Springsteen in concert

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 12

Springsteen in concert

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live/1975-85” (CBS SPC 704). Yes, some time in the early hours of tomorrow morning S. Claws and the Rain Dear will be playing at your house. If you’re lucky you might catch him (or her). So you have one shopping day to make up your mind (or someone else’s) well a spare $5O might find someone Springsteen’s Live/1975-85 five album (or three cassette) set. In spite of the negative comments that come along when somebody makes it big in rock music, you cannot just walk away from Springsteen. The man has talent. I mean that the man does not need a push from a record company to get things going. “Nebraska,” is an example.

Also perhaps it is a bit sickening, but Springsteen appears to care. Brooce does not produce your average American albumoriented rock where every second word is “baby” and the chorus is drowned in lead guitar. The time of the Vietnam War and the impact of the recessions has made its mark and it shows in some intelligent and entertaining songs as the album “Born In The USA,” showed. It’s no coincidence that the album came out at Christmas. Is this Bruce’s Christmas gift to fans or is it sheer commercialism? That is a difficult question to answer, but the music within is a celebration and there can be no argument that his songs play well live. The point is made live as well — the individual is important to him. “This Land Is Your Land” is just one cover, but sometimes your land

does not want you as on the superb “My Hometown.” Bruce recounts how the draft board rejected him and he sings the cover, “War.” Vietnam has left its mark, a deep question that Springsteen faces (He has been a big contributor to the Vietnam Vets organisation in the U.S.)

From “Thunder Road” to Tom Waits’ “Jersey Girl,” 40 tracks of Springsteen live. It might put a mega bite on your wallet, but its among the brightest stars on the rock horizon. “Fire” might lack the belly of the Pointer Sisters’ version, but take a listen to “The Promised Land.” PAUL SIMON “Graceland” (Warner Bros 25447-4). Some might consider that it’s all been done before by Malcolm McLaren on “Duck Rock,” but Paul Simon has discovered African music

with a vengeance. “You Can Call Me Al,” is getting a thrashing, but that idiosyncratic tune is nothing compared with the lively beat of the rest of the album. The contrast between the title track, “Graceland,” with its easy rhythm and that of “Homeless,” is so wide. Simon spent about two years on this project and the music is suprisinglj deft, occasionally marrying African rhythms with Tex-Mex music. Ry Cooder could not have done better. Simon has found the rhythms of the African continent irresistible and the music that he has put together here is of a similar nature. The single still shows that Simon likes his little word games, but for much of the time it is muted in favour of the tune. Simon simple.

- By

NEVIN TOPP