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Flying Colors is an American supergroup formed in 2012, renowned for blending progressive rock, hard rock, and pop in their music. The band consists of a lineup of seasoned musicians: guitarist Steve Morse from Deep Purple and Dixie Dregs, drummer Mike Portnoy, formerly of Dream Theater, bassist Dave LaRue of Dixie Dregs, keyboardist and vocalist Neal Morse from Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic, and lead vocalist Casey McPherson of Alpha Rev. They debuted with their self-titled album in 2012, which was well-received for its innovative fusion of complex musicianship and accessible songwriting. Over the years, Flying Colors has released several studio albums, including “Second Nature” in 2014 and “Third Degree” in 2019, and live albums like “Live in Europe” and “Second Flight: Live at the Z7,” all showcasing their unique blend of genres and the members’ individual expertise, solidifying their status in the progressive rock community.
FLYING COLORS STUDIO ALBUMS
Flying Colors
Released 2012
Flying Colors marked the debut of the supergroup of the same name, a remarkable assembly of seasoned musicians from various rock backgrounds. The album was a blend of progressive rock, hard rock, and pop, noted for its virtuosic musicianship and accessible songwriting. The group consisted of guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs), drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Adrenaline Mob), bassist Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, Joe Satriani), keyboardist/vocalist Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic), and vocalist Casey McPherson (Alpha Rev, The Sea Within).
Flying Colors was produced by Peter Collins, known for his work with Rush and Queensrÿche. The album was recorded at Studio Morse in Nashville, Tennessee, in early 2011. It was released through Mascot Label Group and made a significant impact on the Billboard charts, showcasing the band’s ability to weave complex arrangements with catchy melodies.
CD Track Listings:
- “Blue Ocean” – 7:05
- “Shoulda Coulda Woulda” – 4:32
- “Kayla” – 5:20
- “The Storm” – 4:53
- “Forever in a Daze” – 3:56
- “Love is What I’m Waiting For” – 3:36
- “Everything Changes” – 6:55
- “Better Than Walking Away” – 4:57
- “All Falls Down” – 3:22
- “Fool in My Heart” – 3:48
- “Infinite Fire” – 12:02
Second Nature
Released 2014
Second Nature was the eagerly anticipated follow-up to Flying Colors’ debut album. Released two years later, it continued to showcase the supergroup’s fusion of progressive rock and accessible pop. Like its predecessor, the band members were Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, and Casey McPherson. The album was produced by the band members themselves, with mixing handled by the legendary Rich Mouser. Second Nature was recorded at various locations, including Neal Morse’s studio and Portnoy’s home studio, between late 2013 and early 2014. Check out the killer opening track, “Open Up Your Eyes.” It will blow your mind. We included the video below. The albums closer is also simply stunning.
CD Track Listings:
- “Open Up Your Eyes” – 12:24
- “Mask Machine” – 6:06
- “Bombs Away” – 5:03
- “The Fury of My Love” – 5:10
- “A Place in Your World” – 6:25
- “Lost Without You” – 4:46
- “One Love Forever” – 7:17
- “Peaceful Harbor” – 7:01
- “Cosmic Symphony” – 11:46
- I. “Still Life of the World”
- II. “Searching for the Air”
- III. “Pound for Pound”
Third Degree
Released 2019
Third Degree, the third studio album from Flying Colors, continued the band’s journey through a blend of progressive rock and melodic songcraft. The lineup remained consistent with Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, and Casey McPherson. The album was produced by the band alongside Rich Mouser. It was recorded at various studios, including Morse’s and Portnoy’s home studios, over the span of 2018 and early 2019. Third Degree garnered critical acclaim and charted well, reflecting the band’s growing fanbase and its members’ prowess in their respective instruments.
CD Track Listings:
- “The Loss Inside” – 5:51
- “More” – 7:10
- “Cadence” – 7:40
- “Guardian” – 7:11
- “Last Train Home” – 10:32
- “Geronimo” – 5:20
- “You Are Not Alone” – 6:21
- “Love Letter” – 5:10
- “Crawl” – 11:14
FLYING COLORS LIVE ALBUMS
Live in Europe
Released: October 15, 2013
Live in Europe captures the dynamic performance of Flying Colors on their 2012 European tour. The album features the band performing songs from their self-titled debut album and other unique compositions. The lineup for this live album was Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, and Casey McPherson. Live in Europe was released by Mascot Label Group and was available in various formats, including vinyl, CD, and digital download. The album achieved notable chart positions, reaching number 71 in the United States, and had significant chart impacts in other countries as well.
CD Track Listings:
- “Blue Ocean”
- “Shoulda Coulda Woulda”
- “Love Is What I’m Waiting For”
- “Can’t Find a Way” (Endochine/C. McPherson)
- “The Storm”
- “Odyssey” (Dixie Dregs cover)
- “Forever in a Daze”
- “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen cover)
- “Better Than Walking Away”
- “Kayla”
- “Fool in My Heart”
- “Spur of the Moment”
- “Repentance” (Dream Theater cover)
- “June” (Spock’s Beard cover)
- “All Falls Down”
- “Everything Changes”
- “Infinite Fire”
Second Flight: Live at the Z7
Released: November 13, 2015
Second Flight: Live at the Z7 is another stellar live recording from Flying Colors, capturing their performance at the Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland. The live album includes tracks from their first two studio albums, Flying Colors and Second Nature, showcasing the band’s evolution and live prowess. The same lineup featuring Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, and Casey McPherson performed on this album. Released by Music Theories, the album was available in a double CD/Blu-ray format.
CD Track Listings:
- “Overture”
- “Open Up Your Eyes”
- “Bombs Away”
- “Kayla”
- “Shoulda Coulda Woulda”
- “The Fury of My Love”
- “A Place in Your World”
- “Forever in a Daze”
- “One Love Forever”
- “Colder Months”
- “Peaceful Harbor”
- “The Storm”
- “Cosmic Symphony”
- “Mask Machine”
- “Infinite Fire”
Third Stage: Live in London
Released: September 18, 2020
Third Stage: Live in London documents Flying Colors’ performance at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, part of their 2019 tour promoting their album Third Degree. This live album highlights the band’s exceptional live energy and musicianship, featuring songs from their entire discography.
The band’s lineup for this recording included Steve Morse, Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, and Casey McPherson. Released by Music Theories, the album not only showcases the band’s studio albums in a live setting but also includes extended jams and solo performances. This release, as part of the “Morsefest 2019,” was well-received by fans and critics alike, further cementing Flying Colors as a formidable force in the progressive rock scene.
CD Track Listings:
- “Blue Ocean”
- “A Place in Your World”
- “The Loss Inside”
- “More”
- “Kayla”
- “Geronimo”
- “You Are Not Alone”
- “Forever in a Daze”
- “Love Letter”
- “Peaceful Harbor”
- “Crawl”
- “Infinite Fire”
- “Cosmic Symphony”
- “The Storm”
- “Mask Machine”
Complete List Of Flying Colors Albums And Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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