June 23, 2006

Springsteen Seeger

WE SHALL OVERCOME: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE SEEGER SESSIONS

One-hour music intensive radio special details how Bruce Springsteen was inspired by Pete Seeger's musical legacy while recording his latest album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions.

We Shall Overcome features many of the folk songs made famous by Pete Seeger, including the title track and "Eyes on the Prize," that helped define America's civil rights movement. Springsteen's new interpretations remind us how these songs can be both fun and give a definitive statement as to who we are as Americans right now.

Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, rock critic Dave Marsh, and Seeger Sessions Band members Larry Eagle and Charlie Giordano discuss the power and history of Seeger's music, and the songs recorded for We Shall Overcome.

This program also introduces two new recordings by Springsteen with the Seeger Sessions Band - Pete Seeger’s anti-war anthem "Bring 'em Home" and Blind Alfred Reed’s "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live" with new verses written by Springsteen. Both songs have been highlights of Bruce’s current tour.
  • Broadcast Window: Begins July 1, 2006
  • Contact: Andy Cahn, cahnmedia@comcast.net, 215-279-7632
  • Length: One hour with breaks for local spots
  • Terms: Available for all USA broadcasters to air at no cost
  • Spots: No barter spots are built into the show
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions -- American Land Edition
  • 2-disc CD/DVD set is in stores on Oct 3
  • 5 songs added to CD - "American Land," "Bring 'Em Home," "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live," "Buffalo Gals," "How Can I Keep from Singing."
  • DVD has 40 minute documentary, live footage from June concerts and music videos.
  • More details online here.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: THE SEEGER SESSIONS LIVE AT ST. LUKE’S ON PBS

Recorded at St. Luke's in London's East End, Bruce Springsteen performs an intimate concert of songs selected from his new album, WE SHALL OVERCOME: THE SEEGER SESSIONS, a collection of standards and spirituals popularized by the legendary Pete Seeger.

Springsteen's UK concert performances have thrilled the critics, with THE INDEPENDENT raving, "an astonishingly rich evening ... his music has rarely sounded more spontaneous or vitalizing than this," and THE OBSERVER adding, "Springsteen and the Seeger Session band were an inspiring triumph." Among the songs featured are "John Henry," "Oh Mary Don't You Weep," "Pay Me My Money Down," "We Shall Overcome," and many more.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello - I heard this documentary on KCRW last summer (I thought it was excellent) and I have a question about the song "Eyes on the Prize." I vaguely recollect someone said in the piece that the melody of "Eyes on the Prize" was based on an old slave spiritual but the lyrics came out of a labor struggle that involved both black and white workers - is this correct? And is it possible to get a transcript of the documentary? Many thanks - Heather

ChrisMooreMusic said...

I have to admit, as a BIG fan of recent Bruce Springsteen songs, I haven't piked up the Seeger Sessions yet. I really do like cover songs in moderation, but I wasn't sure that I could go a whole album without a Springsteen original. Maybe I'll give it a shot...