One Step Up Two Steps Back - One Step UpTwo Steps Back The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen (28 tracks) +Album Reviews

One or Two gems, but only Bruce can sing his music...

shaunm13 | Virginia | 07/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not a bad album, just for the majority of these songs Bruce does it so much better that there hard to listen to. Some good songs: Atlantic City by Kurt Neumann, Jackson Cage by John Wesley Harding (excellent, dare I say better than Bruce's version?), Janey Don't You Lose Heart by Tina & The B-Side Movement, 4th Of July, Asbury Park is different but good, Ben E. King had to really work to pull off that one. Stolen Car by Elliott Murphy is decent, Love's On The Line by Gary U.S. Bonds is really good, The Fever and Seaside Bar are not too bad. Interesting to hear If I Was The Priest, but to hear the best version of it listen to Before The Fame as the Boss can only sing it. The real gem of this album is Jackson Cage by JWH. Would love to hear him cover more Springsteen material if he can take an average song by Bruce's standards like Jackson Cage and make it sound like a classic. The album will really only appeal to Springsteen fans mostly, and even then it's hard to hear other people sing his songs."

A British fan of The Boss

Ian Kinchin | UK. | 10/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most tribute albums are a bit hit and miss. This one has more hits than misses. A range of artists, some of which I've never heard of, give their versions of Bruce tracks. There are some real highlights: David Bowie's 'Hard to be a Saint in the City'; Elliot Murphy's 'Stolen Car' and John Wesley Harding's 'Jackson Cage' are possibly the best. A number of excellent Bruce-sound-a-like renditions including The Knack's 'Don't look back' and The Rocking Chairs' (who are they?) 'Restless Nights'. There are also somelow points. In particular, Paul Cebar manages to lose all the mood in a gastly version of 'One step up'. An excellent mix overall, and a good introduction to Bruce's songs for those who claim not to like him. Worth the money - go for it!"

Mixed Overall, But A Few Gems Make It Worth The Price

Ian Kinchin | 11/24/1998

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, now we've got the "Tracks" collection to fill the Springsteen void, but after you've gotten a little tired of that and are looking for something fresh (since it will probably take another 5 years for him to assemble his next collection from the vaults), this is well worth picking up (for Springsteen fans anyway). With a little programming of your CD player, there's one solid CD worth of great material. John Wesley Harding's version of Jackson Cage alone makes it worth having (absolutely phenomenal, gave me a whole new appreciation of the song). Don't overthink it, just get it and enjoy. You might even get a few of your "anti-Springsteen" friends to appreciate his songwriting."

I got a kick out of this one

J. Carroll | Island Heights,NJ | 07/26/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This two CD compilation makes for an interesting package. One Step Up is a collection of new (1997) covers of Springsteen tunes. Two Steps Back is older covers recorded by a variety of artists over the years (the earliest from 1974.) Each set has some high points worth a listen and more than a few clunkers. The fun of this type of collection is that Springsteen's songs can hold up to different arrangements and occasionally someone makes these songs their own.

One Step Up:

The good ones-

Okay, time for a sacrilege. I think John Wesley Harding's cover of "Jackson Cage" beats Springsteen's. He seems to capture the pain and suffering so much better by stripping the song down to its basic elements.

John Hiatt- Totally rocks "Johnny 99." This is why I buy these things. Some artists can really make these songs into something brand new.

Dave Alvin- I really like the reason he chose "Seeds." He makes it work.

Joe Grushecky- Has a lot of fun with one of Springsteen's minor tunes "Light of Day."

Marshall Crenshaw- "All or Nothin' At All" Puts a little rockabilly swing to it and it works just fine.

Ben E. King- I never would have put this song with this singer. I'm glad they did.

Misfires-

While I wouldn't say I hated anything on this CD; there are a few errors in judgment. Syd Straw's vocals on "Meeting Across the River" just does not convince me. Did she listen to the lyrics? Martin Zellar shouldn't have aped Springsteen so much on "Darkness," and I'm not really sure what Mrs. Fun was shooting for on "Janey, Don't you lose Heart," but if it was "lounge singer" version they achieved it.

Two Steps Back:

The good ones-

Elliot Murphy- does a nice job on "Stolen Car," adding a wistful quality to the vocal that Springsteen doesn't quite achieve on the original.

Robbin Thompson- Throwing in a rocking Gospel sound and a decent instrumental break, Thompson just kicks it on "Guilty."

Southside Johnny- Just as good as the Boss himself, with those Miami Horns raising the heat even higher.

Richie Havens- "Streets of Philadelphia" is a perfect fit for his particular talents.

The rest is OK; ranging from the bizarre (Bowie on "Saint in The City") to the curious (Covers by France's Little Bob Story and Italy's Rocking Chairs) Even The Knack don't embarrass themselves. The only truly terrible song here is the "Disco Bruce" of Donna Summer. Man, this one's just painful.

It's a mixed bag like all compilations, but I'm glad I got it.

"

It's A Springsteen Summer!

Frankie B | Chicago, IL | 06/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE Bruce! He is the best. No one has really mentioned this though: The most interesting cover on this collection is Protection by Donna Summer with Bruce on guitar and background vocals. There's supposed to be a duet of this with the two of them, which I think must have been killer. In any case, it makes you wonder what future collaborations between the two could bring about. WOW!"

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