An eclectic, 15 track album of cover versions, as sung by a voice that The Independent described as “a cross between Nick Cave and Rodney Crowell” . Add to that the vocal comparisons with the likes of Roy Orbison, and Tim Hardin, and we know these great songs will be treated with all the love and respect they deserve. An intriguing choice of material, as one would expect from ‘one of our finest singer songwriters’. Ranging from songs by heroes such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Pete Townshend, John Fogerty, Ronnie Lane and Scott Walker to the more surprising choices of songs associated with Gilbert O’ Sullivan, Candi Staton, The Stylistics and many more. Here, in his own words, is what Love’s A Cover (Volume 1), is all about. LINER NOTES; This is by no means a collection of my favourite 15 songs of all time, in fact, if I was pushed to make that list, I am not sure if any of these songs would make it, well maybe one ot two. What this collection represents is the last 10 years of my musical life. Songs that I discovered during that time, songs that I fell in love with, some songs I feel in love to, songs that I thought I would love to sing, some songs that I really wanted to perform live, and certainly, all songs that I wish I had written. Some of these songs have been a regular part of my live set and some are included simply because I was asked to record them for various projects, tribute albums, and magazine cover mount cd’s. The one thing they all have in common is that they all have my respect, and I would have been thrilled to have written any of them. I do know that some of these songs, and certainly some of the writers, have influenced me considerably, and in turn, that has been reflected in some of my own songs. OK, I stole a few things here and there........well who hasn’t? And if you are going to steal from anyone, steal from the best. A Song For (Townes Van Zandt): Arguably my favourite ever Townes songs (although who can choose from so many gems), it perfectly epitomizes the feelings of the weary, traveling musician, who has given his entire life to his art, and, at the end of his life’s journey - almost prophetic, given what was to happen to Townes not long after he wrote it, - he ponders the futility of it all. This song has been part of my own live set for the past 2 years, and probably will be for many more to come. Someday Never Comes (John Fogerty) : I recorded this with The Good Sons in 2001, not long after we had finished our last album, Happiness. This first appeared on an album called, Chooglin’ - A Tribute To The Songs Of John Fogerty released on the US label Dren Records. A really fine tribute album, to one of the greatest American songwriters. Big Louise (Scott Walker): originally recorded for a Scott Walker tribute album, which, as far as I am aware, has never been released. A label in Spain planned the album but I guess it must be still siesta time. I have always adored Scott Walker, surely one of the greatest white voices of all time. When it came to choosing a song, it had to be this one, my own ‘Big Louise’ would have killed me otherwise. She’s Leaving (Ronnie Lane): Another recording that came out because of a tribute album, and again the album is still yet to see the light of day. This is the 3rd Ronnie Lane I have recorded (I also cut Annie for my God Shaped Hole album in 1999, and his lovely song, Just For A Moment , which may also appear on the tribute album. Just like the man himself, no need to hurry, it will find itself in time. Young Hearts Run Free (Candi Staton): 1976, what a year, so many great pop singles, as well as such an exciting time of musical change. In truth, I was still probably listening to my Led Zep records although come Friday night, could be found strutting my stuff at the local disco to the Bee Gees in order to get the girls. I am sure I danced to this one too. The original was a brilliant dance record but it is also a great, great song, . When you hear the lyrics, it is a kind of protest song, so I have recorded it as such......even though I don't know which man I have even been “hung up with”, Pete Townshend probably. For No One (Lennon/McCartney): Recorded for a Mojo magazine cover mount cd, a various artists tribute to the “Revolver” album. I was glad to be one of the first to be asked so I could grab For No One. Not only my favourite song on Revolver but one of my favourite Beatles songs, period. I made sure I stayed away from harpsichords and French Horns with this version You Are Everything (Thomas Bell/Linda Freed) : When The Good Sons recorded our first album, we naively thought we may, one day, have a hit single,. Yeah, a real hit single!! Even though we were ploughing an Alt Country furrow, I wanted to cover a song which was far removed from that genre, and this is the one we chose. I still think it should have been a hit. Alone Again Naturally (Gilbert O’ Sullivan): A very misunderstood song, one that is lost to many people due to the fact that is was written by “a twat in a flat cap” ...to quote Pete Wylie. Lyrically, it is a masterpiece, some of the most poignant words I have even seen in a song. Given the subject matter, I wanted to treat is more like a funeral dirge, rather than the jaunty way Gilbert performed it originally. I love pump organ and Mike Cosgrave’s playing here is just perfect. Simple Twist of Fate (Bob Dylan): This first appeared on a Mojo magazine cover mount cd called Dylan Covered in summer 2005. I used to play this song years and years ago, when I first started performing solo, so it was nice to be able to finally get round to recording it. I think I have listened to Blood On The Tracks more than any other Bob album, and I certainly had that album in mind when I recorded my first solo album, God Shaped Hole. It shares a lot of similar themes. Enough said. Love In Mind (Neil Young) : The first time I heard this song I was one a train from Berlin to Prague, someone the night before gave me a copy of Time Fades Away. I was feeling pretty isolated and missing home on that journey. Love In Mind came through my headphones and just hit me where it hurt. It was the perfect song for that day, that journey, and that feeling. I also included this song on my 2003 album, A Decent Man Blue, Red and Grey (Pete Townshend): Of all the musicians I wished I could have been, Pete Townshend would have to be the one. I always maintain he was the best singer in The Who, I love his high, plaintive voice. The Who By Numbers is a vastly underrated album, certainly the most personal, and that is why I love it so much. No More Songs (Phil Ochs): By the mid 90’s I still had never heard anything by Phil Ochs but when reviews first appeared for mine and the band’s early albums, his name kept coming up, drawing comparisons between our voices. When I finally checked him out , I just fell in love with his songs, his stance and his sad story. The way he felt, towards the end of his life, his frustration and bitterness towards fame, and this bloody music industry, I now realise it is not just our voices that we have in common. Can’t Cry Hard Enough (Marvin Etzioni, David Williams): Ever since the first Lone Justice album, I have always been an admirer of the songs of Marvin Etzioni. The Good Sons used to perform his song You Are The Light, and then we got round to recording this one on the Happiness album after I had heard Victoria Williams’ version. In 2001, during the band’s last tour, we played a show with Victoria in Glasgow, and I recall her running through the audience to the front of the stage to sing along in front of me. Last year, 2005, I finally met Marvin at a festival in Gent, Belgium. We even played together, though not one of his songs, or mine, but a version of Woody Guthrie's Doe Ray Me.....what else? !! Straight To You (Nick Cave): The choice to record this song was made by Phil Abram, while we were making the second Good Sons album, The King’s Highway . Everybody in the band was big fans of Nick, and The Bad Seeds. Their version was pretty epic so we went in totally the opposite direction. Doomed (Ron Sexsmith): My favourite song writer of the past few years, and this, I feel, is one of his best songs. I cut this live, so it is a little warts and all, and I was feeling rather like the song title when I performed it. In fact, I often feel like the song title. PRESS REACTION TO LOVE"S A COVER A beautifully packaged and lovingly annotated 15 track compilation of cover versions. An enjoyably diverse and thoughtful collection which pays unique tribute to a clutch of maverick talents who have all conspired to influence our hero along the way. It’s diverting stuff. Whisperinandhhollerin********** 8/10 I’m really not sure about covers albums, though I love this one, warts’n’all. It just hits home. What we have here is a snapshot of the music that moves and motivates. Quite simply, great songs and great performances. Net rhythms / Roots & Branches A collection of beautiful, off kilter material, all brought together by MWK’s elegant, subtle performances. Wonderful, in a way that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Maverick **** 4/5 What King does so well here is make a whole of disparate elements; it’s quite an achievement to make seamless transitions from ‘Alone Again Naturally’ to ‘Simple Twist Of Fate’ to ‘Love In Mind’. Bucketful of Brains In his craft and his perfections, MWK closely resembles Ron Sexsmith (whose song “Doomed” he covers here). A pair of insufficiently recognised performers who see no call to lower their standards Bucketful of Brains Some surprising choices, ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ is turned into a protest folk song which works very well with just the acoustic guitars, the song triumphantly thrives. And Gilbert O’Sullivan is re-appraised and here MWK delves even deeper into the melancholy of ‘Alone Again Naturally’. The song settles like a fog cloud of disappointment cloaking feelings, he almost raises the status of the song to classic. www.americana-uk.com What makes this work, apart from King ’s taste, is that he’s as phenomenal as a performer, as he is as a songwriter. John Conquest - 3rd Coast Music, Texas **** 4/5 When this album sparks, as on a reflectively wistful version of For No One, a simple strummed Simple Twist of Fate, a soulful reading of Marvin Etzioni’s Can’t Cry Hard Enough and the lovely Phil Ochs ballad No More Songs, with Lou Dalgleish on piano, then it’s very good indeed. Birmingham 101