Western Stars: Songs from the Film

by Bruce Springsteen

Overview

Bruce Springsteen chose not to tour behind Western Stars, the lush album he released at the start of the summer of 2019. Instead, he decided to underscore its cinematic undercurrent by releasing a film documenting a performance of the album's songs recorded with a full orchestra in an old barn. In the film, the songs are punctuated by stories and narration from Bruce, but the soundtrack album merely replicates the running order of the studio album, adding a cover of Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy" as an elegiac closer (its key line "there's been a load of compromisin'/on the road to my horizon" could be sung by any of Bruce's characters on Western Stars). Springsteen reportedly labored over Western Stars for years, so it's not surprising that the arrangements on Western Stars: Songs from the Film essentially mimic those on the studio set; not only did he get those tunes right on record, he was out promoting the album. Because of this, Western Stars: Songs from the Film doesn't pack a wallop, but it does have its own distinct vibe, largely due to his vocal performance. On the studio set, he can soar with grace, but here Springsteen seems a little weathered -- a tonal texture that suits his bittersweet tunes, and also lends itself well to the occasional harmony from Patti Scialfa. Springsteen's earthy phrasing helps ground these songs and makes for an intriguing, occasionally moving complement to the main album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/2019
Label:	Columbia / Sony Music
UPC:	0190759954522

Tracks

1. Hitch Hikin¿¿¿
2. The Wayfarer
3. Tucson Train
4. Western Stars
5. Sleepy Joe¿¿¿s Caf¿¿
6. Drive Fast (The Stuntman)
7. Chasin¿¿¿ Wild Horses
8. Sundown
9. Somewhere North of Nashville
10. Stones
11. There Goes My Miracle
12. Hello Sunshine
13. Moonlight Motel
14. Rhinestone Cowboy

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bruce Springsteen   Primary Artist,Vocals,Director,Featured Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Patti Scialfa   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Charlie Giordano   Organ,Piano,Accordion
Gunnar Olsen   Drums
Thom Zimny   Director
Robin Zeh   Violin
Maurycy Banaszek   Viola
Elizabeth Lim-Dutton   Violin
Curt Ramm   Trumpet
Kevin Buell   Guitar
Maureen McDermott   Cello
Emma Sutton   Violin
Zohar Schondorf   French Horn
Annaliesa Place   Violin
Rachel Drehmann   French Horn
Alan Stepansky   Cello
Monica Davis   Violin
Joanna Maurer   Violin
Joyce Hamann   Violin
Andrew Janss   Cello
Celia Hatton   Viola
Will Frampton   Viola
Maggie Gould   Violin
Laura Lutze   Violin
Surrenity XYZ   Vocals (Background)
Soozie Tyrell   Vocals (Background)
Lisa Lowell   Vocals (Background)
Barry Danielian   Trumpet
Ben Butler   Banjo,Guitar (Electric)
Kaveh Rastegar   Guitar (Bass)
Rob Mathes   Piano,Keyboards,Musical Direction
Vaneese Thomas   Vocals (Background)
Henry Hey   Keyboards
Marc Muller   Banjo,Pedal Steel,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Patti Scialfa   Vocal Arrangement
Barbara Carr   Producer
Brandon Duncan   Music Editor
Thom Zimny   Producer
Shari Sutcliffe   Music Contractor
George Travis   Producer
Kevin Buell   Technician
Michelle Holme   Design,Artwork
John Cooper   Engineer
Rob Lebret   Engineer
Rob Demartin   Photography
Joe Desalvo   Photography
Bob Clearmountain   Mixing
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Larry Weiss   Composer
John Harris   Engineer
Sandra Park   String Contractor
Ron Aniello   Engineer,Producer
Rob Mathes   Arranger
Danny Clinch   Photography
Joel Singer   Engineer
Bruce Springsteen   Composer,Executive Producer