Bruce Springsteen
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (Columbia)
While his live shows have always been near-religious musical celebrations, Bruce Springsteen has rarely captured that undiluted fervor in the studio. What sets We Shall Overcome apart from his other albums, however, is its combination of unadorned performances and boundless energy. Folk patriarch Pete Seeger wrote only one of the 13 tracks here, but he popularized the traditional tunes here: “Jesse James,” “O Mary Don’t You Weep,” and “Erie Canal.” Most of Seeger’s best known songs didn’t make the cut, but Springsteen samples the flavor of his songbook through work songs, spirituals, narratives, and protest songs. Where Seeger’s versions are generally accompanied only by his banjo, Springsteen employs a collective of New York City musicians that recalls the early collaborations of Bob Dylan and the Band. The word “rollicking” was invented for music such as this, spontaneous and free-spirited. It’s music-making for the pure joy of it, and that delight overflows in a manner that’s truly rare. We Shall Overcome also comes in DualDisc format, with the full album on the CD side and behind-the-scenes footage of the album sessions and two bonus tracks on the DVD side. “Froggie Went a Courtin'” and boy, did he ever ride.
This article appears in June 30 • 2006.