DANNY CLINCH
According to a rumor, Bruce Springsteen will release an album of soul covers.
There is a rumor right now that Bruce Springsteen is preparing to release an album of soul covers. I don’t know if it’s true. But I’d like to go on record as saying that it’s a great idea, and he should do it.
I also thought that it’s a good time to put together a post with some of the great classic soul covers he has done in concert, over the years.
This is obviously not meant to be definitive. I know there are other great soul covers, but I limited myself to performances for which good YouTube videos are available.
Also, it’s not always easy to say what a “soul song” is, and what it isn’t. If you think I’m incorrect in including something, or think I should have included something else, please let me know in the Comments section below.
Thanks to the websites brucebase.wikidot.com and coveredbybrucespringsteen.com for compiling invaluable information.
Here are the covers, in chronological order.
“Sweet Soul Music,” July 14, 1988, with The E Street Band at St. Jakob Stadion, Basel, Switzerland. Co-written by Arthur Conley and Sam Cooke, and a No. 2 hit for Conley in 1967.
“Lean on Me,” June 9, 1989, guesting with Nils Lofgren at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Written by Bill Withers and a No. 1 hit for Withers in 1972.
“It’s All Right,” May 28, 1993, with The Other Band at Stockholms Stadion in Stockholm. Written by Curtis Mayfield and a No. 4 hit for Mayfield’s group The Impressions in 1963.
“When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” December 2003, with Sam Moore, The Max Weinberg 7, Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, Bobby Bandiera and others at a holiday show at Convention Hall, Asbury Park. Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter and a No. 42 hit for Sam & Dave in 1967.
“People Get Ready,” Oct. 17, 2005, guesting with U2 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Written by Curtis Mayfield and a No. 3 hit for Mayfield’s group The Impressions in 1965.
“634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.),” Dec. 22, 2008, at Bobby Bandiera’s Hope Concert at the Count Basie Theatre (now the Count Basie Center for the Arts) in Red Bank. Written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and a No. 13 hit for Wilson Pickett in 1965.
“Expressway to Your Heart,” May 14, 2009. With The E Street Band at The Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. Written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and a No. 4 hit for The Soul Survivors in 1967.
“The Dark End of the Street,” June 2, 2009, with The E Street Band at Ratinan Stadion in Tampere, Finland. Written by Dan Penn and Chips Moman and a No. 77 hit for James Carr in 1967.
“Soul Man,” Oct. 29, 2009, with Sam Moore and The E Street Band at Madison Square Garden, New York. Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, and a No. 2 hit for Sam & Dave in 1967.
“Hold On, I’m Comin’,” Oct. 29, 2009, with Sam Moore and The E Street Band at Madison Square Garden, New York. Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, and a No. 21 hit for Sam & Dave in 1966.
“Drift Away,” May 28, 2013, with The E Street Band at AWD-Arena in Hannover, Germany. Written by Mentor Williams and a No. 5 hit for Dobie Gray in 1973.
“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” July 16, 2013, with The E Street Band at Thomond Park in Limerick, Ireland. Written by Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland and a No. 13 hit for The Temptations in 1966.
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
8 comments
Hello Jay, this one must be on the list: “Up on the Roof”written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded in 1962 by The Drifters, with Rudy Lewis as the lead singer.
Bruce covered the song several times during the “Born To Run” Tour back in 1975. Here the version from the show at The Bottom Line on 1975-08-16: https://youtu.be/BQKT-okc3G8
I don’t really think of “Up on the Roof” as a soul song, but yes, that’s a good one.
Didn’t Bruce cover Faye Adams’ anthem, “Shake A Hand,” in his early days? It’s a powerful song!
Not that I’m aware of, no.
This is an excerpt from a story written by Jack Newfield, originally printed in the New York Sun September 21 2004:
“The no. 2 record of 1953 was “Your Cheating Heart” by Hank Williams. The no. 3 record was “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton. The no. 4 record was “Shake a Hand” by Faye Adams, which Bruce Springsteen performed for years.”
URL for two free articles, but the text can be found elsewhere: https://www.nysun.com/article/arts-who-really-invented-rock-n-roll
Bonus: Faye Adams was from Newark NJ. There may not be much of a NJ connection to the ten songs you suggested.
Ok but I can’t find any mention of Springsteen doing it on these two sites (http://brucebase.wikidot.com, https://www.coveredbybrucespringsteen.com/) or YouTube or anywhere else. Maybe Newfield confused it with “Raise Your Hand”?