Customer Reviews

Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

37 songs featuring the likes of Nils Lofgren, Elvis Costello, Billy Bragg, Joe Ely and Joe Grushecky. and Springsteen was reportedly so impressed with Elliot Murpy's take on 'Better Days' that he asked him to jump onstage in Europe and perform it with the band. With a line-up like this how could this album be anything other than great? And yet like so many albums of this nature there is something lacking in the overall listening experience.

There are undeniably some great readings of Springsteen songs on this CD. Costello's 'Brilliant Disguise', Nil's take on 'Man at the Top', Joe Grushecky's bluesy reading of 'Light of Day' and Elliot Murphy's 'Better Days' are all heartfelt renditions of some of Springsteen's greatest songs. But there are too many on here that simply don't justify inclusion. Jason Ringenburg's 'My Hometown' and Kirk Kelly's 'Downbound Train' just left me feeling flat. Crazysloth's version of 'Candy's Room' starts off well but by following Springsteen's original arrangement they only highlight just what a potent force the E-Street band are in the studio; this new version simply lacks the punch and urgency of the original.

However, don't be put off by the high number of unknown artists appearing as it is from them some of the album's true highlights shine. Rosie Flores 'Lucky Town' is a joy to listen to and is a very nice soulful version of one of Bruce's more 'macho' numbers. Mark Wright's stipped-down take on 'Two Hearts' is also another hidden gem. By reworking the song and giving it a more acoustic reading he gives a delicacy to the lyric and a warmth to the song that is not present in Springsteen's original recording.

Overall i would recommend buying this album (royalties from all artists are being donated to research into parkinsons and also sarcoma) and there are some essential Springsteen covers to be found. A great single disc can be made of the tracks found here.

It's the people crying "blasphemy" who don't quite get it. Springsteen's lyrics (stories) are strong enough that they translate well into other genre's.

Of course they have a different attitude than they did as a rock tune, but folk, country & alternative are supposed to have a different attitude than rock. When listening to the folk & country versions of Springsteen songs, I hear words I never heard before, and the ones I had heard before take on a new level of meaning. It just goes to highlight exactly how strong a songwriter Springsteen is.

Actually, the least interesting tracks on this CD are by the folks who are, infact most like Springsteen in the style, people like Cafferty & Gruschecky; there you are forced into making comparisons.

In my opinion Springsteen's magic is the mood he captures in his stories. There were few songs on this cd that I felt did tribute to mood or story. Dan Bern's version of Thunder Road, Bullens on "If I should fall behind" and Patty Griffin's "Stolen car" which she has on her cd '1,000 kisses' are some of the ones that worked for me. Listen before buying is my advice.

I couldn't have written a better review than the last one, and I'm not going to try. So, I guess I'm just saying "me too". The only thing the I will add is that I believe the problem in general with tribute albums, is that the reason the artist is being honored is because his/her music is perfect the way it is, and you are always comparing the covers to the orignal, and they usually seem to fall short. I do particularly like the version of The River. I think it was done quite well.

October 28, 2003

Artist: Various

Title: Light of Day

I love Bruce Springsteen's music. As my brother-in-law once pointed out, "he writes about stuff that's happening in my life." The stature of a "great" songwriter is if the song can stand on it's own (sound good) when being performed by others. As noted drummer Gary Foster once said, "You can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a tribute album."

This latest double CD tribute album to Bruce Springsteen, Light of Day, is a marvelous example of how a tribute album can be interesting and entertaining. Producer Bob Benjamin doesn't clutter the album up with half-hearted (boring) renditions by superstar names like most tributes albums. Instead he mixes up known artists with lesser known but talented artists which give the performances space to breathe and allows the listener to hear the songs 'new again.' Elvis Costello's version of, Brilliant Disguises, is excellent: Pete Yorn captures the essence of, New York City Serenade, and maybe, just maybe, baby boomers will re-introduce themselves to Britain's finest pub rocker Graham Parker with his acoustic version of, Pink Cadillac. Dan Bern, (formerly of Georgia Satellites?), smacks a bona fide homerun with his version of my favorite Springsteen tune, Thunder Road.'

While I would rarely recommend a tribute record to anyone other than a hardcore fan and collector, in this case Benjamin has put together an album which even the most casual Springsteen fan will be able to enjoy.

As if making a good album isn't sufficient, Benjamin uses this project to raise monies for victims of Parkinson Disease; as well as, for a friend and former employee of Springsteen that was struck down by cancer. As with most things associated with Springsteen, this album smacks of integrity. Now if we could just keep him away from Michael Moore life would be worth living! LOL

Did any of the artists on this actually unserstand springsteens appeal? Most of the covers on this CD lack the passion, desperation, anger, bitterness and yet hope that Bruce delivers.
A few tracks, like Garland Jeffries cover of Philadelphia work, but must are disapointing

I will not bore you with hype and intellectual bantering - just run out you Springsteen fans and get this CD as soon as possible. It will show Bruce's writing and music in a new light, a new slant. It is worth the money just to hear BACK IN YOUR ARMS AGAIN by a great soul singer just the way I'm sure Bruce intended it and Peter Yorn's NYS will blow you away with its honesty and trueness to the original, Pete's liner notes tell it all and a great folkie rendition of Thunder Road plus Two Hearts by Mark Wright and Dion's voice will carry you through the day, and I could go on and on .....JUST BUY IT - pleeeeze. You will be blown away by this tribute to our "Boss" and his employees on this CD Tribute "Done good"!!!!!

This is the first Springsteen tribute album I've enjoyed. The only cover I didn't like was Jason Ringenberg's version of "My Hometown." His vocals made me feel like it was about vacationers leaving Martha's Vineyard on Labor Day weekend - definitely not a working class version. Other than that, it was great to hear different takes on some of Springsteen's work. I particularly enjoyed Mike Rimbaud's hopeful take on "Atlantic City." I'd recommend this album to Springsteen fans who enjoy hearing his songs performed across a number of genres.

I'm a huge Bruce fan and have owned almost all of his material. A few months ago I heard the Clarks (another terrific band) cover of the River on the local radio station. I loved it I looked around for weeks trying to find it in stores finally a friend told me that it was released on a Springsteen tribute I found it and bought it. I regretted it. Aside from the Clarks cover there is not a single other song worth buying on this tribute. I mean come on Elvis Costello singing Springsteen get real. I guess Springsteen is about the only one who can sing his material cause almost none of these artists can I advise you to buy the originals and stay far from this blasphemy.

I'm a fan of Bruce, but I've never cared for his voice, and I always thought he made some odd production choices. Someday, someone will produce an album of Springsteen songs that improve on the original. It would only take a little thought.

This mess demonstrates no thought whatsoever. Is there any reason anyone would be yearning to hear E Street Shuffle without the E Street Band and New York City Serenade without a the piano intro? Is there anyone who listened to Pink Cadillac and thought it would be great to have an acoustic version? A folkie version of Two Hearts? Did we really need to hear Elvis Costello put on a country twang?

What did they leave out? The Promised Land for the polka? A hip hop version of Mansion on the Hill?