Coverage (album)

Coverage is the fourth studio album by American singer Mandy Moore. It was released on October 21, 2003 by Epic Records. It is a cover album with 12 covers of 1970s and 1980s songs, which Moore collaborated with producer and songwriter John Fields.[1]

Coverage
Studio album by Mandy Moore
Released	October 21, 2003
Recorded	2002–2003 at Mansfield Lodge, The Terrarium, Kevin's House, NRG Recording, Vibatorium, Crackertracks, Chapel Rock
Genre	Folk pop rock
Length	46:43
Label	Epic EK-90667
Producer	John Fields
Mandy Moore chronology
Mandy Moore (2001) Coverage (2003) The Best of Mandy Moore (2004)
Singles from Coverage
"Have a Little Faith in Me" Released: July 15, 2003 "Drop the Pilot" Released: October 28, 2003 "Senses Working Overtime" Released: January 16, 2004

Coverage was the first studio album by Moore in two years following her third self-titled album Mandy Moore (2001) and was preceded by its lead single "Have a Little Faith in Me", which reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Pop 100.

The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics when it was released. Some critics praised Moore for being experimental and leaving her teen and dance-pop style behind, but other critics felt her choice of songs to cover and her take on them caused inconsistency and lack of concentration.

Background

On June 19, 2001, Moore released her third self-titled album, Mandy Moore, which had more adult and provocative themes along with the lead single "In My Pocket", but Moore began to get tired of her teen pop style and continuing to go in the direction of and being compared to Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears. In an interview, she said her fourth album would be more mature than her first three, and that she felt more comfortable to make it that time. On the red carpet of the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, she revealed that her fourth album was a cover album titled Coverage that had covers of 1970s and 1980s songs.

Composition

The opening track "Senses Working Overtime" was originally recorded by the English band XTC, was released in 1982 and written by the frontman Andy Partridge. "The Whole of the Moon" was originally recorded by the band The Waterboys and was released in 1985. The subject of the lyrics has inspired speculation, some of which has been rebutted by the frontman and writer Mike Scott.[2] "Can We Still Be Friends" was written and originally recorded by Todd Rundgren. The lyrics describe a relationship to which Rundgren and the woman to whom he is singing have given great effort, but simply cannot work. Rundgren explains this, but wishes to part amicably, asking several times if he and his partner can "still be friends". The song is generally assumed to be about Rundgren's breakup with his long-time girlfriend, singer Bebe Buell in 1977.[3] "I Feel the Earth Move" was written and originally recorded by pop singer-songwriter Carole King. Moore's cover was also on the compilation album Love Rocks from LBGT rights supporters.[4] "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" was originally recorded by Elton John. It was co-written by John with Bernie Taupin from his fifth album Honky Château (1972) and is his take on New York City after hearing a gun go off near his hotel window during his first visit to the city.[5][6] "Drop the Pilot" was written and originally recorded by Joan Armatrading. It was the first single to be released from Armatrading's eighth album The Key (1983). "Moonshadow" was written and originally recorded by Cat Stevens from his fifth album Teaser and the Firecat (1971). Moore has also been performing "Moonshadow" on the NBC family comedy-drama This Is Us since 2017. "One Way or Another" was originally recorded by American new wave band Blondie. It was written by band members Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison for the band's third album Parallel Lines (1978), the song was based on one of Harry's ex-boyfriends who stalked her after their break-up.[7] The song was released as a single in the U.S. as the follow-up to "Heart of Glass". "One Way or Another" reached No. 24 in the Billboard Hot 100. Although never officially released as a single in the United Kingdom and other countries, the song remains one of the group's most popular songs worldwide. Rolling Stone ranked the song No. 298 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[8] "Breaking Us in Two" was written and originally recorded by Joe Jackson from his fifth album Night and Day (1882). "Anticipation" was written and originally recorded by Carly Simon. It was the title and most famous track from her second album of the same name (1971). The song was used in commercials for Heinz Ketchup through the late 1970s into the 1980s.[9] "Help Me" was written, produced and originally recorded by Joni Mitchell, from her sixth album Court and Spark (1974). The song was recorded with jazz band Tom Scott's L.A. Express as the backing band.[10] "Have a Little Faith in Me" was written and originally recorded by John Hiatt from his eighth album Bring the Family (1987).

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	64/100[11]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[12]
Blender	[13]
Entertainment Weekly	C[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]

The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic remarked, "With this record, she leaves dance-pop behind and heads toward mature pop ... positioning herself as a pop/rock singer by covering classic singer/songwriters ... [W]hile Coverage isn't always successful, it is always admirable and likeable, and certainly puts Moore on the right path for an interesting, successful career."[12]

Chart performance

The album peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200, her highest peak to date, selling 53,000 copies its first week, her highest to date.[16] In Australia, "Have a Little Faith in Me" has only released to radio. In Australia, Moore has achieved five top 25 hits on the ARIA Singles Chart. With only one single released to radio, Coverage reached only No. 97 on the Australian albums chart, her lowest studio album to date.

A video for "Drop the Pilot" was made, but was never released in the U.S. "Senses Working Overtime" (originally a single by XTC released in 1982) was released in March 2004 as the official second single in the States, but failed to make a large impact. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold 315,000 copies in the United States;[17] this figure was considered disappointing and after Moore released her greatest hits album The Best of Mandy Moore on November 16, 2004, she left Epic Records because of creative differences.

The album was not released worldwide again, but was released in selected regions like Australia, and in certain Asian and Latin American countries. It achieved Platinum status in the Philippines, where Moore performed on the country's most viewed show Eat Bulaga! and received a number of certifications from her past albums and a new one including Coverage.

Track listing

All songs produced by John Fields.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Senses Working Overtime" (XTC cover)	Andy Partridge	4:08
2.	"The Whole of the Moon" (The Waterboys cover)	Mike Scott	5:01
3.	"Can We Still Be Friends" (Todd Rundgren cover)	Todd Rundgren	3:38
4.	"I Feel the Earth Move" (Carole King cover)	Carole King	3:08
5.	"Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (Elton John cover)	Elton John, Bernie Taupin	4:49
6.	"Drop the Pilot" (Joan Armatrading cover)	Joan Armatrading	3:43
7.	"Moonshadow" (Cat Stevens cover)	Cat Stevens	2:59
8.	"One Way or Another" (Blondie cover)	Debbie Harry, Nigel Harrison	3:31
9.	"Breaking Us in Two" (Joe Jackson cover)	Joe Jackson	4:26
10.	"Anticipation" (Carly Simon cover)	Carly Simon	3:21
11.	"Help Me" (Joni Mitchell cover)	Joni Mitchell	3:29
12.	"Have a Little Faith in Me" (John Hiatt cover)	John Hiatt	4:02

Personnel

• 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
• Colleen Conway – hair stylist
• Dorian Crozier – percussion, drums, engineer
• Andy Sturmer - Engineer, Vocals, Drums
• Evan Dando – guitar (acoustic)
• Christina Ehrlich – stylist
• John Fields – bass, guitar, guitar (baritone), guitar (electric), French horn, keyboards, vocals, producer, engineer, string arrangements, mixing, effects
• 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
• Dan Leffler – mixing engineer
• Noah Levy – drums
• Matt Mahaffey – piano, drums, engineer, Chamberlin, effects, Minimoog
• George Scot McKelvey – guitar
• Mandy Moore – main vocals
• Josh Myers – string arrangements
• Danielle Nesmith – violin
• Jason Orris – engineer
• Julian Peploe – art direction, design
• Mike Ruekberg – guitar (acoustic)
• Phil Solem – guitar (acoustic), guitar, mandolin, vocals
• Audrey Solomon – violin
• Steve Strand – trumpet
• Chris Testa – engineer
• Danny Wilde – vocals
• Dan Wilson – vocals
• Jordon Zadorozny – guitar

Deluxe edition bonus DVD

• Exclusive interview footage and B-roll
• Track-by-track discussion of songs on album
• "Have a Little Faith in Me" music video
• Different cover art

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200[18]	14
U.S. Top Internet Albums[19]	10
Australian ARIA Albums Chart[20]	97

References

1. https://www.amazon.com/Coverage-Mandy-Moore/dp/B0000DFZZT
2. https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1560257296/ref=sib_books_pg/002-1907880-9695235?%5Fencoding=UTF8&keywords=%22This%20Is%20the%20Sea%22%20Waterboys&p=S0DJ&checkSum=Bb63lNW7ZxdxP9uDbYIhW7lxPE2bYahFpTibplrDn3E%253D
3. "Billboard Hot 100, Chart Listing For The Week Of sep 02 1978". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
4. https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/caroleking/albums/album/171700/review/6068041/tapestry
5. "Ben E. King – Spanish Harlem Lyrics". Metrolyrics.com. December 26, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
6. "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters by Elton John Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
7. Che, Cathy (1999), 'Deborah Harry: Platinum Blonde', MPG Books Ltd, Cornwall, p.83
8. "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". RollingStone.com. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
9. "KOOL-FM radio". Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
10. Help Me by Joni Mitchell Songfacts
11. Metacritic score
12. Allmusic review
13. Blender review Archived December 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
14. Entertainment Weekly review
15. Rolling Stone review
16. https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2003-11-08
17. Billboard.com – Ask Billboard Retrieved: June 5, 2009
18. http://www.billboard.com/artist/309062/mandy-moore/chart?f=305
19. http://www.allmusic.com/album/coverage-mw0000693728/awards
20. https://itsaboutmusic.wordpress.com/2007/08/06/mandy-moore-coverage/

External links

• Mandy Moore on Oprah
• Coverage at Metacritic