I was hoping you would enjoy it more, being such a fan of soul. I wonder this - if he hadn't recorded this album, but he did the song at a concert you were attending, would you have enjoyed it just as live cover?
I think I would have absolutely loved it! Even if he had covered it as what we used to call a 'B' side, I think I would love it, but its just a whole album of soul covers aren't doing it for me. I think his voice is fine, the band are excellent, but if I want to listen to soul music, I would rather listen to the versions I have loved for years.
How much of this comes from the Springsteen diaphragm and how much the mixing desk.......who knows?
Punchline is, the sound is good.
I'm not a big soul guy, I recognise the vast majority of these songs, but could tell you little of their lineage.
It's a good, good album with an obviously high quality band in tow.
This would never work live in a stadium.
As Louisa (I think it was) said, it's made for a Vegas residency.
I think I'll have this blasting out in the car for a goodly period.
I think it's a self indulgent project, but he's entitled to be a bit self indulgent, and the end product us a great listen.
I don't know if I particularly want to hear the E Street Band belting out these at Murrayfield and Villa Park next summer, maybe one, max two, in the encore zone.
I agree with JF regarding how prolific the era since 2019 has been. What I love even more than each individual record is the diversity and the consistent high quality. What I hear... Fabulous, intense, and very emotional singing, a positive surprise. I didn't expect him to sound this good. The back vocals are also incredible. And the band... I can understand now why this isn't an E Street project, I think he knows very well how working with different musicians positively affects him. It creates musical surroundings in which he can reinvent and flourish. He needs that.In his 'ongoing conversation' with the fans, he has remained interesting, unpredictable, and exciting. That is everything in communication. Don't get me wrong, I'm not being dismissive, but I would rather have him dedicated to non-E Street projects in the future. Let's see where his inspiration takes him...If this is indeed just his magic trick, I'm delighted that he's pulling scarves, flowers, handkerchiefs, and not only rabbits out of his sleeve. I appreciate the variety. This record calls for Vegas residency. As much as I hate the idea, it would be a blast.
Since 2019, Springsteen's released three records, each quite different from the others.
Western Stars explored an unexpected new musical direction and boasts some of the best songs he's ever written. Letter To You was the only true return to the classic E Street sound since The River, a sentimental ode to the past, lost friends and immortality. Only The Strong Survive proves what we already knew from the live shows - Bruce can sing soul. In its traditionalist tribute to classic R&B, the record is also a return to the music he cut his teeth on with Steve and Southside - what became the Jersey Shore sound. Steve and Johnny have remained mostly faithful to this sound, but Bruce had a broader vision and his albums have only ever offered hints and reflections of the Jersey Shore sound. Ironic since he's the artist most associated with that sound, but he had his own style and it's what made him the superstar the other two Asbury Park legends never became. This is a great record and I hear many things on it, but mostly, oddly, I hear New Jersey.
For my money, 2019 through the present has been one of the finest periods in his career and a tremendous late-life masterstroke.
I agree with your opinion on Western Stars and Only The String Survive - they are both great in their different way. On the other hand Letter to You was a big disapointment. His first album with songs written in the period after the 2012 relesease of Wrecking Ball. 8 years of song writing to draw songs from and this was the best he could come up with? How many of the songs were actually written after 2012? 7-8? That would be one song per year good enough to make the album. And the barely handfull of songs that passed the bar are not even particulary good. To my ears Letter To You would have benefited from being recorded as a solo album with other musicians. The E Street Band is a great live band but they are not expert studio musicians. And for for songs like Last Man Standing - that need a lighter touch - I think there are too many of the playing at the same time.
My feeling is this album has the potential to become a commercially much bigger success than Letter to You. Rightly so, I think. I really like it and would rather had seen him take these songs and musicians on the road instead of yet an other stadium round with E Street Band.
I may not have liked his bragging about his voice in that promo video, but the man wasn't lying. He sounds fantastic on these tracks - whether he's crooning, moaning or soul shouting
I don't recall hearing the original version of this one. I was only familiar with the Billy Idol cover. This take is a far-cry from that one and I didn't realize until the third listen that it was the same song.
A friend who has been staying for a few days and is a huge soul fan absolutely loves both songs. She is seeing Bruce for the first time next year and is now more excited than she was.
So Aniello played every instrument, Bruce played none, and the band in the video is fake.
Good record, though.
Still waiting for my Amazon copy to arrive.
OK, so I've gone ahead and ordered the orange vinyl.
Don't judge......
@whispered secret That's interesting, I did wonder what a bona fide fan of the genre, and the original artists, would make of it.
Another good one!
Just come across this thanks to a post on BTX - "Nightshift" interpolated into "My City of Ruins" during the March 26th, 2012 show in Boston
10:29 -
A few listens in.
I have to say, his voice sounds great.
How much of this comes from the Springsteen diaphragm and how much the mixing desk.......who knows?
Punchline is, the sound is good.
I'm not a big soul guy, I recognise the vast majority of these songs, but could tell you little of their lineage.
It's a good, good album with an obviously high quality band in tow.
This would never work live in a stadium.
As Louisa (I think it was) said, it's made for a Vegas residency.
I think I'll have this blasting out in the car for a goodly period.
I think it's a self indulgent project, but he's entitled to be a bit self indulgent, and the end product us a great listen.
I don't know if I particularly want to hear the E Street Band belting out these at Murrayfield and Villa Park next summer, maybe one, max two, in the encore zone.
Oi'll give it foive.
l love his chuckles in Soul Days. 🥰
I agree with JF regarding how prolific the era since 2019 has been. What I love even more than each individual record is the diversity and the consistent high quality. What I hear... Fabulous, intense, and very emotional singing, a positive surprise. I didn't expect him to sound this good. The back vocals are also incredible. And the band... I can understand now why this isn't an E Street project, I think he knows very well how working with different musicians positively affects him. It creates musical surroundings in which he can reinvent and flourish. He needs that. In his 'ongoing conversation' with the fans, he has remained interesting, unpredictable, and exciting. That is everything in communication. Don't get me wrong, I'm not being dismissive, but I would rather have him dedicated to non-E Street projects in the future. Let's see where his inspiration takes him... If this is indeed just his magic trick, I'm delighted that he's pulling scarves, flowers, handkerchiefs, and not only rabbits out of his sleeve. I appreciate the variety. This record calls for Vegas residency. As much as I hate the idea, it would be a blast.
Since 2019, Springsteen's released three records, each quite different from the others.
Western Stars explored an unexpected new musical direction and boasts some of the best songs he's ever written. Letter To You was the only true return to the classic E Street sound since The River, a sentimental ode to the past, lost friends and immortality. Only The Strong Survive proves what we already knew from the live shows - Bruce can sing soul. In its traditionalist tribute to classic R&B, the record is also a return to the music he cut his teeth on with Steve and Southside - what became the Jersey Shore sound. Steve and Johnny have remained mostly faithful to this sound, but Bruce had a broader vision and his albums have only ever offered hints and reflections of the Jersey Shore sound. Ironic since he's the artist most associated with that sound, but he had his own style and it's what made him the superstar the other two Asbury Park legends never became. This is a great record and I hear many things on it, but mostly, oddly, I hear New Jersey.
For my money, 2019 through the present has been one of the finest periods in his career and a tremendous late-life masterstroke.
My feeling is this album has the potential to become a commercially much bigger success than Letter to You. Rightly so, I think. I really like it and would rather had seen him take these songs and musicians on the road instead of yet an other stadium round with E Street Band.
Does anyone know where on the internet I could find the album?
Hey, Western Union Man... How the times have changed... Now we say Hey, Google, send a text to Baby... 😊
Where?
I may not have liked his bragging about his voice in that promo video, but the man wasn't lying. He sounds fantastic on these tracks - whether he's crooning, moaning or soul shouting
Loving it so far. Serious Jukes vibes and the most Jersey shore sounding record he's ever released.
"I forgot to be your lover", OMG what a track.
Hearing it now. I get it. Wow.
I was wrong. It is wonderful.
A friend who has been staying for a few days and is a huge soul fan absolutely loves both songs. She is seeing Bruce for the first time next year and is now more excited than she was.