Various Artists – Springsteen's Country CD

Various Artists – Springsteen's Country

Back in 2022 Ace Records released Ladies Sing The Boss. It’s a fantastic collection of songs that reveal not only the skill of Springsteen as a songwriter, but how those songs can be revitalised by being framed in a different musical setting. Over the last five decades Springsteen’s songwriting has intertwined with all forms of American roots music, including the broad sweep of genres represented on this album, from country to folk to Americana, bluegrass to rockabilly. But, the influence of these musical forms on Springsteen was not that obvious when he first appeared on the scene. This influence started to bear fruit on some of the songs written for his fourth LP, Darkness On The Edge Of Town released in 1978. Even the chord progressions were much simpler, more country. Then came ‘The River’ and ‘Wreck On The Highway’, both in 1980, which saw him interpolating lyrics from Hank Williams’ songs (a trick he repeated on ‘Mansion On A Hill’ and ‘Born In The USA’). By the time he got to Nebraska (1982), country music tropes were woven into the core of his writing and would connect to much of his catalogue thereafter. This compilation shows the lasting impact Springsteen has made on the country music community, but it’s not only his songs that cut through. There’s something in his persona that connects and he’s been almost elevated to the stuff of country legend. Blue-collar, hard-working, integrity, heart on his sleeve, the myth of Springsteen is just sometimes too good to be true.

Tracklist:
1. Johnny 99
2. Tougher Than the Rest
3. Atlantic City
4. All That Heaven Will Allow
5. Sad Eyes
6. One Step Up
7. The Price You Pay
8. If I Should Fall Behind
9. Fire
10. Tiger Rose
11. Ain't Got You
12. Stand On It
13. Reason To Believe
14. From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)
15. Darlington County
16. Girls In Their Summer Clothes
17. I'm On Fire
18. Racing In the Street
19. The Rising
20. State Trooper (Live)

Label: Ace
Released: 2025