Only The Strong Survive

This played on my car radio for months. Springsteen covers a few great songs from the soul era.

I normally only listen to Bruce Springsteen with the E Street band. This one is an exception. This I a great listen. Bruce does justice to soul classics. His voice is well suited to the songs. This album sounds great on vinyl, dead quiet and wonderful sound stage.

Really enjoyed hearing some of the songs from the 1960s. Particularly appreciated the Northern Soul hit Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) originally done by Frank Wilson in 1965. I don't know why that was not a hit in the US at the time. Thankfully, the Brits found it and made it a big hit in the Northern Soul arena. Keep the faith. Got to give Bruce a lot of credit for being brave enough to take on some of these songs. The recording/engineering is excellent and as are the musicians and back up singers. The more I listen to it the more I like it. Way to go Bruce! Bravo! Was just listening to this CD again after getting it back from someone I lent it to - its giving me goosebumps.

It’s Bruce. That should tell you something about the quality of the material. A great listen to some throwback tunes interpreted by The Boss.

A lot of songs I remember from my youth. Well done !

This terrific collection has such an overall uplifting vibe! I only knew half a dozen of the songs,. but every song makes you feel good. As a whole, the songs fit incredibly well together. The arrangements are awesome and Bruce's voice is sounding terrific! Since buying it months ago, it's been in regular rotation In my CD player. I hope Bruce decides to make a Volume 2. It's a shame that Volume 1 didn't log in more than a few weeks on the Billboard 200. It is well-deserving and a must have, even if you're not a big Bruce fan, like me. This album will change your tune!

Husband loves the album

Starting with his 1973 debut, Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ, Bruce Springsteen took only 50 years of recording his 25-album catalog before releasing an album of material that couldn’t be better-suited for his vocal timbre and delivery style. Only the Strong Survive – Covers, Vol. 1 is a stellar showcase of soul survivors given cracklin’ new energy by The Boss. To be sure, there have been hints along the way. Springsteen’s 1986 march through Edwin Starr’s “War” served both as tribute and statement. The E Street Band rocked a Jackie Wilson tribute in 2010, with “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher.” Ten years later, Bruce gave Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming” another revival. But none of these one-offs even came close to the resonant reverence found in this 2022 soul jamboree. And the infamous “loose bedspring” voice perfectly evokes the ragged emotions that embedded these songs in our memories and heritage. Rob Mathes’ string arrangements are punched up by the E Street Horns, helping songs like “What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted,” “Nightshift,” “Soul Days” (with Sam Moore), and “I Wish It Would Rain” spin you back to the days of push-button AM radios, 8-tracks under the GTO’s dash, and a spirit in the music that’s absent from today’s TikTok blocks. This is most evident in OtSS’s pinnacle, a fiery “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)” that’s bursting with raucous, unfettered joy. And this is only Volume 1!