Customer Reviews

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (American Land Edition) (CD/DVD)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions is the first album Bruce Springsteen has released where he did not write a single song. The album consists of songs sung by the legendary folk artist Pete Seeger. The album differs from Mr. Springsteen's other forays into folk music as it is not an acoustic affair. Backed by a seventeen piece band, the album has a rollicking, spirit raising, old time vibe. Mr. Springsteen seems invigorated by working with a new band and he really lets loose. Vocally, he hasn't sounded this energetic on an album since Born In The USA. One would think that by covering songs by Mr. Seeger, that this would be an overtly political record. While there are political overtones that explore war, poverty & strife, the music is so joyous and uplifting that the heavy subjects don't bog the feeling down. "Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep" is straight out of New Orleans with a dixeland sound. "Pay Me My Money Down" is a shuffling old sea shanty. "Old Dan Tucker" is a roaring folk rocker. "Jesse James" is an outlaw ballad that rolls along while "Froggie' Went a Courtin'" is a six string slappin' rave up. "Mrs. McGrath" is most political of the songs about a mother whose son loses his legs in a war. Mr. Springsteen updates the lyrics to reflect current times, but the message is powerful either way. We Shall Overcome is a perfect blend of what Mr. Springsteen does best and harkens back to his glory days. It mixes up poignant lyrics and tales of the working man with an uplifting spirit and a wall of sound production. The new American Land edition adds five songs. Two, "Buffalo Gals" and "How Can I Keep From Singing" were included on the DVD side of the original release. The three new songs are all first rate and add a more overt political bent to the album. "Bring 'Em Home" rings true about the Iraq war, "American Land" sounds like something that could have been on Nebraska and "How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live" is a tremendous song.

First off, have to admit that I am a solid Bruce fan. First saw him in the late 70's and have seen him in every decade since. Have every album from his first one to this one, and have enjoyed all of them. So having made that clear, let me say that I really enjoyed this set. The music is fun and it seems like Springsteen is having a good time with this. It is a departure for him as it is the first album he has done that consists of songs from other musicians. This version has extra songs on it and a wonderful DVD that has a nice documentary on the making on the album and four terrific live performances. A couple of highlights from the album include "Pay Me My Money Down" and "American Land." Take a listen to this album and, long time fan or not, this is one to enjoy for everyone. The DVD and the extra songs on the CD make this a terrific buy. There are classic American songs on this album sung by a classic American singer. Really a strong performance.

I had no idea that this would turn out to be one of the most listened music cds in my collection. I have over 5000 33rpm, 1000 78rpm and hundreds of CDs. My wife and I think this recording is an incredible musical experience in folk, ethnic, bluegrass, and New Orleans Jazz. Bruce Springsteen has found one of the best bands I have ever heard in any music style mixing ethnic, New Orleans Jazz, folk country, bluegrass, as well as just plain great music. I can't say one song is disappointing and must say that it's hard to pick a favorite though Mrs McGrath seems to go through my head as well as Eyes on The Prize, and Froggie. Can't rate this CD any higher in my humble opinion.

My family just loves this CD/DVD. My son was amazed to see how songs are sung, and how Bruce can just say "give me some of this" and make up the opening to the song with sounds from his mouth, then have another musician play it on his instrument. Very talented people. We love folk music and this is a great collection of songs. My son is practicing "John Henry" for his American Idol audition!!!!! My wife loves it because you don't have to worry about the content (cursing, killing people, etc.). It is just good old music, a happy CD.

Why couldn't these extra songs have been made available for purchase on Springsteen's official website, where one could download them onto their computer through iTunes or any other system of the like? Springsteen and his team would still be able to receive their royalties and such, while fans would not have to put-out $20 for 14 tracks that they already own from the original We Shall Overcome album. And should anyone incorrectly believe my idea to be "revolutionary", I should point out that many musicians/bands are already doing this and have been doing this for the past few years or so.

In short, I love the bonus material hands-down, but I also feel that Springsteen's label, Columbia Records, could have approached this in a way that wouldn't cost as much money for his fans.

If re-issues are going to happen, I guess this is as good of a re-issue as I could expect. I really like the live cuts from the tour on the dvd. Also, the added songs are wonderful. I don't know why people carp about this, as they don't have to buy it. There is no reason to get on to Springsteen for giving his fans what they ask for, which is why this was put together. As for the complaint that Springsteen used non-Seeger songs so he wouldn't have to pay royalties, that is silly. He doesn't get any more money by using traditional songs than if he had used Seeger songs. Seeger isn't going to need the money anyway. What Bruce did was select songs that adequately express the sentiment in our country during these troubling times. It's another political statement, and if you don't Springsteen making political statements, don't buy his music; it's that simple. Frankly, I'm glad that somebody has enough guts to speak up and do it in a creative way.

I also bought the re-issue of Neil Young's Living With War and Bob Dylan's Modern Times. I found the Springsteen re-issue to be a far better spendage of my money. At least I got new stuff with Springsteen's re-issue. The Dylan re-issue comes with videos from as far back as ten years, and only four at that. Talk to me about rip-off. The American Land Edition is now my standard edition of the Seeger Sessions. I can just give the other copy to someone who might appreciate it.

The Seeger Sessions is clearly a work that has taken time, contemplation and connection to the past to produce. Springsteen has shown that he is an artist who will dip his cup into the well and find tresures to share with us all. His recent journey into the music of Pete Seeger is such an opportunity. This music seemingly connected with him when he was learning to play his first three chords to make a song; it connected again through his long and diverse career when he began as the E Street front man (think of The River, Wreck on the Highway, Factory); it leapt out and called loudly in Nebraska; and more recently in Ghost of Tom Joad and Devils and Dust. Springsteen looks to me like an artist that travels far and wide, near and dear, wherever he connects, to find the music that he wants to share with us all. I just love this recent part of his musical journey for many reasons that I can talk about and a whole bunch more that I can simply feel.

The tracks on this CD take us into a time when music was a political weapon; a time when Seeger's friend Woody Guthrie proclaimed his guitar killed fascists. It was a time when talking and singing about life and its tough breaks was as natural and easy as breathing in and out in 4 / 4 time. Springsteen has brought a lyrical interpretation to those tales of the past which brings them fair and square into today. His message is of things we need to know about today and about things that have been important and unresolved for many years; war, hard work with no let up, the search for grace, the joy of a great tale and the pleasure of a G chord in front of a great band.

As I sit writing this I wonder which musical well Springsteen is drinking at today; as he quietly plans and develops his next artistic expression of life in music. I reckon it will be maybe Elvis' music from the 1950's or maybe Hank Williams strident laments. Or maybe something else entirely. Either way I am enjoying this work and am looking forward to the next place he wants to take us.

Why pony-up for a second edition of an album released a mere six months ago? Well, for one thing it includes a slew of bonus tracks, all worth shelling out another ten bucks for. But the stand out is "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such times and Live?," a 1920s blues song about the depression by "Blind" Alfred Reid that Bruce remolded the last few verses to fit the plight of New Orleans. He posted this song on his website shortly after the original release of this album and it became a big request for fans to get their hands on as well as the centerpiece of his live shows on this tour. And for good reason. The song is absolutely brilliant - in sound and lyrics. It fits perfectly amongst the folk standards on this disc but could also stand alone as a classic rock/blues single on a "normal" Springsteen disc. You can almost hear the E Street Band pumping this one out live. Ditto the still fresh and invigorating tracks like "O Mary Don't You Weep" that were on the original release.

There is also a DVD that includes the bonus content that was on the flip side of the original album's "DuelDisc," plus bonus live performances from the tour this summer. This is merely a sampling of the whale of a show that these concerts were, but as such they do a terrific job of capturing some of the energy. Truth be told though, there were so many other great versions of Springsteen classics and other blues covers (like a phenomenal "Rag Mama Rag") performed throughout the tour that these bonus performances really make the viewer wish Columbia would have just forgone the re-release of this album and just done a live disc and/or DVD. Any of you who were skeptical that this would be a downer of a show or some corny hoedown sorely missed out. The show I was lucky enough to attend was a huge party and rocked as much as the average E Street show. Springsteen put more energy into this performance than anyone could have expected, even by his high performance standards. He knew what his fans would want and he did not use this different type of music as an excuse to slouch. Hopefully Columbia will release something indicative of those shows down the line. Although, I thought his intimate shows for "Devils and Dust" were brilliant in showcasing the Boss' playing chops and strong vocals, but there has yet to be any sort of Springsteen acoustic collection ("D&D" was actually his second acoustic tour following a similar stint in the mid-90s) collection so I won't hold my breath for Columbia to release any of his more experimental music endeavors.

And finally, as many have begged for, this version does away with the "DuelDisc" format. Many of has had no bad luck with them, but look at the reviews for the first release and you'll see that a ton of people did. So here you get the music plus bonus tracks on a normal CD and all the DVD content of the DuelDisc plus the new live performances. So whether you hated the DuelDisc or just want the new content or both you simply can't go wrong here.

There will be some of you who will write posts here saying things like "oh, they are just gouging us for money," or "why release this again," etc. Remember, just because it's on store shelves and is out there for those so inclined to double up or feel the performances and new tracks are worth the money, does not mean you have to purchase it. It's only a rip off to you if you buy it, otherwise its just there. And those that choose to pick it up won't be disappointed.

okay, okay, okay. i was very mad to see such a crass move on bruce's part: releasing the same album he released last year with 5 additional tracks so that the hardcore fan would have to buy the album AGAIN if he wanted a definitive copy, i.e. the five extra tracks. absolutely no doubt: these five extra tracks should have been released as an EP. that would have been the sensible and decent thing to do for fans. well, that was not the path taken, and as a longtime fan of bruce, i am mad. first the terrible idea of the dual disc format (these discs do NOT play on all cd players), now this. that said, the five extra tracks DO make this album an even better thing. the original release of this recording was my favorite album of 2006, and my favorite bruce album in over 20 years. mad and irritated as i am about the way these extra tracks were offered up, forcing me to buy material I had already paid for once before, i am oddly pleased all the same to have more of a good thing. twisted, right?

I have no problems with the release of this expanded edition, since the original dualdisc wouldn't play in my car cd player, and I have worked in recording studios and think that mp3s decrease the sound of the original mix.

The album itself is excellent. Innovative is the word that comes to mind. The acoustic thing has been done, but the use of the horns and organ, mixed with the rousing reworkings of the material, make this album a joy to listen too. It is different from what most artists are doing today. Instead of doing the whole bluegrass thing, which has been done a lot recently, Springsteen mixes the style of each track, incorperating them into "gutter music." The rawness of the takes create a ferocity that professional producers cannot achieve with countless takes and overdubs.