STWOF Fourth of July Mix

Before I take the family over to mom and dad’s for a BBQ, here's a 4th of July mix:

Mickey Newbury – An American Trilogy (buy album)
Albert Brooks – Phone Call To Americans (out of print)
Merle Haggard – The Fightin’ Side Of Me (buy album)
X – 4th Of July (Demo) (buy album)
MC5 – Back In The USA (buy album)
Frank Sinatra – The House I Live In (Live) (buy album)
Townes Van Zandt – Ballad Of Ira Hayes (Live) (buy album)
Paul Simon – American Tune (Unfinished Demo) (buy album)
Tom Petty – American Girl (buy album)
Billy Joe Shaver – Good Ol’ USA (buy album)
The Hollies – 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) (buy album)

The Brave & The Bold: 4 Bruce Covers

I love cover songs.

And I used to love "The Boss." One of my all-time favorite concerts was his July 30, 1984 show at the Joe Louis Arena. I thought I had seen my rock'n'roll future that night... But that kind of faded over time.

Apparently I wasn't the only one under the spell of Springsteen in the mid-1980's. A college buddy recently showed me some pictures from a house party we had back in 1986 and I couldn't believe how many kids were wearing denim jackets. Probably a fashion side effect of Bruce fever, even though we were all listening to "Tim" or "The Queen Is Dead" by that time.

Anyway, while I grew out of my Bruce phase a long time ago, he is an undeniably great songwriter (case in point: the flowing, poetic lyrics of Thunder Road). So, in honor of July 30, 1984, here are four random Springsteen Covers.

First, is a song that is everything a cover song should be: A superb new rendition of a great old song that is completely different than the original. Enjoy Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy playing: Thunder Road (buy album). I really love this one.

Second comes one of my favorite cover songs of all-time. Check out Frankie Goes to Hollywood's energetic take on one of the Boss' biggest hits: Born To Run (buy album).

Third, is an oldie but a goodie. The Hollies mellow groove really fits this early Springsteen track: 4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy) (buy album).

Finally, just to keep the Emmylou love flowing, here again is Ms. Harris in all her glory: Racing In The Street (buy album).
What is your favorite Bruce cover? Leave a comment.

(I'll start: One song I would love to post, but don't currently own is The Reivers' version of Atlantic City, another brilliant Springsteen song.)