Recommendations of the Editorial team
Inspired by the two great Johns (Steinbeck and Ford), but also by current photo books and newspaper articles, the worker’s son covers Bruce Springsteen “The Ghost Of Tom Joad” those who have difficulty maintaining it themselves.
The day laborers in “Balboa Park”, Mexican immigrants (“Sinaloa Cowboys”), border police officers in temptation (“The Line”), even the small pair of crooks on the run (“Highway 25”)
Of course, the acoustic scenery on the record, which was completely focused on the narrator Springsteen, had to be reminiscent of “Nebraska” – and in 1995 it might have disappointed those who had already hoped for further E Street greatness after “Greatest Hits” encores like “Blood Brothers” and “Secret Garden”.
Lots of Springsteen, little E Street Band
But only the loyal hussar Danny Federici and bassist Gary Tallent are allowed to join in, while it is Soozie Tyrell’s violin and Marty Rifkin’s pedal steel that give songs like the dark industrial swansong “Youngstown” and “Across The Border” their wonderfully matt shine.
But most of the time Springsteen, at this time with gelled hair and a tired look, is on his own on guitar, keyboard and harmonica on “The Ghost Of Tom Joad”.