Back Porch Session

I posted way back about a two disk "best of" compilation that I have of Bruce Springsteen. I was also persuaded to buy the fairly recent We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions, where a largely acoustic outfit performs back porch style a number of vaguely folky songs somewhat associated with the career of Pete Seeger. The overall feel of the album ( and certainly of the live gigs that accompanied its' release ) is that of a good time party, with plenty of opportunity to sing along and dance around to extended choruses and instrumental breaks. The band is a mix of folk elements ( violin, mandolin etc ) and a kind of Dixieland horn section. Springsteen's voice has become gruffer with age but is well suited to most of the tracks, only becoming more exposed in the slower numbers like We Shall Overcome itself and Shenandoah where he needs the support of several back up singers to carry them off. These are also the least successful songs on the disk, those that work best being the extended singalongs like Pay Me My Money Down and Oh Mary Don't You Weep. There's also a slight incongruity to the upbeat settings being applied to some less than upbeat lyrics ( My Oklahoma Home, Erie Canal, John Henry and Mrs McGrath ) but all in all it's a worthwhile venture. Possibly just a one off, since Springsteen is now back reunited yet again with the E Street Band for another round of stadium touring with a new album.