For his twenty-first studio album, Bruce Springsteen has decided to let loose and have some fun, making his second covers album with "Only The Strong Survive" that looks back to feature some of his favorite classic soul and r&b songs. The songs selected are not surprisingly Motown heavy with Springsteen's renditions of songs originally performed by The Four Tops ("When She was My Girl", "7 Rooms of Gloom"), The Temptations ("I Wish It Would Rain"), Commodores ("Nightshift") and Jimmy Ruffin ("What Becomes of The Brokenhearted").
Also not unexpected, there are songs here that work far better for the seventy-three year old's raspy voice than others. There is passion and power when Springsteen teams up with Sam Moore for "Soul Days" and the William Bell classic from 1968, "I Forgot to be Your Lover". The title track, first performed by Jerry Butler and Tyrone Davis' "Turn Back The Hands of Time" really works well in capturing the spirit of the originals while The Boss leaves his own indelible imprint. But his versions of Ben E. King's "Don't Play That Song" (although the Queen of Soul took ownership of the song with her own 1970 cover) and Diana Ross & the Supremes' "Someday We'll Be Together" don't fare as well, not seeming well suited for the rocker and failing to rise above a feeling of karaoke.
Yet overall, Springsteen has delivered a solid record. The concept is far from fresh with many artists in their twilight years reflecting on their lives with a nostalgic record filled with musical memories of songs that they have loved and were of great inspiration to them. But with "Only The Strong Survive", you can feel the warm adoration and deep respect that Springsteen gives to each track on the album, creating a wonderful heartfelt experience.
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