My apologies for the recent skip days: I’ve had a busy couple of weeks with work and family travel. We should be back in a groove now, though, so let’s start back up with one of my favorite recent Springsteen covers.
Rob Notes is a German singer-songwriter with incredible range, no matter how you measure it: musically (he’s equally at home at the piano or with an electric guitar), vocally (with a range of more than three octaves), and in his choice of material, which includes both original songs and covers of classics from Bette Midler to Bruce Springsteen.
A few weeks ago, Rob debuted an album of fresh cover arrangements, called (appropriately) CoverTime. And while I may be biased, I think the standout track is his seventies hard rock version of “Spirit in the Night.”
No matter how many times I listen to it (and I’ve listened to it a lot), my mind can’t quite believe this isn’t a vintage 1970s recording, so perfectly does Notes capture the guitar rock sound of the era.
And if the arrangement doesn’t sufficiently wow you, how about the fact this is a solo track? That’s Rob on all instruments and vocals, right down to a killer guitar solo. Even the soundstage is dynamic–this is a track you should listen to with headphones on.
Check out more of Rob’s music here, and let’s hope he takes another dip into Bruce’s catalog soon.
If Bon Jovi had written this back in the day…