Among more than half a dozen Bruce Springsteen tributes already available, Light Of Day is the first to focus as frequently upon the Boss’ latter-day material as upon his “Glory Days.” It’s about time.
Springsteen’s most often-covered songs come from a nine-year period between 1975, when he simultaneously adorned the cover of Time and Newsweek, and 1984, when the enormous success of Born In The U.S.A. let him sell out stadiums around the world. Yet it’s been during the two decades since — a stretch that by now comprises the overwhelming bulk of his career — that Springsteen has written and recorded most of his greatest songs.
Light Of Day makes this point straight out of the box, with two offerings from Springsteen’s underappreciated Lucky Town (Elliot Murphy’s “Better Days”, Dion’s doo-wop “Book Of Dreams”) and one from what’s arguably Springsteen’s finest effort, Tunnel Of Love (Lucky 7′s “Valentine’s Day”). By the time the two-disc, 37-track Light Of Day is over, it’s clear that Springsteen has been writing great songs almost relentlessly for over 30 years.
A few cuts recall Springsteen the east coast club legend (John Cafferty, naturally, does a ridiculously sound-alike version of “E-Street Shuffle”). Mostly, though, the tracks collected here are spare, and all but routinely stunning, singer-songwriter arrangements and performances. Marc Broussard’s “Back In Your Arms” is heart-wrenching soul; Billy Bragg’s “Mansion On The Hill” sounds like a Mermaid Avenue outtake. Elvis Costello’s “Brilliant Disguise”, Patty Griffin’s “Stolen Car”, Jason Ringenberg’s “My Hometown” and Joe Grushecky’s title track are standouts, as well. Also included are Rosie Flores, Pete Yorn, Joe Ely, Dan Bern, Nils Lofgren, Matthew Ryan, Cindy Bullens, Sid Griffin, Steve Wynn, Garland Jeffries, and a dozen or so other acts.
Proceeds from Light Of Day benefit both the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, a sarcoma-research program.
