Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions CD

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions songs Following up two folk-flavored albums, MAGIC finds Bruce Springsteen laying down his acoustic guitar to reclaim his rock-hero crown. He's assisted in this endeavor by producer Brendan O'Brien, best-known for big-time '90s hard rock, but the results have little in common with O'Brien's grungy past. Instead, MAGIC's sonic blueprint is more in line with Bruce's last stadium-rock statement, 2002's THE RISING. The album is front-loaded with hard-charging, heavy-riffing tunes ("Radio Nowhere," "You'll Be Comin' Down") that benefit from the sure-fire attack of the E Street Band. In fact, "Livin' in the Future" harks back to the band's vintage '70s work. MAGIC isn't all back-to-basics rockers, though; evocative ballads that employ atmospheric string arrangements indicate that Springsteen is content neither with standing still nor with looking backwards. One of the most rewarding aspects of the album is the fact that after the relative tunelessness of 2005's DEVILS & DUST, Bruce seemingly learned from the folk gems he covered on his Pete Seeger homage a year later, and started writing arresting melodies again. Any way you look at it, those who may have been put off by Springsteen's previous stylistic diversions will have a welcome feeling for MAGIC. Audio Mixer: Brendan O'Brien . Recording information: Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Southern Track Recording Studio, Atlanta, GA; Thrill Hill Recording, NJ. Photographers: Mark Seliger; Danny Clinch. Unknown Contributor Role: Harry McCarthy. Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica, pump organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel, percussion, background vocals); Bruce Springsteen (guitars); Nils Lofgren (guitar, guitars, background vocals); Little Steven (guitars, mandolin, background vocals); William Pu, Sheela Lyengar, Olga Shpitko, Justin Burns, Christopher Pulgram, Jay Christy, John Meisner, Soozie Tyrell (violin); Amy Chang, Tania Maxwell Clements, Lachlan McBane (viola); Karen Freer, Charae Krueger, Daniel Laufer (cello); Patrick Warren (tack piano, chamberlin); Jeremy Chatzky (upright bass); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, background vocals); Roy Bittan (piano, organ); Danny Federici (organ, keyboards); Max Weinberg (drums); Patti Scialfa (background vocals). Additional personnel: Jay Christy, Kenn Wagner, Justin Bruns, John Meisner (violin); Lachlan McBane (viola); Charae Kruege (cello); Amy Chang, Tania Maxwell Clements, William Pu, Karen Freer, Sheela Lyengar, Olga Shpitko, Christopher Pulgram, Patrick Warren, Soozie Tyrell, Daniel Laufer, Jeremy Chatzky.

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions album for sale Where THE RISING, a direct response to the tragedy of 9/11, rallied the spirit with impassioned optimism, the characters Bruce inhabits on DEVILS & DUST are often neck-deep in regret, bitterness, and despair. Not only does the album demonstrate the width of Springsteen's emotional range; perhaps more importantly, it contains some of his finest writing since its spiritual cousin, 1987's similarly harrowing, low-key TUNNEL OF LOVE. Over a bed of acoustic guitars, occasional keyboards, and a no-frills rhythm section (plus the odd string section--a new wrinkle), Bruce matches hard-won emotional insights with poetic reveries that never abandon personal resonance for flights of fancy. In the process, he careens sharply away from those who would freeze him in the full-bore-rocker role of which he sometimes wearies. In much the same way that he followed the full-on assault of THE RIVER with the scaled-down, folk-based NEBRASKA, some two-and-a-half decades later, Bruce Springsteen made another stylistic about-face. In stark contrast to its predecessor, 2002's uplifting, epic-scale rocker THE RISING, DEVILS & DUST is a spare, quiet, acoustic-oriented album full of shadows and whispers. Parental Advisory; Dual Disc CD/DVD Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, tambourine, percussion); Marty Rifkin (steel guitar); Brendan O'Brien (hurdy-gurdy, sarangi, sitar, bass guitar, tambora); Soozie Tyrell (violin, background vocals); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Brice Andrus, Susan Welty, Thomas Witte, Donald Strand (horns); Chuck Plotkin (piano); Danny Federici (keyboards); Steve Jordan (drums); Patti Scialfa, Lisa Lowell (background vocals); Mark Pender.

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions CD music BORN TO RUN is the album that turned Springsteen from a phenomenon into a superstar. His first couple of releases found Bruce working out his fascination with Dylan and Van Morrison on earthy, wordy, folk-rock-R&B tunes full of soul and punch. On BORN TO RUN, Springsteen became even more ambitious, synthesizing Spectorian production with Orbison-esque drama and Duane Eddy-influenced guitar work, creating something grand enough to be called rock opera but too proletarian to ever claim that title. BORN TO RUN was also the first album where the Boss began to crystallize his recurring theme of working class America's doomed-but-passionate rage against its circumstances. With the earnestness and emotion that bursts forth from Springsteen's street poems, the album is never less than exhilarating, and songs like "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (a tongue-in-cheek history of the E Street Band) provide humor. "She's The One" puts the Bo Diddley beat to its most effective post-'50s use, and the title track is Springsteen's quintessential underdog epic. This set includes Hammersmith Odeon, London '75, an astonishing film of their legendary concert; Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run, the definitive documentary story of the album which also includes exclusive footage of Springsteen playing solo piano and guitar versions, as well as new interviews; and the classic CD, Born To Run. Recorded at The Record Plant, New York, and 914 Sound Studio, Blauvelt, New York. Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica, horns); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); David Sanborn (baritone saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Wayne Andre (trombone); Steve VanZandt (horns, background vocals); Roy Bittan (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, harpsichord, organ, glockenspiel, background vocals); Danny Federici, David Sancious (keyboards); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Max Weinberg (drums); Mike Appel (background vocals). Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar); Steve Van Zandt (vocals); Suki Lahav (violin); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); David Sanborn (baritone saxophone); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, background vocals); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Danny Federici (organ); Roy Bittan (keyboards, glockenspiel, background vocals); David Sancious (keyboards); Garry Tallent, Richard Davis (bass); Max Weinberg, Ernest "Boom" Carter (drums); Mike Appel (background vocals). Producers: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Mike Appel.

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions buy CD music On 2007's DON'T TELL COLUMBUS, his third album for the Bloodshot label, Graham Parker continues the remarkable streak of records that he began on '04's YOUR COUNTRY. Although COLUMBUS lacks the punch of the preceding SONGS OF NO CONSEQUENCE, it finds the beloved British pub-rock icon comfortably situated in Dylanesque singer-songwriter mode. (In fact, the buoyant, biting "Stick to the Plan" sounds like it could be an outtake from Dylan's MODERN TIMES). While many of the tunes on COLUMBUS have a catchy, upbeat feel, they are often lined with fierce or melancholy lyrics, proving that, three decades into his career, Parker proudly and assuredly maintains his signature caustic style. Recording information: LRS Recording Studio, Hurley, NY; Moon Landing, Boston, MA; Soundcheck Republic, Chatham, NY. Photographer: Julie Last. Personnel: Graham Parker (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lap steel guitar, harmonica, kazoo, bass guitar, percussion, background vocals); Graham Parker; Molly Gardinia (vocals, background vocals); Kate Williams (vocals); Ryan Barnum, Ryan Barnum (keyboards); Kate Williams (background vocals); Mike Gent (guitar, drums, percussion, background vocals). Audio Mixer: Dave Cook.

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions songs Ireland has a long and proud folk tradition, so it makes perfect sense that the concert chosen to document Bruce Springsteen's 2006 tour in support of WE SHALL OVERCOME: THE SEEGER SESSIONS would be in the country's capital city. The 22-track set, LIVE IN DUBLIN, captures both the political passion and the overwhelming joy of this tour. Touring with an expanded band of friends and fellow New Jersey musicians instead of the E Street Band, Springsteen goes for a hybrid electric-acoustic sound rather than the full-on rock bombast he's better known for. Although solo takes of Springsteen originals like a haunted "Atlantic City" are highlights, the focus here is both on the large, rollicking band and on the Seeger tunes and traditional folk favorites given new life. LIVE IN DUBLIN is available in both two-disc and three-disc formats, the latter adding a live DVD of the entire concert. DVD: This Disc features material from the two hour concert shot at The Point in Dublin, Ireland from November of 2006. "glorious jingle-jangle cacophony of washboards, tubas, accordions and guitars in a well-choreographed show that mixed temperance hall gospel and New orleans jelly roll."..Evening Herald (UK). Includes full length CD.

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions album for sale As poet laureate of the working class, singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen infuses his trademark brand of high-energy rock with lyrical tales detailing the pathos of the common man in a style reminiscent of his idols Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Springsteen's powerful narrative skills make him the perfect candidate for VH1's popular STORYTELLERS series, which intersperses stripped-down acoustic performances (ala MTV's UNPLUGGED) with candid personal commentary on the artistic process behind the songs. Recorded on April 5, 2005, at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, this program presents Springsteen's STORYTELLERS appearance in a special edition that has been greatly expanded and reedited from its original broadcast episode to include the complete versions of all eight songs (including a duet with his wife Patti Scialfa on "Brilliant Disguise"), insightful between-song banter, and an intimate question-and-answer session that was previously unaired. First aired on VH1 April 23, 2005, this stunning solo performances is nearly 2 hours long and features 8 complete Springsteen songs. Also included are Springsteen's detailed comments, introductions, and anecdotes on the songs origins, as well as a previously unseen question and answer session between the musician and his fans.