Bruce Springsteen & The Hold Steady

August 1, 2022 10:36 AM

I wondered about this in a recent post on Bruce Springsteen performing a Lorde cover but no one answered, so I guess I'll put it here. Has Springsteen ever covered a song by The Hold Steady, and/or has the reverse ever been documented of Hold Steady covering Bruce? He and Craig Finn seem to strongly share a musical lineage and style, so it seemed likely. Thanks in advance!
posted by The Pluto Gangsta to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Best answer: The Hold Steady has covered Atlantic City.
posted by songs about trains at 10:42 AM on August 1, 2022 [6 favorites]

Best answer: Has Springsteen covered a song by The Hold Steady? Seemingly not, live (Setlist.fm) nor recorded (WhoSampled)

Has The Hold Steady covered Springsteen? 'Atlantic City' (WhoSampled), apparently.
posted by box at 10:43 AM on August 1, 2022 [2 favorites]

Gosh, that would be cool! I've thought the same thing- the guitar/piano/confessional mix makes it perfect.
posted by SaharaRose at 11:48 AM on August 1, 2022

I haven't really kept up with The Hold Steady after Boys and Girls in America except for cursory listens, but the first two records are among my favorites of all time and there's a couple of explicit references to Springsteen songs on them.

"Barfruit Blues" from Almost Killed Me:

Half the crowd is calling out for "Born To Run" / The other half is calling out for "Born To Lose" / Baby, we were born to choose / We got the last call bar band really, really, really big decision blues

"Charlemagne in Sweatpants" from Separation Sunday:

Tramps like us / and we like tramps

I also think there might be an oblique reference between Springsteen's "waste your summer praying in vain / for a savior to rise from these streets" in "Thunder Road" and usage of "savior" in "The Swish" and "How a Resurrection Really Feels" on those two respective Hold Steady records beyond just a reference to Christ.
posted by ndfine at 12:14 PM on August 1, 2022 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone for a fast response. It shouldn't surprise me that the cover came from a covers album where the original artists specifically chose who would perform their songs. I suppose Bruce is as aware of the comparisons as I am!

Maybe one day they'll tour together, and do shows at venues I probably won't be able to afford tickets for...
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 5:03 PM on August 1, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: In addition to the answers you've already received: Bruce Springsteen had Craig Finn come up and sing "Rosalita" at Carnegie Hall.
posted by honey wheat at 5:54 PM on August 1, 2022 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: That's a great clip! Is there any better audio/video source for that?
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 3:59 PM on August 2, 2022