Being a Springsteen fan for the last 30 years, I can say it has been interesting to watch him grow from skinny kid from Freehold, NJ, into the 50 something guy I just saw in concert earlier this week. (Wow! Whatta show!!)
He's doing a tour playing all folk songs from his new cd 'We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions'. It was recorded in 3 one day sessions, one in 1997, 2005, and 2006.
I have to admit, when I learned it was 'folk songs', my first thought was 60's protest music. Boy, was I wrong! I was guilty of pidgeon-holing folk music into one specific time period. When in fact, the cd covers songs that span nearly 200 years, with one song's origins being traced back to the 1500s.
The show was one of the best I've ever seen. There were roughly 17-18 people on stage. Accordian, mandolin, guitars, washboard, banjo, trumpet, tuba, trombone, sax, drums, upright bass, 3 backup singers, and more. It was a full, rich sound, and a really, really entertaining show. The average age on stage was probably 45, so you know these guys and gals weren't up ther for 'image'. They could PLAY. 2 1/2 hours of raucous fun. A carnival ride, I'm telling you.
That being said, I thought about it how Springsteen is now at a point in his career where he can play what he wants, you know? He's doing folk music. And what is folk music? Music by folks, about folks, right? So, in essence, Springsteen has been writing folk music all his career. Take any one of his first 5-6 albums, and they're all songs about little snippets of life in his little corner of the world, New Jersey.
"The amusement park rises bold and stark,
Kids are huddle on the beach in the mist"
Just that line right there paints a vivid picture, doesn't it?
"The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays"
Another strong piece of picture painting. Springsteen is very good at capturing specific moments.
Anyway, I own all his stuff, and I'll try to pick a little from each phase of his career.
1. It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City
2. Rosalita
3. Growin' Up
4. The River
5. Jungle Land
6. Downbound Train
7. One Step Up
8. Bobbie Jean
9. Atlantic City
10. Johnny 99
There are plenty more, but I am in a rush to get out the door. I'll give a more in detail list later
__________________
Be strong then, and enter into your own body;
there you have a solid place for your feet. ~ Kabir
|