Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Old Dan Tucker
2. Jesse James
3. Mrs McGrath
4. O Mary Don't You Weep
5. John Henry
6. Erie Canal
7. Jacob's Ladder
8. My Oklahoma Home
9. Eyes On The Prize
10. Shenandoah
11. Pay Me My Money Down
12. We Shall Overcome
13. Froggie Went A Courtin'
14. Buffalo Gals
15. How Can I Keep From Singing
16. How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live
17. Bring 'Em Home
18. American Land

Disc 2:

1. DVD Exclusive 40 Minute "Making Of..." Film. Includes filmed performances of:
2. John Henry (DVD)
3. Pay Me My Money Down (DVD)
4. Buffalo Gals (DVD)
5. Erie Canal (DVD)
6. O Mary Don't You Weep (DVD)
7. Jacob's Ladder (DVD)
8. Froggie Went A Courtin' (DVD)
9. Shenandoah (DVD)
10. How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live (new live tour video)
11. Bring' Em Home (new live tour video)
12. American Land (new live tour video)
13. Pay Me My Money Down (new live tour video)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2236 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: CD+DVD

Amazon.co.uk Review
The premise was simple. Bruce Springsteen invites a dozen or so New York City musicians--packing banjos, fiddles, accordions and the like--to his New Jersey farmhouse for a three-day hootenanny and leaves the tape rolling. The results are sublime, his 21st album featuring their versions of songs harvested from Springsteen's dog-eared LPs by Pete Seeger. Not all written by Seeger, the songs are how the American folk icon interpreted them, and these organic recordings, with no rehearsals or overdubs, pay tribute with the simplicity and spontaneity he intended. It's not hard to link Springsteen's dissatisfaction with American politics to the protest song "We Shall Overcome" or even the Irish ballad "Mrs McGrath," where he alters the lyrics to read, "I'd rather have my son as he used to be/Than the King of America and his whole navy." But the beauty of these Seeger Sessions are pieces that underscore the mood of the bandleader, which borders on down-home amusement: the bluegrass outlaw ballad "Jesse James," the Dylanesque "Pay Me My Money Down" and the euphoric "Jacob's Ladder," a gumbo-and-whiskey-fueled romp that could pass for the closing hymn at the Church of Asbury Park. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

Come back Sandy Denny
If, as I suppose, the main purpose of these reviews on Amazon is to orient prospective purchasers, then I had better warn all you die hard Bruce fans that you will be wasting your time if you read the following. My comments are aimed at the not so committed who, for example, rate "Tunnel Of Love", "Born To Run" and a few other albums but can take or leave a lot of his output for a variety of reasons. The main one being of course that he never lived up to the hype.
I am convinced that if some less well know musician had wanted to do this project they would have been turned down. There must be quite a few bands out there across the USA who on any given Friday or Saturday night are belting out these same songs and have always done so and will forever continue to do so. These are NOT songs in danger of oblivion (one of the reasons Springsteen offers for recording them).
The singing is raucous and insensitive; totally monochrome. Most of it is just a load of shouting.
The musicians are ok. But that's all and don't let the blurbs fool you: watch the accompanying DVD and then tell me if you really believe it was all such a great, free wheeling happy time as it was supposed to be.This is a load of unnecessary hoakum not very well done. No wonder it became available everywhere so soon for a fraction of the original asking price.
Pete Seeger fans, by the way, don't look for his originals because you'll only find two of them here despite the title.
The "future of rock and roll"? Yes,well. As a truly original musician once said,
"The past sure is tense."

Seeger sessions
This is such a good album. You cannot help but tap your feet along with each song and come off finishing the album with a big grin on your face It is good, simple, fun music. I love that you can hear the songs actually being performed and developing rather than a sterile studio album and it seems pretty obvious that a lot of fun was had making this music. The DVD is great to watch to soak up the atmosphere the music was played in and to see the group interaction. Bruce seems to be getting better and better and this is no exception.

A very satisfying non-E Street Bruce product
After about the fifth person has come to me recently saying "I'm not a Springsteen fan at all, but I really like that Seeger thing" it tells you all you need to know. When I heard the rumours before it was released - folk album, Pete Seeger, banjo's, recorded on his ranch....it was quite depressing....until you put the record on.

Its not often you can put a Bruce CD on at a party either. I tried it the other day and there was a room full of tapping feet.

Top quality stuff!