REVIEW: Various Artists, One Step Up Two Steps Back The
Songs of Bruce Springsteen
- Bob Gajarsky
The latest in a seemingly never-ending selection of tribute albums pays homage to the pride of the Jersey Shore, Bruce Springsteen.
Avoiding the simplistic trap of including only Bru-u-u-u-uce's hits, this collection actually bypasses many of the Boss' album tracks in favor of lesser known songs. The second disc of this 2 CD collection features ten (of 14) songs which never appeared on an official Springsteen album, as interpreted by a wide variety of global rock and roll artists. Disco diva Donna Summer pairs up with an all-star backing band (Bruce, Roy Bittan and most of Toto) on the electric "Protection" and a Knackified version of "Don't Look Back" (which nearly appeared on Get The Knack in 1979) are two lesser-known songs which stand out on disc two of this set. But the first disc is what makes this compilation stand head and shoulders above the crowd.
Back when Bruce's back jeans pocket was sprawled all across the magazines and "Born In The U.S.A." blared from every FM radio station, one cut was overlooked from that mega-successful album. Today, the Smithereens take "Downbound Train" and make it their own, turning an already-poignant cut and flavoring it in the same vein as their own "Blood And Roses". This standout selection will compel Smithereens fans to purchase One Step Up , yet it's far from the only reason to take a listen to this disc.
Folk-noir poet John Wesley Harding reinterprets "Jackson Cage" as if it were his own, Paul Cebar turns in a perfect Latin Boss impression on "One Step Up", and John Hiatt's wonderful version of "Johnny 99" begs to ask why Hiatt hasn't achieved a modicum of fame one-tenth that of Springsteen. Several of the Boss' band, including Nils Lofgren and Clarence Clemons, are the feature artists on various tracks. And, Springsteen favorite Joe Grushecky brings the house down on "Light Of Day", which could fit in perfectly with a Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman/E Street band album.
You don't have to be a Springsteen fan to like the album, but even his detractors will gain an appreciation for Bruce's songwriting skills on One Step Up Two Steps Back .
TRACK LISTING: Aram - Something In The Eight; Smithereens - Downbound Train; Kurt Neumann - Atlantic City; John Wesley Harding - Jackson Cage; Nils Lofgren - Wreck On The Highway; John Hiatt - Johnny 99; Dave Alvin - Seeds; Joe Grushecky - Light Of Day; Martin Zellar - Darkness On The Edge of Town; Janey Don't You Lose Heart - Mrs. Fun/Tina & The B-Side Movement; Marshall Crenshaw - All Or Nothin' At All; Syd Straw - Meeting Across The River; Ben E. King - 4th Of July Asbury Park; Paul Cebar - One Step Up; Knack - Don't Look Back; Donna Summer - Protection; Joe Cocker - Human Touch; Elliott Murphy - Stolen Car; David Bowie - It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City; Rocking Chairs - Restless Nights; Robbin Thompson - Guilty; Sonny Burgess - Tiger Rose; Gary U.S. Bonds - Love's On The Line; Clarence Clemons - Savin' Up; Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes - The Fever; Little Bob Story - Seaside Bar Song; Allan Clarke - If I Was The Priest; Richie Havens - Streets of Philadelphia
