VA - One Step Up, Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen [2CD] (1997)

One Step Up / Two Steps Back: Songs of Springsteen is one of the most ambitious tribute records ever assembled, boasting two discs and 28 tracks of Bruce Springsteen covers. Comprised equally of newly recorded numbers and previously released tracks, the album is divided between classic Springsteen numbers on disc one, and unreleased songs, rarities and tunes the Boss never recorded on disc two. By and large, the performances are faithful to the songs and Springsteen's heartland rock aesthetic, which shouldn't be surprising considering Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, John Hiatt, Clarence Clemons, Nils Lofgren, Joe Grushecky, Marshall Crenshaw and Dave Alvin all contribute tracks. But the best moments on the collection come from artists like the Smithereens, John Wesley Harding, Syd Straw and David Bowie, who stretch Springsteen's sound and make the songs their own. Those are the cuts that make One Step Up / Two Steps Back interesting for non-fanatics, but any diehard Springsteen fan should take a listen to this collection, since the interpretations are all of a consistently high quality.