Various Artists - If I Were The Boss: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen

Ragbag of covers that rarely pleases

When Patti Smith had a 1978 hit with Because The Night, a year or so after Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s Blinded By The Light, Springsteen still had a relatively low profile as far as the pop mainstream was concerned. Both those songs introduced Bruce to so many, and their inclusion here makes perfect sense. Most of the other 17 tracks, however, are just making up the numbers. Alvin Stardust, Shakin’ Stevens and Status Quo attack their choices with the all the fervour of a backroom pub bands, while The Flying Pickets’ a cappella Factory will have you yearning for musical instruments, or anything equally heavy with which to hit the simpering warblers. It’s not all bad, though, as The Hollies’ take on Sandy may even surpass the original, and Big Country’s reworking of I’m On Fire has a Celtic hoedown charm. Special mention also for Dave Edmunds’ 1982 rocker From Small Things Big Things One Day Come, a song specifically written for him, and which Springsteen only got round to releasing himself on the bonus disc of his Essential collection, 20 years later.

2 stars 2 stars

Castle | CMQCD 1422

Reviewed by Terry Staunton
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