No shortage of Bruce love ever, really. Recently, Jesse Malin and Arcade Fire wrangled the Boss for cameos. But even when Springsteen’s not in promo-mode, we always seem to be listening to his music.
April had that all-star live tribute and Ted Leo gave us a rockin’ “Dancing In The Dark” at the Callum Robbins Benefit Show in January. With Magic in the air, though, this fall’s brought a slew of new covers. That’s not counting all the “Thunder Road”‘s in karaoke bars across the world.
Springsteen loomin’ large…
Bettye LaVette simmered “Streets Of Philadelphia,” while David Gray does something else with the City of Brotherly Love. Also in contrast/compare mode: Bat For Lashes and Chromatics differently sweltering “I’m On Fire”‘s. Here, Josh Ritter creeks through his own lonesome “The River,” recording live 9/12 in Berlin.
Because we love symmetry, seems it’s about time someone doubles up on that one! What’d we miss? What’s your favorite recent Springsteen homage? Anyone see him at MSG last night? Tonight?
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Still waiting for a recording of The Hold Steady’s take on “Atlantic City” to surface.
you can add to that list: sexton blake “hungry heart”
I like Stars’ “Hungry Heart” too
Elvis Costello does Brilliant Disguise!
http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/2007/10/guest-post-chris-from-north-carolina.html
I saw Sting sing the first part of the River one time (the Amnesty show in Philly in ’88) and always thought he should have recorded that: his voice was a perfect fit. Shame he never did.
Good Bruce covers are tough because the man does ‘em right the first time. That said, I 2nd the Elvis recommendation because Elvis knows what he’s doing.
badly drawn boy does an above average thunder road.
@ The Dude
Good call –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDjQRgoOcpk
The Veils do a pretty awesome version of State trooper.
I love Bonnie Prince Billy and Tortoise’s take on Thunder Road.
Uncut magazine had two free CDs of Springsteen covers back when The Rising came out. Best ones I’ve heard are The Band’s Atlantic City off Jericho and Townes Van Zandt’s Racing In The Street from Road Songs. Costello and Badly Drawn Boy’s covers were awful. The National do an amazing Mansion On The Hill which i think is the b-side to the new single. The vid is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI4uX4ltX80
I saw Josh Ritter do The River in London without a microphone or amplification. It was nothing short of stunning.
Steve Earle tagged a live cover of “State Trooper” onto to the re-mastered edition of his debut album “Guitar Town.” Pretty great. Allegedly Hank Williams III has a decent cover of “Atlantic City” but I’ve never heard it. I don’t even like when Bruce strays from the “Nebraska” version of that song. I’ll be damned if I want to hear anyone else monkeying with it.
The Hank III version of “Atlantic City” is on Badlands, an all cover version of Nebraska. I don’t like it that much, but I’m picky about my Springsteen covers. My favorite cover of “Atlantic City” was done by the Reivers, about 20 years ago. It’s the only electric version I’ve heard that sounds desperate enough.
His own ‘Unplugged’ version is my fave.
Marissa Nadler did a sweet rendition of “I’m On Fire” in Chicago this summer.
Ted Leo’s “Dancing in the Dark” is always great. Teagan and Sara have been doing it lately too. Someone was nice enough to post this live version of “Rosalita”, prominently featuring Craig Finn a while back http://trousermouse.blogspot.com/2007/04/hold-steady-play-bruce-springsteen.html). Wish there was a soundboard version somewhere…
Assembly Now has a great cover “Dancing in the Dark”
Assembly Now has a great cover of “Dancing in the Dark”
I wanna hear the Bat for Lashes cover! What song do they do? “I’m On Fire”? Tegan and Sara have a really cute acoustic version of “Dancing In The Dark” – find it!
Ooooops! Someone already posted that Tegan and Sara have a cover of Dancing In The Dark…but they have been doing it for quite a while now
I know this will suprise absolutely no one, but Pete Yorn recorded a slow acoustic cover of “Dancing in the Dark” that isn’t too shabby. That big headed, big haired dork.
Andi Camp & We’re From Japan did an awesome version of “I’m On Fire”.
Yeah, does anyone anywhere have a recording of The Hold Steady doing Atlantic City? I’ve been searching way too long.
Two great covers — Patty Griffin does “Stolen Car” on “1000 Kisses”. I’ve heard her perform an excellent version of “Racing in the Street” as well. Also, Solomon Burke does a rousing send up of “Ain’t Got You” on his “Nashville” CD.
Paul Baribeau has an entire album devoted to Springsteen covers. It’s great. Bobby Jean and Darkness on the Edge of Town are the standouts, in my opinion, but the entire album is great. The album’s called Darkness on the Edge of Your Town. Check it out.
Maria McKee does a killer “Backstreets” on her live album. (And it’s not easy to pull off Springsteen AND Richard Thompson on the same record!)
Jose Gonzalez’s band, Junip do a top notch cover of The Ghost of Tom Joad that is well worth checking out.
Agreed with the person above… I’m a huge Springsteen fan and Junip’s cover of The Ghost of Tom Joad is the only one that’s literally given me chills.
Thanks for the Josh Ritter one though. When I saw him live he played Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel” which was brilliant. But he better play Springsteen next time!
what album is springstteens chelsea hotel on?
what cd is springsteen’s chelsea hotel on?
A spectacular new book called For You is one of the best Bruce Springsteen books ever published. What’s real special about this is that it’s all about Bruce and his fans. The book is a collection of recollections from fans about Bruce from the early 1970s to present. This marvelous collection of hundreds of fan tales, testimonials and memories also features tons of fan photographs of Bruce and the E Street Band over the years. Many of these photographs have never been published.
It’s the photos that really impressed me. So many great shots of Bruce over the years, from his Steel Mill days in 1970 to even the Magic Tour. Only 2,000 copies of the book were printed. The stories by fans really capture how Bruce Springsteen and his music has touched our lives over the past 30-plus years.This is a ‘must have’ for any Springsteen fan.