AJ Lee & Blue Summit — Cover to Cover V1
Rare is the band that can take a pop music classic and completely turn it on its head, transforming it into what sounds like a bluegrass original. That’s exactly what AJ Lee & Blue Summit have done with Neil Diamond’s “I’m A Believer,” the 1967 biggest-selling single by The Monkees.
The band’s new EP, Cover to Cover V1, out October 17 via Signature Sounds, honors tradition while expanding boundaries. The acclaimed Santa Cruz string band anchored by AJ Lee’s luminous voice and deft mandolin reimagines five songs with a mix of out-of-the-box adventure, reverence, and their signature West Coast vibe.
The project feels like a snapshot of where the band stands right now: confident, curious, and unafraid to stretch the limits of bluegrass. As Lee explains, Cover to Cover V1 “breathes new life into five of our most beloved songs with tasteful interpretations, modern acoustic textures, and some special personal touches.” These five tracks feel lived-in yet completely reimagined.
The opener, “Tear My Stillhouse Down” (feat. Lindsay Lou), is a standout reinterpretation of the Gillian Welch classic. With Tim Bluhm’s gritty electric guitar and Lindsay Lou’s harmonies weaving through Lee’s lead, the song builds on the original’s haunting despair with a sense of communal catharsis. It’s a full-bodied performance that reminds listeners why Lee is among the most expressive voices in roots music today.
The centerpiece of the EP, the New Riders of the Purple Sage classic “Glendale Train” (feat. Kyle Tuttle), stretches past nine minutes, venturing into jam-band territory. The interplay between Lee’s mandolin, Jan Purat’s fiddle, and Tuttle’s banjo is fearless and fluid, and at times feels like a haunted, runaway psychedelic freight train. It’s proof that they can stretch traditional forms without losing the groove or heart.
“It Takes One to Know One,” a Harlan Howard and Freddie Hart tune, offers a return to simplicity. Clocking in at just under three minutes, it’s a pure dose of honky-tonk swing filtered through the group’s acoustic clarity. Scott Gates’ guitar and Sean Newman’s bass anchor the rhythm with unpretentious precision, while Jan Purat’s melancholy fiddle swirls through the mix.
Closing the EP, “Who Walks In When I Walk Out” features flutist Anh Phung and guitarist Trey Hensley doing a perfect Django Rhinehart on this reboot of a 1934 jazz classic. Coincidentally enough, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys covered it in 1936. This 2025 version is a fitting and fun closer.
Recorded in Oakland by Jonathan Kirchner, who also mixed and mastered the project, Cover to Cover V1 sounds organic and full, leaving us wanting more (hint: V2!). The production keeps the band’s warmth intact, balancing clarity with the raw energy of a live room. Co-produced by Tim Bluhm and the band, the EP injects fresh vitality and finesse into these five covers.
We can’t wait to hear what they come up with on the next volume of covers!
Check out tour dates here: https://www.bluesummitmusic.com/tour
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Interview: Scott Gates Of AJ Lee and Blue Summit On Building “City of Glass”
Stream the EP here: https://ajleebluesummit.bandcamp.com/album/cover-to-cover-v1
Personnel: AJ Lee – Mandolin / Vocals; Scott Gates – Guitar / Vocals; Jan Purat – Fiddle / Vocals; Sully Tuttle – Guitar / Vocals; Sean Newman – Bass / Vocals; Lindsay Lou – Vocals (Track 1); Kyle Tuttle – Banjo (Track 3); Anh Phung – Flute (Track 5); Trey Hensley – Guitar (Track 5); Tim Bluhm – Electric Guitar (Track 1).
