Customer Reviews

Songs of Bruce Springsteen

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This set of Bruce Springsteen covers was released 7 years ago. It has some good moments, but nothing that absolutely highlights how great a songwriter Bruce Springsteen is. Most of the tracks are better done by Springsteen. The Smithereens' take on "Downbound Train" is a churning mix that expresses the Boss' urgency. Nils Lofgren played with Springsteen and does a good job on "Wreck on the Highway." The track has nice production values with little raindrop sounds and Nils' guitar that weeps at this ballad tempo. John Hiatt is usually a hoot and does a distinctive boogie version of "Johnny 99" that sounds great with the Hiatt vocal snarl. One of the best tracks is Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers on "Light of Day" with a burning guitar storm done @ trainwreck speed. I have a CD by Martin Zellar who tackles one of Springsteen's best songs, "Darkness on the Edge of Town." While Zellar moans with prissy vocals, it's only going to make you reach for Bruce's disc. Mrs. Fun/Tina & the B-Side Movement is one of two female versions of a Springsteen song with "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart." Unfortunately, despite some tasty piano by Connie Grauer, Janey clunks along like an old Buick spitting fumes into the station on an empty tank of gas. Marshall Crenshaw fares well with "All Or Nothin' At All" on a sweet pop rock track complete with handclap percussion. Classic rock singer Ben E. King does a soulful version of "Sandy" that never quite ignites. The percussion on Paul Cebar's "One Step Up" is nice, but the version is so bland that it'll have you reaching for Bruce's "Tunnel of Love." This is an interesting and well-intentioned homage to Bruce Springsteen. It pales in comparison to the original without offering substantial creative interpretation. While for the most avid fans, you'll find this enjoyable. However, in the end it's mostly forgettable. Taxi!

I've been listening to Bruce since he was on the cover of Newsweek, etc. And . . . this cd has creative, innovative covers that make the listener even more-aware of the original seminal lyrics. I love these reinterpretations, and I think, if you are any kind of a Bruce fan, you shouldn't let this cd escape you! Buy it! An easy five-stars! Great driving music--makes the miles fly by.

Search out the above 2 CD set. This looks like just the first CD of that set.

Well, another cover album of the boss. this one doesn't miss a thing.