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This is my cover of the Bruce Springsteen song.

I swore off covers, but forgot about this one. It's about my hometown so I had to try.

The "Jenny" in the song is the Jeanette blast furnace that was at Youngstown Sheet and Tube.

Just for fun - while the muse is on vacation....

I'm not entirely satisfied with the arrangement - mostly the distorted electric guitar doesn't have quite the sound I'm hearing. It's a funny arrangement - starts off folk and ends up rock. Just what I was feeling...

Edit: Changed that guitar part at the end and added some acoustic fills.....

Any comments are appreciated..... Here's the link:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=377550&songID=8412744

Thanks!
Scott

I'm embarrassed to say I'm not familiar with the original,
which in another way is a good thing because I'm coming to this
fresh, really liked this and how it builds but I think your
right about the guitars at the end, the distortion is a
distraction, maybe pull it back a tad and it still will
have the power without over bearing, that aside everything
else was top drawer, loved the vocal, was that you?

ok got to go further my musical education,

Tony.

Scott,

Love the way you built the instrumentation as you went along. Not familiar with the original so don't know if it was that way or not but this is fantastic. Of course I've grown to expect nothing less from you. You're right about the distorted guitar but to tell the truth at first I thought it was a violin which would work great here. Love the banjo and harp. Great Performance.

Steve

Outstanding work my brother, I absolutely love this version better than the original

Wonderful JOB!

Dang, I mean it better than the original. Perfect voice, great performance all the way around Perfect ...

Noone ever did this one better ....

Jaw is dropping here Scott!!

Hi Scott,

This is a wonderful interpretation and how cool that it's your hometown. Vocals and instrumentation are sounding top shelf. I just can't see myself doing a cover of Chicago! On the other hand, doing a cover of a Chicago song could be possible!

Ricki

Hi Tony:

Thanks for the comments. Yeah, that's me singing - was helped by the fact that my voice still hasn't quite gotten back to normal from a bug.

I went ahead and changed the guitar at the end - thanks for nudging me in that direction.

Appreciate it!

Scott



Wife needs the computer - back later to thank the other folks.

Scott

Aha, so that's where they made the cannon balls.. Ya'll want them back? lol.... This is really good Scott..

I didn't hear you first version you posted, but the electric guitar parts sounded fine to me. Is this from "Nebraska". I've probably heard it, but I don't remember it. Good job. I like how it progressed from banjo/harp, then bass/drums and then guitars.

Cool all-around version.

Kevin

Hi Steve:

Bruce builds it in his original but still stays within the folk feel. He rocks it up live though.

I added some acoustic fills and redid the electric lead at the end. I think what was really bothering me was that a string was out of tune.

Thanks Pal!

Scott

Thanks for the kind words, Dan.

Covering Bruce is probably a silly move - I wouldn't have even tried it if I didn't have an emotional connection to the song. We had steelworkers on both sides of our family and the mills closed down just about the time I came of age. The song really captures how people around me felt at the time.

Appreciate the listen and comments, Dan!

Scott

Thanks Ricki!

Not sure which song called "Chicago" you had in mind - my mind went to the "Won't you please come to Chicago" song. But there is also a song by that name sung by Sinatra that I think you would sound cool on.

I lived there for 5 years (well, technically, Evanston) and I still miss it (the loop and the food, not the weather )

Scott

LOL

I assumed they were all melted down into Toyotas by now

Thanks Louis!

Scott

Thanks Kevin.

I made some changes to the guitar parts for the newer version.

This was on "Ghost of Tom Joad", though it would have fit on Nebraska too.

I've always been torn between folk and rock and this seemed to be the perfect song to work both genres into - with the shift from old history to recent history.

Scott

Scott....I'm not familiar with the original....I really love that "old soul" vocal you got going.....sounds very cool....not sure I like just the banjo in the first verse....once the rest kicks in I'm cool with it.....I really think the distorted guitar is tasteful....I think you should experiment with some subtle harp in there.....good job dude.....T-Bob

What a great write and fine performance.
You really have a voice for this.
To be honest I like the first half better than the ending.
It's like the dist gui, which is very tasty and fine in itself,
does appear in a song calling for something else... Acoustic guitar or harp maybe?
But what a fine song!
Ken

Hi Bob:

Thanks. I realized that I was going out on a limb here - starting with a sparse, folk treatment and ending it as a rock song. Probably wouldn't have tried that with my own song - only someone else's.

I doubt I'll do anything with it - was just for fun.

Yeah, I thought about adding some more harp - maybe I will

Appreciate it!

Scott

Hi Ken:

I can't take credit for the write - but I'm glad you liked the performance.

I suspect either you or Bob is right. Probably would be better to do two versions - one completely acoustic and one "plugged". This was an experiment - I have a foot in folk and one in rock. I always hear this as a folk song but when I think back to experiencing the times of the mills closing, that's when I was really into rock and roll. Using electric instruments at the end was a selfish thing that made the song work just for me.

I accept that it might not have been the best move for others.

Thanks again, Ken!

Scott

Scott,

Really nice rendition. Sometimes just playing a good song, even if it's not yours can stir creative flow. Sounds like you had fun with it. Nice job!

Scott,

Really nice rendition. Sometimes just playing a good song, even if it's not yours can stir creative flow. Sounds like you had fun with it. Nice job!

Hi Scott

Oh golly gosh this is, Wow, never heard the song before so I can't really comment on that hey, what I can tell you is, well done, you sing it so well, and the song style suits your vocal. Love it, so thanks Scott for making my afternoon a good one.

Hugs Michele

Thanks Tom.

You're right - that's happened to me several times. And with this one, I'm already starting to get images of my own from that time that I might try to work into a song.

Appreciate the listen and comments!

Scott

Hiya Aussie Girl!

Thanks! Glad it added something to your afternoon!

Scott

Scott,

Another really super job from you. I, too, am not familiar with the original. Didn't listen to a lot of Springsteen...maybe that has something to do with that!

I think some songs are natutally accomodating to the progressive layering of instrumentation. This one appears to be one of those songs. personally, I like just the acoustic banjo starting and then intorducing the other instruments incrementally. There was a country song back in 1972 called "Blanket On The Ground" that did the very same thing. Almost every person with whom I spoke who was a music biz professional raved about the production and enginmeering on the song. That approach adds anticipation for the listener and,, I think, keeps the interest level at its peak...the "Wow, I wonder what's next?" train of thought.

That same principal wporked for me with this one. And I love your raspy voice. Your vocals always have so much charcater because of it.

It is pretty cool that it's about your hometown. Unless one lives in a big city, there usually aren't any songs about a person's hometown. Of course, here in St. Louis, we W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" ( nope, he didn't play hockey to ther best of my knowledge ) and "Meet Me In St. Louis" from the play and movie of the same name.

I'm not normally much if a fan of folk music...sorry!...but this one had a "folky" feel to it and I liked a lot. Good job!

Alan

HI Alan:

Many thanks!

I'm not familiar with "Blanket on the Ground". I'll go check it out and learn a thing or two!

Youngstown had about 160,000 people at one time, I think. A city but not a major city. People were pretty stoked when someone wrote a song about it.

Thanks for checking it out and commenting, Alan.

Scott

Scott,

Real nice. You did us Youngstowners proud. Did you know Bruce showed up here one night after he released that song? Showed up almost un-announced and packed Stambaugh Auditorium just him and his guitar. I heard something on the radio that afternoon about him coming and kind of figured it was some sort of joke...but he came and played..alright

Kevin

Scott,

I prefered the stripped-down beginning with the banjo. I'm thinking banjo and harp on this would be the way to go. It's a stark song. I think stark songs on hard subjects work better stripped down. It plays to the contrast between the harshness and simplicity..just my two cents.

I've been listening to lots of Tom Russell lately. If you get a chance, check out the song, The Most Dangerous Woman in America. It's along the lines of Youngstown except about miners. From his new album called Blood and Candlesmoke. There's another tune on it called American Rivers you would like too.

Hi Scott

I really enjoy your rendition -- I cover a couple of Bruce's tunes...... Ha but I just don't have the right voice --- so they come out DIFFERENT ; ) jm

Hi Kevin:

I was in Florida by then - but my Mom sent me a clipping about it from the Vindicator. That would have been a show to see.

Glad this worked for you - and that you happened to see it.

Scott

Thanks for the heads-up Wendy - always on the lookout for something new and, if you like it, I suspect I will too.

You are probably right about stripping it down. I wasn't trying to come up with the best version of this one though - that's already been done.

Instead, I was trying to channel my own experiences. Youngstown Sheet and Tube shut down during my senior year in high school. Every memory I have from that time has a rock song playing in it.

Just a selfish thing - for fun.

Thanks Wendy!

Scott

Ah, it's more fun to put your own spin on it Joice.

Would like to hear them some time....

Thanks - glad you enjoyed!

Scott

This is a great arrangement and an even greater vocal. The distortion guitar and organ don't feel right in the mix, but thats a minor nit. You sold me that song and I wanted to hear every word. Loved it.

Hi Scott,

Love this cover. Your style seems natural with it, and the song could easily have been from your own portfolio!

I like the idea to introduce something to add drama towards the end, but I think the electric is off. Perhaps piano bass notes twice below middle C, or a deep pad of some kind, could work instead?

I like this and enjoyed it, loved the music, I think it sounds great..glyn

Hi Pete:

Thanks!

I'm thinking I shouldn't have those too parts you mentioned panned so wide - they are really more supporting parts and, if I center them more, might be more in the background. I'll give that a shot. Appreciate the comments.....

Scott

Thanks Mags!

I wish I could write a song so good.

I kind of like the idea of the electric guitar but that doesn't mean I couldn't experiment with other things. I hadn't thought of your ideas. They're worth a try.

Appreciate it!

Scott

Thanks much, Glyn. Glad it worked for you!

Scott

WOW! Double WOW!! Man this is one of the best songs in these pages! WOW!!

Hi Stan:

A song of Bruce's is going to stand out just about anywhere I reckon. Unless it's done totally ineptly of course, so I'll take just a little bit of the credit you are giving.

Many thanks,
Scott

Scott,
I like the song and your performance my friend. Interesting take on history... You're right about something distorting towards the end verses. It isn't clean and maybe could be cleaner. Other than that,, You did a great job on this Scott.
Your Friend,
BOB

Thanks Bob. I might have to do something about that

Appreciate it!

Scott

Great job Scott, I heard it after the revisions. I should have written that song. I must have missed it when it flew by.

Thanks Ben - I wish I'd written it too

However, I got a lot of memories and images when I was working on it and put my own together. Hope to record it in the next few days...

Scott