Classic covers: Dancing in the Dark
Another in a very occasional series…
Jim Eldon
Dancing in the Dark
Bruce Springsteen has been getting a bit of a kicking lately for not only daring to play the Super Bowl, but releasing his new CD through Wal-Mart over in the States. This flies in the face of his alleged anti-corporate, Pete Seeger obsessed, working class hero image.
As much as I like The Boss, I’ve never been particularly taken by his ‘man of the people’ persona. No, if you want a folk hero statement (of sorts) then look no further than Jim Eldon’s anti-Thatcherite take on one of Bruce’s biggest hits. Known as the ‘Bridlington Fiddler’, Jim has apparently been charming the holiday makers at this East Yorkshire seaside sanctuary with his seafaring folk tunes for years. And with his Bruce Springsteen and Clash covers.
‘Dancing in the Dark’, Jim Eldon, 1987 from More Great Moments of Vinyl History (compiled by Andy Kershaw, 2004, BBC)
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Tags: classic covers
February 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Now that’s more like it – I’ve always found Bruce Springsteen, and his everyman anthems deeply boring.. (and as a protest put my guitar through a Born In The Usa poster, live and onstage in my gigging days – circa ‘85)
Apparently he wasn’t always like this – when Bowie picked up on him around 74 – there are photos of a young beardy Bruce and ivory coloured, skeletal ( eyebrowless and with a RED beret) Bowie at the Young American sessions – which saw Bowie covering an early Springsteen tune.
Do you think the moniker – ‘Bridlington Fiddler’ may have possibly handbraked Jim’s career…
February 17th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Be careful now, PM, I like Bruce Springsteen, despite his everyman schtick! Just this morning I was preparing for a day back at work by listening to his miserablist classic Nebraska.
It’s hard to believe now that Bruce was once feted as the American rock music’s great new hope. I’ve heard Danny Baker for one, ruminating many times on how Bruce’s first gigs in London were absolutely mindblowing, both in their anticipation and in their delivery. And the Live at Hammersmith Odeon album is pretty damn good – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hammersmith-Odeon-London-75-2CD/dp/B000E97X66/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1234872484&sr=1-17
Yes, Briddlington Fiddler… speaks of other times doesn’t it?! Like the movie ‘The Gay Divorcee’…
February 17th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I’ve always liked some of the music from the Boss, but I’m not a devoted fan or anything. I never really got into the whole idea of him being the voice and face of the working class man. Heck, he’s made millions of dollars and lives as well off as any other celeb could.
February 17th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Precisely Keith. There is only so much of a working class hero you can be if you’re loaded, and have been so for at least two decades. He seems like a nice guy though!