Album Review: Bruce Springsteen, Only The Strong Survive

Lennon, McCartney, Dylan, Rod Stewart and countless others have done it: taken a break from the pressures of having to rustle up another dozen or so originals, instead opting to pay homage to the songs that built them. Bruce Springsteen’s new studio album covers 15 gems from the soul music catalogue, nothing more, nothing less. He sings them like he loves them, coating them in hot-buttered soul arrangements. Like you’re supposed to.

Nor does he confine himself to massive global hits. He duets on ‘Soul Days’ with Sam Moore on a song that did not, in its original form, chart in the UK, but with this soul-packed version you might wonder why. On the other hand, the Commodores’ ‘Nightshift’ was a transatlantic monster, but could almost have been written for Bruce, so snugly does it fit his voice and style.

He wisely doesn’t attempt to out-Scott The Walker Brothers on ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore’, but makes it work with a lumpy-throat vocal, while the valiant spoken parts of ‘Only The Strong Survive’ sound less than comfortable. ‘I Wish It Would Rain’ is treated to a satisfying slow burn, decked out with a gospel background and skittish strings, while ‘What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted’ sways gently along like it doesn’t want to stop.

Songs are written to be sung, yet there’s still an aversion in the rock community to covers, as in, for example, the furore over the Scissor Sisters daring to record Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’. Bruce does not distort these songs by over-blustering to appease fans, nor is this a companion volume to his exuberant Seeger Sessions. He treats the chosen material with restraint and outright reverence, keeping his distance to allow their artistry to shine through. That takes courage and a level of honesty we should be thankful for.

8/10

Only The Strong Survive is out November 11. Listen or order here.