JEREMY MORRIS TAKES THE GREATS TO NEW HEIGHTS

LOVE IS ALIVE: The highly prolific composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist JEREMY MORRIS (pictured above in February 2026) continues to wow the faithful with a plethora of new releases, including a pair of tribute albums that salute the Byrds and Pink Floyd.  Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell takes a post-Flyte tour with Morris below (Click on above image to enlarge).

SET THE CONTROLS FOR

THE HEART OF THE SON:

COVERING UP WITH

JEREMY MORRIS

By Michael McDowell

"The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of the man in his prime".

That opening line from the 1972 song Free Four remains a highlight of Pink Floyd's Obscured By Clouds album. But more than a half century after the fact, the band's surviving members seem to have only marginally lived up to that observation. To wit, lead guitarist David Gilmour has remained a prolific solo artist, although drummer Nick Mason has toured extensively in recent years with a Pink Floyd tribute band, Saucerful Of Secrets.

That dichotomy in part factored into the rare move by the highly prolific solo artist Jeremy Morris to deviate from his primary focus on original material and release a pair of tribute albums. The first of these, There Is Somebody Out There takes a look at the Pink Floyd legacy from a unique perspective.

"I think the different stages of Pink Floyd are all of value", said Morris.

"There are three stages of the the band: The Syd Barrett era, the Gilmour and (Roger) Waters era, and the Gilmour era minus Waters. I covered only the first two eras. So the disc goes from 1967 to 1979. 

"With all due respect, I think the final era of the band is the least interesting. The music is still excellent, but does not rise to the heights that they previously achieved. The band made a lot of music. So I selected the tracks that I felt that I could expand and improve upon."

To that effect, one area in which Morris found that room for improvement was with an answer song of sorts that enabled him to set the controls for the heart of a key component of his own mission statement.

"The title of the album, There Is Somebody Out There is a call and response to the Pink Floyd track, Is There Anybody Out There", Morris said. 

Given the somewhat defeatist perspective professed by Roger Waters in the aforementiond Free Four, Morris' subtle reference to the Good News brings relentless optimism full circle. It does so in a way that was only hinted at previously in his own earlier renditions of the Lemon Pipers' Green Tambourine and the 1910 Fruitgum Company's 1-2-3 Red Light. 

Suffice to say that Morris' other all new collection of cover material takes that perspective to the next level. Flying High does just that with a fresh look at eleven tracks that helped define the vast and enormously influential catalog of the Byrds.

"With the Byrds' Flying High tribute, I focused on the true nature of the band to explore and expand musically with different sounds", said Morris.

The Byrds themselves reiterated as much by citing visionary saxophonist John Coltrane as a key inspiration behind their early 1966 Eight Miles High single for Columbia. It has been said that Coltrane himself offered the band a word of encouragement in the wake of that development. 

With that in mind, Morris invoked his own propensity towards expansion within several key tracks in this collection.

"For example, My Back Pages expands from the original three minute song into an eighteen minute epic", he said.

"I covered material from the years 1965 to 1969. After this, the band was not the same. The last few Byrds albums were basically Roger McGuinn solo albums, and not really true Byrds albums in spirit. Roger was moving father away from the use of the twelve-string as center stage. For me, it's all about the use of the twelve-string and those magnificent harmony vocals."

To be certain, other artists took similar cues from the Byrds in their wake, from the Three O'Clock to Tom Petty And The Hearbreakers. And just as both of those bands were far more in their respective elements with their own duly inspired original material, Morris likewise returned to the studio to complete several new collections of original material (Love Is Alive, The Promise and Opener Of Eyes). The highlights of those collections (including Promised Land, You Rescued Me, Work In Progress, Back From The Grave, The Truth Is Revealed and Vulture Culture) underscore his commitment to that "Someone Out There"; a commitment that he also champions as the senior pastor of a church in his home base of Portage, Michigan.

"The response has been amazingly positive to the music and its lyrical content", said Morris.

"People in general need hope and positive inspiration. I am instinctively bringing that to the music table in whatever I do."

Interestingly enough, there has risen over the past couple of years a crop of gifted composers and vocalists who have taken their cues from veteran greats and applied it to their own work in a generally uplifting manner. Among them are avid record collector Sabrina Carpenter, as well as Sombr, AJR, Benson Boone and Olivia Dean.

Granted, the focal points of their music varies somewhat from that of Morris; confounded in part by the fact that much of their primary target demographic maintains a different perspective on the use of certain verbiage that at one point was considered anathema to the potential of any mainstream success of a given work. 

However, the recent increase in interest in the Gospel among certain factions of that demographic suggests that a mighty work may well be in progress. While maintaining a matter of fact perspective on that possibility, Morris continues to pursue his art and that mission statement with the same resolve that guided him through the creation of an astounding nearly one hundred solo albums since the closing years of the twentieth century. 

"I think we are living in an age of fast food music", he said.

"Easy access, easy listening, internet buffet sampling approach. Listening to more music, but hearing it less.

"I will continue to champion music as an art form and making it in the most purely possible way. 

"What that means for me is this: real music with real meaning. Played and created by real people using real instruments."

Given that such inspirations as Pink Floyd were notorious at certain points in their career for laboring on a single given release for months (or even years) at a time, Morris' astoundingly vast catalog suggests that setting the controls for the heart of the Son has enabled him to both reap and offer blessings on an extraordinary level.

"More music to come", he said.

Indeed, in the words of one of the standout tracks from Love Is Alive, Morris is Making The Most of those blessings.

THE ANNUAL BLITZ AWARDS

LOOK UP: His affinity for country music dates back to his affiliation with Rory Storm And The Hurricanes. And his recurring use of Gospel references throughout Look Up was enough to earn veteran composer, vocalist and drummer RINGO STARR Best New Album of 2025 honors in the annual Blitz Awards. In tandem with Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People's fiftieth anniversary, we salute the artists that brought us the Best New Singles, Best New Albums and Best Reissue and Anthology projects of the year, as well as a look at the best in network television programming.  (Click on above image to enlarge).

BLITZ AWARDS FOR 2025

Sometimes record collectors and musicologists can be their own worst enemies.

To that effect, a common proclamation within those circles has been something to the effect of, "I don't listen to new music". 

That conclusion is often borne of such periphery as chronology based on personal revisionist history. But such reasoning is anathema to the art itself. It draws from such equally marginal factors as fear of the unknown and genre myopia. 

In reality, the past two years have seen a remarkable renaissance in songwriting. That renaissance is being championed by a cadre of up and coming artists that have embarked upon a movement that stands poised to impact the art on a level that has not been seen since the so-called punk / new wave movement of the mid to late 1970s and country's New Traditionalist movement of the late 1980s. 

That said, there is one key factor that warrants attention in order to assuage concerns that persist within the audience at large. During rock and roll's initial boom period, there were occasional releases that came under fire for the use of so-called coarse language within their lyrics. Prime examples would be the Kingsmen's cover of Richard Berry's Louie Louie, the MC5's Kick Out The Jams and pretty much the entire ESP label catalog by the Fugs. Reaction at the time was enough to cost those artists varying degrees of mainstream media exposure. 

However, in the six decades that have since passed, to quote the Doobie Brothers, What Were Now Vices Are Now Habits. Within the demographic behind the current musical renaissance, such verbiage as that which was expressed in those earlier recordings has since fallen into common usage, and is no longer regarded within those circles as being either coarse or pejorative. 

While Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People would of course stand with the Biblical example of, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth" (Ephesians 4:29, NKJV), the fact remains that many of the artists involved and their respective primary target demographic approach that issue from an entirely different perspective. The fact that in general their material is otherwise well written and well executed leads to an inevitable proceed with caution benediction, but a benediction nonetheless. 

Sadly, those who "don't listen to new music" also faced another inevitability in 2025 in the form of the loss of veteran artists. The losses were heavy throughout that year, including the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, the Turtles' Mark Volman, the Electric Prunes' James Lowe, Sam And Dave's Sam Moore, the Nolans' Linda Nolan, Peter Paul And Mary's Peter Yarrow, Brenton Wood, Bob Kuban, the Band's Garth Hudson, Marianne Faithfull, Jam drummer Rick Buckler, the Easybeats' Snowy Fleet, Jerry Butler, the New York Dolls' David Johansen, Badfinger's Joey Molland, the Standells' Larry Tamblyn, Johnny Tillotson, Lenny Welch, Mike Berry, Nino Tempo, Pere Ubu's David Thomas, Johnny Rodriguez, the McCoys' Rick Derringer, Viscaynes and Family Stone co-founder Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart, Bobby Sherman, Lou Christie, Lalo Schifrin, Connie Francis, Danny And The Juniors' Frank Maffei, Chuck Mangione, Ozzy Osbourne, Tommy McLain, Golden Earring's George Kooymans, Tom Lehrer, Col Joye, Terry Reid, the Castells' Chuck Girard, Bobby Hart, the Pretty Things' Viv Prince, the Crickets' Sonny Curtis, the Yardbirds' Chris Dreja, the Flamingos' Terry Johnson, the Moody Blues' John Lodge, KISS' Ace Frehley, the Champs' Dave Burgess, Soft Cell's David Ball, Jimmy Cliff, Booker T. And The M.G.s' Steve Cropper, the Four Lads' Bernie Toorish, Carl Carlton, Jethro Tull's Mick Abrahams, and Teenage Head's Jack Pedler.

Nonetheless, with so much promise demonstrated among the up and coming artists, there is indeed much reason to be optimistic about new music. In tandem with Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People's fiftieth anniversary, we hereby salute the following artists for their extraordinary contributions to the world of music in 2025.

BEST NEW SINGLES:

1). COVER GIRL - LAUFEY (AWAL)

2). Undressed / Back To Friends- Sombr (Warner)

3). Manchild - Sabrina Carpenter (Island)

4). The Big Goodbye - AJR (AJR Productions)

5). The Subway / The Giver - Chappell Roan (Island)

6). Anxiety - Doechii (Top Dawg / Capitol)

7). Love Me Not - Ravyn Lenae (Atlantic)

8). Sapphire - Ed Sheeran Featuring Anjit Singh (Gingerbread Man)

9). Love Me To Heaven - The Jonas Brothers (Republic)

10). Sally - Role Model (Interscope)

11). I Love You, I'm Sorry - Gracie Abrams (Interscope)

12). Everyday / I'm Gonna Look - Cinecyde (Tremor)

13). Azizam / Crashing - Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)

14). Mystical Magical - Benson Boone (Night Street)

15). What I Want - Morgan Wallen And Tate McRae (Big Loud)

16). Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else - Benson Boone (Night Street)

17). The Fate Of Ophelia - Taylor Swift (Republic)

18). Bloodline - Alex Warren And Jelly Roll (Atlantic)

19). Abracadabra - Lady Gaga (Interscope)

20). No Time To Talk - The Jonas Brothers (Republic)

21). Gabriela - Katseye (Geffen)

22). Toxic Till The End - Rose' (Atlantic)

23). Tears - Sabrina Carpenter (Island)

24). Nice To Meet You - Myles Smith (RCA / Sony Music)

25). Cranberry - Conan Gray (Republic)

26). Ordinary - Alex Warren (Atlantic)

27). Where Is My Husband - Raye (Human Re Sources)

28). Golden - Hunter X (Republic)

29). Praise Your Name - Talia Dean Featuring Brian May (brianmay.com)

30). Jump - Blackpink (YG Entertainment)

31). Still Don't Care - Meghan Trainor (Epic)

BEST NEW ALBUMS:

1). LOOK UP - RINGO STARR (LOST HIGHWAY)

2). Flying High - Jeremy Morris (JAM)

3). One Hour Mama - Maria Muldaur (Nola Blue)

4). A Matter Of Time - Laufey (AWAL)

5). Play - Ed Sheeran (Atlantic)

6). The Life Of A Showgirl - Taylor Swift (Republic)

7). Man's Best Friend - Sabrina Carpenter (Island)

8). Live From Radio City Music Hall - Gracie Abrams (Interscope)

9). Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow - The Sorrows (Big Stir)

10). You'll Be Alright, Kid - Alex Warren (Atlantic)

11). What No One's Thinking - AJR (AJR Productions)

12). The Teenage Songs - Brian Gari (Original Cast)

13). American Heart - Benson Boone (Warner)

14). A Night At The Symphony - Laufey And The Los Angeles Philharmonic (AWAL)

15). I Barely Know Her - Sombr (Warner)

16). Long After The Fire - John Cowsill And Vicki Peterson (Label 51)

17). Opener Of Eyes - Jeremy Morris (JAM)

18). Visions In The Bowling Alley - The Jack Rubies (Big Stir)

19). I'm The Problem - Morgan Wallen (Big Loud)

20). The Big Stir Records Hit Machine - Various Artists (Big Stir)

21). Greetings From Your Hometown - The Jonas Brothers (Republic)

22). Light It Up - Long Tall Deb And Colin John (Vizztone)

23). Who Believes In Angels? - Elton John And Brandi Carlisle (Rocket)

24). Keep On Pushing - Kirk Fletcher (Vizztone)

25). Mood Elevator - The Gold Needles (Big Stir)

BEST REISSUE / ANTHOLOGY ALBUMS:

1). PISCES, AQUARIUS, CAPRICORN AND JONES LIMITED (DELUXE EDITIONS) - THE MONKEES (RHINO)

2). Motor City Is Burning 1965-1972 - Various Artists (Grapefruit / Strawberry)

3). The Axis: Bold As Love Sessions - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Legacy)

4). The Cocaine Drain Album - The Cowsills (Omnivore)

5). Make It Easy On Yourself: The Scepter Recordings - Dionne Warwick (Soulmusic)

6). Live Houston Music Theatre '67 - The Thirteenth Floor Elevators 

(International Artists)

7). Get Ready For The Countdown - Various Artists (Esoteric)

8). Strange Days 1967: A Work In Progress - The Doors (Elektra / Rhino)

9). Can't Stop It: Australian Post Punk - Various Artists (Chapter Music)

10). Mingus At Monterey - Charles Mingus (Candid)

11). Live At The Rainbow, London 1972 - Yes (Rhino)

12). Crashing Dream - The Rain Parade (Label 51)

13). Ready Set Go! - David Bowie (Iso)

14). A Box Of Scaffold - The Scaffold (Grapefruit / Strawberry)

15). The Return Of Captain Speed - Turquoise (Gear Fab)

16). Loco Live - The Ramones (Sire / Rhino)

17). Junk - Blue Cheer (Flatiron)

18). Kaleidoscope - Kaleidoscope (Gear Fab)

19). Live At The Plugged Nickel December 23, 1965 Second Set - 

Miles Davis (Columbia)

20). Songs From The Rocks - Roger Maglio (Gear Fab)

BEST NETWORK TELEVISON SERIES

(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Dancing With The Stars (ABC)

DMV (CBS)

Family Feud Canada (CBC)

Georgie And Mandy's First Marriage (CBS)

High Potential (ABC)

Law And Order (NBC)

Lopez Versus Lopez (NBC) *

Name That Tune (Fox)

North Of North (CBC)

Shifting Gears (ABC)

Son Of A Critch (CBC)

The Conners (ABC) *

The Neighborhood (CBS)

The Rookie (ABC)

The 700 Club (CBN)

22 Minutes (CBC)

Under The Radar Michigan (PBS)

When Calls The Heart (Hallmark)

Wild Cards (CBC)

* Indicates a series that completed its run in 2025.