member Susanna Hoffs. Sweet and Hoffs will drop Under The Covers Vol. 2 on July 21st via the fine folks at Shout! Factory.

Under the alias of "Sid & Susie," the duo delivered Under The Covers Vol. 1 (purchase) in 2006, a delightful collection that collected 14 of their mutual favorites from the 60's, and wouldn't you know it, they couldn't resist tiptoeing into the 70's just a tad for an album-closing version of "Run To Me" by the Bee Gees. Under The Covers Vol.1 was a musical education of sorts for me, putting bands like Love, Fairport Convention, and The Left Banke on my radar. It was sincerely, one of my favorite releases of 2006.

One of my favorite tracks on Under The Covers Vol. 1 was a chestnut from The Zombies, "Care of Cell #44," featuring lead vocals by Hoffs.

Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Care of Cell #44

From the liner notes for Under The Covers Vol. 1:

Classic mid-60's super pop Zombies! We are both huge fans of the singer Colin Blumstone (here Susie evokes Petula Clark.) And what a fantastic lyric about Susie's lover getting out of prison!

Under The Covers Vol. 2 picks up where "Run To Me" left off, and jumps headfirst into the 70's, with the added bonus of a few special guests this time around! Lindsey Buckingham, Dhani Harrison, and Steve Howe all drop in to help "Sid" & "Susie" make this volume of Under The Covers a little bit more special.

Like the first volume, I'm impressed with the diversity in the track listing. I can't wait to read the stories behind each song on this new album, and I'll be interested to hear who takes the lead vocal on some of these tracks. Already, I can picture that "Second Hand News" is going to be great!

Here are the full details via the press release!

P.S. - I'm hoping for a Sid & Susie tour date in Cleveland this time around!

MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS
COZY UP TO THEIR FAVORITE SONGS OF THE 70’S WITH UNDER THE COVERS VOL. 2

In Stores July 21

Los Angeles, CA – Power-pop sensation Matthew Sweet and Bangles vocalist Susanna Hoffs, otherwise known as “Sid & Susie,” will unveil their newest project July 21 on Shout! Factory, titled Under The Covers Vol. 2. This delightful collection features 16 of the duo’s favorite tunes from the 1970’s, and is the much anticipated follow up to the highly-praised 60’s compilation Under The Covers Vol. 1, released in 2006.

Produced and recorded by Sweet and Hoffs in Sweet’s Lolina Green Studios in Los Angeles, Sweet and Hoffs treat the songs with reverence, showing their appreciation for this captivating decade of music. Under The Covers Vol. 2 features the pair’s perfectly harmonized voices on favorites from the genres of power-pop, glam, classic rock and even prog-rock. The pair get a little help from Lindsey Buckingham on their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Second Hand News,” Dhani Harrison played on George Harrison’s “Beware of Darkness,” and Steve Howe guests on their version of the Yes song “I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move/All Good People.”

The tracks on Under The Covers Vol. 2 cover a diverse range of music, including huge hits such as Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” and Mott The Hoople’s “All The Young Dudes,” as well as lesser known cult favorites, including Big Star’s “Back Of A Car” and Todd Rundgren’s “Couldn’t I Just Tell You” (one of two Todd Rundgren songs included on the disc). Other treasured songs given the Sid & Susie treatment include John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” Derek & The Dominoes’ “Bell Bottom Blues,” The Grateful Dead’s “Sugar Magnolia,” The Raspberries “Go All The Way,” Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers’ “Here Comes My Girl,” Little Feat’s “Willin’,” Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me,” and Bread’s “Everything I Own.”

Matthew and Susanna have long performed at each other’s shows, and collaborated with comedian Mike Myers as members of Austin Powers’ on-screen band Ming Tea in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and Austin Powers in Goldmember before collaborating on Under The Covers Vol. 1. Matthew and Susanna will have a number of tour dates to support the release in addition to separate shows by both Matthew Sweet and the Bangles.

Track Listing:
1. Sugar Magnolia (The Grateful Dead)
2. Go All The Way (The Raspberries)
3. Second Hand News (Fleetwood Mac)
4. Bell Bottom Blues (Derek & The Dominoes)
5. All The Young Dudes (Mott The Hoople)
6. You’re So Vain (Carly Simon)
7. Here Comes My Girl (Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers)
8. I’ve Seen All Good People: Your Move/All Good People (Yes)
9. Hello It’s Me (Todd Rundgren)
10. Willin’ (Little Feat)
11. Back Of A Car (Big Star)
12. Couldn’t I Just Tell You (Todd Rundgren)
13. Gimme Some Truth (John Lennon)
14. Everything I Own (Bread)
15. Maggie May (Rod Stewart)
16. Beware Of Darkness (George Harrison)