Take Five: Great Covers by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs are both beloved figures in the world of power pop and tuneful rock. As a solo artist, Sweet created and released landmark albums like 1991’s Girlfriend. Hoffs has scored both as a member of the Bangles and as a solo artist. Longtime friends, Sweet and Hoffs have collaborated on many projects over the years; one of their first projects together was as members of fictional ‘60s band Ming Tea; with Mike Myers, they recorded songs for the latter’s 1997 film, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and its followup, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

The creative success of those collaborations led Sweet and Hoffs to embark on a larger project. Between 2006 and 2013 the duo would record three Under the Covers albums. Each successive installment featured new versions of songs from three decades of rock and pop: the 1960s, ‘70s and 1980s. Music from all three acclaimed releases would be compiled on a 2015 boxed set, Completely Under the Covers. That 60-track collection brought together all of the songs from the three albums plus bonus tracks featured on certain editions. Today, the CD release of Completely Under the Covers is out of print and expensive; its vinyl counterpart is even more rare. In honor of the 20th anniversary of Under the Covers Vol. 1, here are five of the best tracks from the series.

“Alone Again Or” (originally by Love)
Close harmony vocals feature prominently in this faithful cover, originally heard on Los Angeles legends Love from their classic album Forever Changes. On this song from their first collaborative album, Hoffs and Sweet lean heavily into the Spanish guitar vibes of the song, written by Love guitarist Bryan MacLean. “Alone Again Or” has been covered by many artists as varied as the Damned, UFO and Sarah Brightman.

“I’ve Seen All Good People / Your Move” (originally by Yes)
British progressive rock giants Yes truly broke through to a wider audience with the release of their third record, 1971’s The Yes Album. A highlight of that disc is “I’ve Seen All Good People/Your Move.” On their second Under the Covers release, Sweet and Hoffs capture the sublime vocal arrangement and powerful instrumental work of the Yes original. In their efforts, they’re assisted by guitarist Steve Howe, who played on the original and remains with Yes to this day.

“The Killing Moon” (originally by Echo & the Bunnymen)
1984’s “The Killing Moon” was one of the biggest hit singles from Liverpool band Echo & the Bunnymen. On Under the Covers Vol. 3, Sweet and Hoffs capture the haunting feel of the original while giving it their distinctive stamp.

“(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding” (originally by Brinsley Schwarz)
Composed by Nick Lowe, “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding” is an undisputed classic. First recorded in 1974 by Lowe’s band Brinsley Schwarz, the song was memorably covered by Elvis Costello on a 1978 single B-side and then included on his 1979 album Armed Forces. The song was also featured on the 1992 film soundtrack The Bodyguard, in a version by Curtis Stigers. For their recording featured on Vol. 2’s iTunes Deluxe version, Hoffs and Sweet largely follow Costello’s arrangement. That’s Velvet Crush drummer Ric Menck providing the powerful backbeat.

“Got to Get You Into My Life” (originally by the Beatles)
Even though the Completely Under the Covers set purports to include all of the cover songs Sweet and Hoffs recorded, four songs didn’t make it onto the boxed set. A reading of Buffalo Springfield’s “On the Way Home” was available only on the version of Vol. 1 sold in Target stores; a cover of the Easybeats’ “Sorry” was only on the Japanese release of Vol. 1. Sweet and Hoffs also recorded the Beatles’ “Good Day Sunshine,” included on a 2006 various-artists children’s album, All Together Now: Beatles Stuff For Kids Of All Ages. A fourth stray track, the duo’s cover of the Beatles’ “Got to Get You Into My Life” was featured on the soundtrack of the 2009 Eddie Murphy comedy Imagine That.