Man at the top: Musicians pay tribute to Springsteen on CD
Published in the Asbury Park Press 9/12/03

By KELLY-JANE COTTER
Music Writer

For Pete Yorn, the line "Walk tall, or baby, don't walk at all" from Bruce Springsteen's "New York City Serenade" inspires him.

Jennifer Glass's heart is always broken by that last part of "Bobby Jean," specifically, "And I'm just calling one last time not to change your mind, but just to say I miss you, baby, good luck, good-bye."

Yorn and Glass perform their versions of those songs on "Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen," released this week on Schoolhouse Records. The fascinating double-disc set lists for $19.98 and raises money for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, which fights sarcoma.

The CD set was produced by Bob Benjamin, of Highland Park, and Salvador Trepat, the publisher of Pointblank magazine, who lives outside of Barcelona, Spain.

Benjamin, a big Springsteen fan and longtime member of the local music scene, also worked with Tony Pallagrosi of the Red Bank-based Concerts East to organize the annual Light of Day concerts at Tradewinds in Sea Bright, which have raised money for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers, Pittsburgh musicians admired by Springsteen, headlined those shows, and Springsteen often showed up to jam. Fittingly, Grushecky contributes a bluesy rendition of "Light of Day" to the CD.

Of the 37 tracks on the CD, 30 were recorded specifically for the tribute and seven previously appeared elsewhere.

It's an exhaustive CD set, featuring the obvious and the obscure, from "Thunder Road" to "Souls of the Departed." The varied musicians, from Dion to Billy Bragg, show off their own skills as well as the versatility and depth of Springsteen's songwriting.

Elvis Costello's strummy, acoustic version of "Brilliant Disguise" opens disc two. Backed by Pete Thomas on drums and Paul Riley on bass, Costello retains the world-weary sadness of Springsteen's original.

Kirk Kelly sings "Downbound Train" accompanied only by ukulele. The despair in the lyrics drifts over the sunniness of the instrument for an eerie effect.

Jennifer Glass breathes new life into "Bobby Jean," and her country version has a sweet sadness to it. When Pete Yorn sings, "No, she won't take the train, she won't take the train" on "New York Serenade," there is desperation, frustration and a little admiration.

Crazysloth messes with "Candy's Room," creating a strobe-light version that accents the frantic music and tortured lyrics.

Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan contribute a "Badlands" flecked with ska.

Most of the musicians added to the liner notes, explaining why they picked a particular song or offering a memory they have about a Springsteen. The musings are a nice bonus.

Nils Lofgren is the lone E Street Band member represented on the CD, singing "Man at the Top."

"I fell in love with 'Man at the Top on the 'Born in the U.S.A.' tour," Lofgren wrote in the liner notes. "I think we only performed it twice but the sentiment hooked me and the message hit home. I've been performing it ever since in my own acoustic shows and welcomed the opportunity to record it and have it heard."

The track listings follow:

Disc One:
1. Elliot Murphy "Better Days"
2. Dion "Book Of Dreams"
3. Lucky 7 "Valentine's Day"
4. Dan Bern "Thunder Road"
5. Crazysloth "Candy's Room"
6. The Mystic Knights Of The Sea "Johnny 99"
7. Nils Lofgren "Man At The Top"
8. Cindy Bullens "If I Should Fall Behind"
9. Matthew Ryan "Something In The Night"
10. Mike Rimbaud "Atlantic City"
11. Sid Griffin "Highway Patrolman"
12. Billy Bragg & The Blokes "Mansion On The Hill"
13. Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan "Badlands"
14. Steve Wynn "State Trooper"
15. Gary Lucas' Gods and Monsters "Ain't Got You"
16. Jennifer Glass "Bobby Jean"
17. The Clarks "The River"
18. Marc Broussard "Back In Your Arms"
19. John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band "The E Street Shuffle"

Disc Two
1. Elvis Costello "Brilliant Disguise"
2. Pete Yorn "New York City Serenade"
3. Graham Parker "Pink Cadillac"
4. Garland Jeffreys "Streets Of Philadelphia"
5. Jason Ringenberg "My Hometown"
6. Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers "Light Of Day"
7. Rosie Flores "Lucky Town"
8. Willie Nile "I'm On Fire"
9. Kirk Kelly "Downbound Train"
10. Patty Griffin "Stolen Car"
11. Paradise Brothers "Souls Of The Departed"
12. Mark Wright "Two Hearts"
13. Graziano Romani "The Promise"
14. The Format "For You"
15. Jesse Malin "Hungry Heart"
16. Tom Cochrane and Damhnait Doyle "Secret Garden"
17. Cowboy Mouth "Born To Run"
18. Joe Ely "Working On The Highway"