Magic Tour Highlights

Let's get the obvious out of the way right off the bat: Magic Tour Highlights, the new Springsteen digital EP to benefit The Danny Federici Melanoma Fund, is not actually the Magic tour's highlights. (Depending on which shows you've attended, you can probably name five or six actual highlights off the top of your head.) But these are a terrific sampling of some of the tour's best guest spots, and one truly moving moment among old friends.

The two non-Springsteen compositions are the lightweights of this collection, which is not to say that they're not welcome additions to anyone's collection of official releases. Alejandro Escovedo's "Always a Friend" has a great Band/Petty vibe and makes you want to hear more of what this guy's about, if you don't already know. And "Turn, Turn, Turn" sounds, well, like "Turn, Turn, Turn." It's a nice tribute to Roger McGuin, and Bruce puts on his best high-register twang for the occasion.

But it's the other two cuts that make the package. "The Ghost of Tom Joad" with Tom Morello is just chilling, easily the best version of the song on record. Morello's gruff vocals are an effective counterpoint's to Springsteen's -- he comes off like his angrier younger brother. But that guitar work ... How he makes those sounds come out of that guitar I have no idea, but frankly, it's freaking me out.

As for "Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)," is it the best live version the band has recorded? Maybe not, but it's certainly the most poignant. Given what's transpired since, Danny Federici's accordion sounds more wistful and mournful than it possibly could have that night in Indianapolis.

A wonderful album that brings new life to two old favorites, and brings two songs new to Springsteen albums.

Tom Morello does an excellent job balancing out vocals on Ghost, and his edgy solo contrasts well with Springsteen's normal style.

Danny really plays his heart out for Sandy -- the accordion has never sung so sweetly or been filled with so much emotion. Bruce brings a joy and sorrow to the song that really shows you how hurt he is at losing a friend, but how glad he is to be able to send him off on stage, with the music they wrote and lived.

Turn! Turn! Turn! sounds like pure Byrds with a little E Street on top. Not a complaint if your as big a Byrds fan as I am.

Friend really brings a lot of energy to the album, and helps kick it off with a bang. And of course, having a 'new song' (even a cover) on a Springsteen album is always a plus!

Wow, what a way to wake up. Following my Tuesday Morning ritual I checked out Amazon and there was a thing
called "Magic Highlights" TRUELY MAGICAL" Man just when I don't really care what Bruce does anymore here
comes this thing. Music of Magical Proportions. To taste a bit of Musical Heaven, play the very first track. WoW!

Given the rising comeback popularity of vinyl (and some of the outrageous pricings some artists are charging for it), I would pay a hefty price for this on limited edition vinyl (say limit it to 100,000 copies). As would many other old foggy stereophiles such me. Put it out there for $30 plus a free download of the videos and MP3s with a vinyl purchase, and I'm in.

A wonderful cause and a kind gesture to the memory of Danny, and worth the pennies for the Tom Morello solo on Tom Joad, and the pain in Bruces' voice on Sandy. Touching.