BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
Columbia Records 2006
www.brucespringsteen.net

What’s the 4-1-1?
The Boss recorded “We Shall Overcome” for a tribute album to folk artist Pete Seeger back in 1997. Springsteen was so impressed with the depth and influence of Seeger’s music that he decided to release a tribute album of his own. This is a live recording that was cut in three one day sessions. Bruce assembled a backing band that rekindled the sound of Seeger.

Genre
Folk rock

The Good
The extent of my folk rock knowledge really doesn’t go beyond the Peter, Paul, and Mary PBS specials my parents made me watch as a kid. I really haven’t followed Springsteen since the early nineties either. Somehow the combination of the two really works well together. As with most folk music, the songs are like mini stories. The story of “Old Dan Tucker” is told with emphasis on banjo and horns. Bruce’s gravely voice is perfect for this style of music. Everybody kicks in on the upbeat sing-along chorus. The fate of “Jesse James” doesn’t turn out so well, but Springsteen makes for a great storyteller, backed up by accordion and defining percussion.

“Mrs. McGrath” runs along the lines of Irish folk music, and focuses on the life of a sailor’s wife (another folk staple). “O Mary Don’t You Weep” is accented by violin and its catchy chorus. There’s just something about the hook of “My Oklahoma Home” that draws you in, despite its sad lyrics. “Shenandoah” has hints of gospel to it, but still keeps its folk sound. “Pay Me My Money Down” will have your feet tapping and hands clapping. I had no idea that Seeger was behind “We Shall Overcome.” The song is just as powerful with today’s social issues, as I imagine it was when it first came out. Springsteen caps his session off with “Froggie Went a Courtin’”, a song that I’m ashamed to say I recognize from Saturday morning cartoons.

The Bad
Nothing

I thought I was going to be turned off by something like this, but I was pleasantly surprised. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re a fan of a particular style of music, when something’s good, you know it. The Seeger Sessions isn’t just good, it’s great. The thing about Springsteen is, he’s at a point in his career where he can do anything he wants, and he has been for some time. It really doesn’t matter what he does, because the outcome is always of high quality and fine musicianship.

Did You Know?
The three one day sessions were cut in 1997, 2005, and 2006.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne