Only The Strong Survive – Bruce Springsteen
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Only the Strong Survive is Bruce Springsteen’s 21st studio album and second covers album, following 2006’s We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. The 15-song album was made during the COVID lockdown during “off hours” (Springsteen, co-producer Ron Aniello and engineer Rob Lebret called themselves “The Night Shift” due to their working hours). On the album, the 73-year-old Springsteen covers a selection of his favorite – many of them obscure – soul songs. Springsteen actually tossed out the first album he completed, and ended up with Only The Strong Survive, which is listed as Covers Vol. 1, giving the impression we’ll hear more songs at a later date.
Click on ‘Continue reading’ for:
- More of this review
- Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Beautiful Day by U2
Covers albums have been done by many artists, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Michael McDonald, and more recently by Switchfoot and Sandra McCracken. Overall, with some exceptions, Springsteen plays it pretty safe, not often moving out of his comfort zone, unlike the passion he has brought to some of the soul classics he has covered in concert over the years.
The musical track is mostly “paint by numbers”, courtesy of co-producer Ron Aniello who handles most instruments (keyboards, guitars, bass, and drums), allowing Springsteen’s voice to be out front and center. Aniello is assisted by the E Street Band horns, backing vocals from Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore, Curtis King Jr., Dennis Collins, and Fonzi Thornton, and string arrangements by Rob Mathes.
Springsteen seems to be having a great time with these songs, and the project serves as a tribute to some of his favorite songwriters. Although these are not the songs that I grew up enjoying (I was more a Beatles fan), the album is enjoyable, though it probably won’t be one that I revisit often.
The most surprising thing about the album is the actual song selection. You might have expected to see covers of songs by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, the Isley Brothers, Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye, but instead there are more obscure covers included.
Here is the track list for Only the Strong Survive:
Only the Strong Survive – This song was written by Leon Huff, Kenneth Gamble and Jerry Butler, and was recorded by Jerry Butler.
Soul Days – This song was written by Jonnie Barnet and was recorded by Dobie Gray. This version features Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave).
Nightshift – This song was written by Dennis Lambert, Franne Golde and Walter Orange. The song was recorded by the Commodores.
Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – This song was written and recorded by Frank Wilson. My favorite song on the album.
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore – This song was written by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe and recorded by the Walker Brothers.
Turn Back the Hands of Time – This song was written by Bonnie Thompson and Jack Danielz, and was recorded by Tyrone Davis.
When She Was My Girl – This song was written by Marc Blatte and Larry Gottlieb, and was recorded by the Four Tops.
Hey, Western Union Man – This song was written by Leon Huff, Kenneth Gamble and Jerry Butler, and was recorded by Jerry Butler.
I Wish It Would Rain – This song was written by Roger Penzabene, Barrett Strong and Normal Whitfield, and was recorded by the Temptations.
Don’t Play That Song – This song was written by Ahmet Ertequn and Betty Nelson and was recorded by Aretha Franklin.
Any Other Way – This song was written by William Bell and recorded by Jackie Shane.
I Forgot to Be Your Lover – This song was written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell and was recorded by William Bell. This version features Sam Moore.
7 Rooms of Gloom – This song was written by Holland-Dozier-Holland and was recorded by the Four Tops.
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted – This song was written by James Dean, Paul Riser and William Weatherspoon, and was recorded by Jimmy Ruffin.
Someday We’ll Be Together – This song was written by Harvey Fuqua, Jackey Beavers and Johnny Bristol and was recorded by Diana Ross and the Supremes.
Favorite Songs:
Only the Strong Survive
Soul Days
Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
Turn Back The Hands of Time
I Wish It Would Rain
Beautiful Day by U2
This week’s song of the week is “Beautiful Day” by U2 from their new album Songs of Surrender. The album is comprised of forty of the band’s previous songs reimagined, mostly acoustic with some new lyrics. Listen to the song here.
[Verse 1]
The heart is a bloom
It shoots up through the stony ground
There’s no room
No space to rent in this town
You’re out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you’re not moving anywhere
You thought you’d found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace
[Chorus]
It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
[Verse 2]
You’re on the road
But you’ve got no destination
You’re in the mud
In the maze of her imagination
You’re lovin’ this town
Even if that doesn’t ring true
You’ve been all over
And it’s been all over you
[Chorus]
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
It’s a beautiful day, yeah
[Refrain]
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I’m not a hopeless case
[Bridge]
I saw the world as your blue room
I saw the seven seas swallowing the moon
East of Finglas, North of Eden
Laughter is the evidence of freedom
I saw Adam asking Eve for a pardon
It wasn’t a woman who threw God out of the Garden
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out
[Chorus]
It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
[Refrain]
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I’m not a hopeless case
[Verse 3]
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
What you don’t know you can feel it somehow
What you don’t have you don’t need it now
Don’t need it now
[Chorus]
It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
[Outro]
Beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
