Shaw Blades - Influence (2007)

A classic rock act issuing an album's worth of cover tunes that influenced them early on -- sound familiar? It certainly should, as next to tribute and "unplugged" sets, albums comprised entirely of cover songs flooded the marketplace during the late '90s and early 21st century. Former Damn Yankees bandmates Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades (and also veterans of Styx and Night Ranger, respectively) were the next in line in 2007, with the release of the aptly titled Influence. Shaw and Blades always possessed great vocal harmonies together, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the majority of the tunes on Influence are heavy on the harmonies, especially a fine reading of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," as well as Yes' "Your Move" and the Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'." Next only to the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel are often considered to be one of the first pop/rock acts to utilize vocal harmonies, and as a result, not one, but two Simon & Garfunkel covers reside here -- a surprisingly hard rocking "I Am a Rock" and a more tranquil "The Sound of Silence." Impressively consistent from beginning to end, Influence is certainly one of the better "all-covers" albums of recent times.