If you were of record buying age in the mid 80s there was a 90% chance that you owned a copy of ‘Born in the USA’. It had seven hit singles, a mammoth tour and some regrettable fashion choices (bandanas, Steven Van Zandt in a crop top in the CD insert, shudder…). Dead Man’s Town is an americana tribute to celebrate thirty years since its release and provides some interesting takes on some very familiar songs. These new versions make you realise that, lyrically, it is a pretty bleak album. These are songs about people and places that have lost hope, jobs and those closest to them.
Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires turn the title track from a fist pumping anthem into a violin drenched minor key lament. This is a wise move because it makes you focus on the rage and betrayal of the narrator – he’s fought for his country and received nothing but rejection. Would the original have been so misunderstood if it had been arranged this way?
Elsewhere Low replace the lust of ‘I’m on Fire’ with claustrophobia and brilliant harmonies; Holly Williams gives us a chilled out version of ‘No Surrender’; Joe Pug uses piano and wailing harmonica to empathise with the helpless man in ‘Downbound Train’. Trampled by Turtles and Quaker City Nighthawks provide countrified versions of ‘I’m Goin Down’ and ‘Darlington County’ respectively. Not everything works but the same could be said about the original album – ‘Working on a Highway’ is still a dud and Justin Townes Earle version of ‘Glory Days’ is a bit dull really.
The compilation compiler Evan Schlansky believes that Springsteen was at heart a country singer. That is debatable but this album proves that a rootsy take on his songs can be both toe tapping and thought provoking.