Bruce Springsteen’s Only the Strong Survive: A Soulful Journey Through Covers at 73

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Bruce Springsteen, the enduring icon of American rock, has a career defined by albums born from meticulous obsession, endless studio hours, and a vault full of discarded masterpieces. Other times, his work emerges from sudden bursts of inspiration, raw and immediate, with the creative smoke still lingering as fans listen. Then there’s Only the Strong Survive, a unique addition to his discography released in November 2022. This covers album, crafted during the early days of lockdown in his home studio alongside producer Ron Aniello and engineer Rob Lebret, sees Springsteen paying homage to a selection of largely obscure soul songs that have shaped his musical soul. Far from a mere nostalgic detour, this project offers a glimpse into Springsteen’s lifelong love for reinterpretation, showcasing how he infuses his favorite tracks with personal resonance. As we explore Only the Strong Survive, we uncover a record that, while not transformative, brims with vocal vitality and unburdened joy, reinforcing Springsteen’s relevance at 73.

A Different Kind of Springsteen Album

Springsteen’s relationship with cover songs has always been distinct from the typical classic rocker’s late-career pivot to standards, a la Rod Stewart. For The Boss, covers are not just tributes but revelations of his emotional connection to the music that shaped him. Whether transforming Jimmy Cliff’s reggae hit “Trapped” into an arena-shaking anthem of tension and release or mining centuries of American folk for the vibrant We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006), Springsteen uses covers to tell us not just what he loves, but how those songs make him feel. This quality has turned chestnuts like “Shout,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” and “Jersey Girl” into staples of his live setlists, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his original compositions over decades of performances.

Only the Strong Survive, however, takes a less transformative approach. Recorded during “off hours” in lockdown, the album captures Springsteen recreating soul classics with a fidelity that often mirrors the originals. From the opening snare thwack of the title track, a cover of Jerry Butler’s 1968 hit, Springsteen’s warm, crackling voice—now seasoned at 73—introduces a personal touch with slight lyrical tweaks and an actorly chuckle: “Now I remember my first love—of course, the whole thing went wrong.” Yet, the arrangement remains nearly note-for-note, complete with strings, backing vocalists, a walking bassline, and a mid-chorus fadeout. The album’s cover, marked “Volume 1,” hints at more to come, and the prolific output—15 tracks in total—reflects the ease of this home-studio process during an unprecedented time.

A Surprising Song Selection

What sets Only the Strong Survive apart is not reinvention but the eclectic and personal song selection. Spanning decades of soul and R&B, the album ranges from timeless classics like Jimmy and David Ruffin’s “Turn Back the Hands of Time” (1970) to relatively modern tracks such as Dobie Gray’s “Soul Days” (2000). Springsteen also tackles later gems from iconic groups, including the Commodores’ “Nightshift” (1985) and the Four Tops’ “When She Was My Girl” (1981). For fans familiar with Springsteen’s thematic obsessions, the choices feel instantly fitting. The songs echo his signature blend of grand catharsis and emotional uplift—blues in the verses, gospel in the choruses. Lyrically, they’re populated with Chevrolets, backroads, summer nights, and tales of lost love, mirroring the imagery of his own catalog.

Titles like “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” (originally by Jimmy Ruffin, 1966) and “Someday We’ll Be Together” (Diana Ross & The Supremes, 1969) resonate so deeply with Springsteen’s ethos of heartache and hope that he barely alters them to leave his mark—and, for the most part, he doesn’t. Instead of reworking the songs into E Street Band epics, Springsteen opts for faithful renditions, supported by Aniello’s confident, occasionally synthetic-sounding one-man-band accompaniment. Guest vocalist Sam Moore of Sam & Dave adds warmth on two tracks, but the focus remains squarely on Springsteen’s interpretations rather than radical reinvention.

A Vocal Showcase in Late Career

Springsteen himself has framed Only the Strong Survive as a vocal exercise, a chance to spotlight his voice in his later years. In an introductory video for the album, his excitement is palpable—practically shouting with glee about the results, joking, “I’m a good old man.” That enthusiasm translates directly into the recordings. Across the album, Springsteen explores the full range of his late-career delivery, from gravelly whispers to full-throated croons, giddy roars to anguished howls. It’s a vocal versatility reminiscent of his Broadway show, Springsteen on Broadway (2017-2018), where he balanced vulnerability and humor within a cohesive narrative.

Standout moments abound. On “7 Rooms of Gloom” (originally by the Four Tops, 1967), Springsteen belts “I live with emptiness” with a jolt of comic desperation, while his tender reassurance of “it’s gonna be all right” in “Nightshift” carries profound comfort. “Soul Days” becomes a nostalgic reflection, evoking memories of his formative years in Asbury Park, while “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” (a William Bell classic from 1968) channels the regret and longing of his own tortured relationship chronicles. These performances aren’t just covers; they’re windows into how Springsteen internalizes and expresses the emotional core of each song, even if the arrangements don’t stray far from their origins.

Collaboration and Context in Springsteen’s Recent Work

Since 2012’s Wrecking Ball, producer Ron Aniello has been a key collaborator in Springsteen’s studio endeavors, often guiding him toward specific creative explorations. On 2019’s Western Stars, Aniello accentuated a wistful, melodic side of Springsteen’s solo songwriting with lush orchestral arrangements, venturing into new sonic territory. In 2020’s Letter to You, he captured the live-in-the-studio warmth of the E Street Band, encouraging Springsteen to revisit abandoned songs for a comforting, familiar sound. With Only the Strong Survive, Aniello’s role is more utilitarian, providing the bulk of the instrumentation as a one-man band, allowing Springsteen’s voice to take center stage.

This album fits into Springsteen’s ongoing winning streak of studio work, though it leans closer to a personal passion project than a cornerstone of his legacy. Its unrelenting brightness—verging on Vegas-style polish—marks a departure from the grit of even his most upbeat prior works, like 1992’s Human Touch. Yet, moments of emotional purpose, carried by Springsteen’s dynamic vocal delivery, earn its place among his recent output. More than anything, the record exudes character and energy; Springsteen has rarely sounded so lighthearted or unburdened on record, a refreshing contrast to the weighty themes often associated with his music.

A Reflection on Essentiality and Creation

One could imagine ways Only the Strong Survive might have felt more essential to Springsteen’s body of work. Enlisting the E Street Band to flesh out arrangements could have infused the songs with the raw, communal energy of his live performances. Alternatively, deeper lyrical or structural reinterpretations might have tied these covers more explicitly to his own narrative arc. However, at this stage in his career, Springsteen seems driven less by the need to craft indispensable albums and more by the sheer act of creation. Lighting a spark and watching it grow—knowing that someone, somewhere, might find hope in its light—appears to be his guiding principle. As he reminds us through these songs, that’s precisely what this music provided for him during formative years and challenging times alike.

The Legacy of Only the Strong Survive

Only the Strong Survive may not rank among Springsteen’s most transformative or essential works, but it stands as a testament to his enduring curiosity and vocal prowess at 73. It’s a record of joy, a celebration of soul music’s power to uplift and connect, recorded during a period of global uncertainty. While it lacks the narrative depth of albums like Darkness on the Edge of Town or the cinematic sweep of Born to Run, it offers something equally valuable: a glimpse of Springsteen at ease, reveling in the songs that shaped him without the pressure to redefine them.

The album also serves as a reminder of Springsteen’s unique ability to bridge past and present. By covering songs spanning from the 1960s to the early 2000s, he connects generations of music lovers, inviting longtime fans and newcomers alike to explore the soul and R&B traditions that underpin much of rock ‘n’ roll. Tracks like “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” and “Turn Back the Hands of Time” aren’t just nostalgia; they’re living, breathing expressions of universal emotions, delivered with the same conviction Springsteen brings to his own compositions.

A Lighthearted Chapter in a Storied Career

As “Volume 1” suggests, Only the Strong Survive is likely the first in a series of cover projects, a space for Springsteen to continue exploring his influences with unbridled enthusiasm. While it may not carry the weight of his original masterpieces, it adds a lighthearted, soulful chapter to a career that has always thrived on emotional authenticity. Listening to Springsteen croon, howl, and chuckle his way through these songs, one can’t help but smile at the sheer joy he finds in the process—a joy that radiates through every note.

In a world that often feels heavy, Only the Strong Survive is a reminder of music’s capacity to heal and energize, just as it did for Springsteen during lockdown. It’s an album that doesn’t demand to be overanalyzed but rather enjoyed for what it is: a heartfelt tribute from one of rock’s greatest storytellers to the sounds that inspired him. So, turn up the volume, let the soulful melodies wash over you, and take a moment to appreciate Bruce Springsteen—still creating, still connecting, and still surviving, stronger than ever. What’s your favorite track from this soulful journey? Let the music play on, and let’s find a little hope in its light, just as The Boss intended.