The first mis-step in Springsteen's career was the botched simultaneous release of Human Touch and Lucky Town. Packaged like gas station cut-outs, it was a strange way of kissing off the E Street Band. They sold, because he'd built a bullet-proof fanbase by this time, hungry for rock n' roll after the five year wait since the muted Tunnel Of Love, but the critical reaction was brutal. He'd dumped the world's most-loved band for session musicians playing A.O.R.? What the actual?
Springsteen started recording Human Touch in '89, but his crippling indecision and lack of confidence (hello clinical depression) kept delaying the release until he realised he'd already shifted gear into Lucky Town, well into '92. There was no right way to do this, so he went with the wrong. Long-time fans felt betrayed, critics sneered, and when the dust finally settled Lucky Town got grudging approval, while Human Touch remained the pariah for its smooth, radio-friendly production, and lack of both throat-scorching anthems and dustbowl misery. And it was just too damn long.
Critics predictably dismissed the Human Touch outtakes on Tracks, probably without hearing them, because by this time critical consensus had compressed into diamond-hard fact. Fooey, I say. And fooey on the fans, too: in 2012 they ranked it Springsteen's worst album in an online poll. It's generally better to disregard both critics and fans alike, they're all idiots, and make your own mind up, preferably led by my opinions, which are swell.
Human Touch, as released, was too short, a compromised album-and-a-half that confused everybody. The Tracks outtakes are in no way inferior, adding variety and depth, songs that would be high points in anyone else's œuvre [Fr. - egg - Ed.]. The playing is superb - sneering at "session musicians" should be a crime - and the album sounds fantastic. Jon Landau finds the bass at last, and The Two Bobs - Clearmountain and Ludwig - ensure not a frequency is lost. If you can bear to, compare and contrast the headachey later productions of the cauliflower-eared hod-carrier Brendan O'Brien.
The old loyalties and disappointments have become irrelevant - this is a fine piece of work, and a very long way from his worst. If you care at all about Springsteen, you'll already rate the splendid Lucky Town, but the rubbish written and unthinkingly repeated about Human Touch might have put you off. Kick critical consensus to the curb, and - if you're still blessed with the ability - let it rock.
That track list in full (click to tumesce):
Okay! Let's talk about our favorite Led Zeppelin albums! Mine is III. Very special, magical album that doesn't quite sound like any other they recorded.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Human Touch up. I always leaned toward this one myself. III was the first (and only) Zep album I bought (cool moving cover) and it's still about the only one I will play.
ReplyDeleteThis is your personal link
Delete, Mr Ryg, complete with certificate of authentication signed by [illegible].
Thanks for the comment, Mr. Ryg! I'll loadup the album tomorrow, my time!
ReplyDeleteUsually III. But often it is II, and almost just as often Physical Graffiti, or I. And sometimes it is IV, or Houses Of The Holy.
ReplyDeleteI just never really got into Zeppelin, and although there are several tracks pretty much spread over their releases that I really like, I can't say that there's one album I can call a favourite.
ReplyDeleteI possess a physical copy of "Led Zeppelin Remasters" which pretty much has all I need.
Apart from "When the Levee Breaks". Leaving that off was a small crime.
DeleteHuh. That's certainly one way of going about Bruce's most "problematic" album. I'm with the "throw off some mediocrities" rather than "pile on more of the same stuff" crowd, but if that's the way you're going, might as well make it the Full Monty...
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/Jj2jsecWEQj
Thirty Days Out. Not an unreleased outtake. Was a b-side to "Human Touch" on Maxi-Cd's (remember those?) in some territories. Okay rock song, about as good as most of the album.
Maybe you don't want to put it into your curated track list, but if anyone really wants the complete released Human Touch
As for the Zep, it's Houses Of The Holy.
ReplyDeletea late day fave=
ReplyDeletethis long song Achilles Last Stand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t4KLOm7pO0
Page called it his favourite Led Zeppelin song in several interviews, and considers its guitar solo on a par with his "Stairway to Heaven" solo.
If you don't already have it, you should check out a bootleg titled "The Dragon Snake Remastered", it has a very nice live "Achilles". Actually, the entire thing sound and performance wise sounds like an official release.
DeleteThnx for tip!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv_RienN_64
[whole show]
Physical Graffiti, III and Coda is pretty great.
ReplyDeleteIn keeping with your Springsteen redux project, Zeppelins In through the Outdoor is rather poor, so I removed a couple of stinkers from that album and added the contemporary Darlene, Ozone Baby and Wearing and Tearing that were released on Coda. It was better, but still not great.
On the other hand, In Through The Outdoor has them experimenting. Not everything works, but at least they were trying for something different after years of stasis.
DeleteOne man's stasis is another's world domination by development of new musical form, I guess.
DeleteOBG, I guess so. Jimmy Page was not too 'well' at the time.
DeleteYeah, the drugs got him good at that time. So basically Plant and John Paul Jones had to conceive much of the record by themselves and used Page's absence to experiment with stuff Page wasn't into, like country or synth-based songs. And of course Page afterwards dutifully trashed "All Of My Love" which doesn't sound much like classic Zep, but which I find touching and affecting nonetheless, even if you don't know that he sung it for his dead son. It's worth wondering what a more synth-based Zep sound could've done or been in the 80s but of course Bonham's death put an end to the could have been's there.
DeletePlants first 2 solo albums had a fair bit of synth, but were great at the time. However his later albums of 80's and 90's sounded awful to these ears. I think he redeemed himself with The Sensational Space Shifters.
DeleteWhat did you think of his album with Allison Krauss? It seemed at the time lmike it should be right up my alley, but I never really liked it much, or at least as much as I imagined I would. I blame it on T-Bone Burnett's production.
DeleteYes pretty good, haven't played it in ages though.
DeleteBabs, belated thanks for the tip to that Roy Clark Vegas album.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it Mr. Pune.
DeleteWhen I first heard it, in the early 70s, I was taken back by the high level of musicianship on display.
II...still getta kick outta "Heartbreaker, Livin' Lovin' Maid" & "Thank you"
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly little love for IV...is it because everyone's sick of "Stairway To Heaven"?
ReplyDeleteOBG Yep, I'm sick of Stairway, so rarely play IV anymore, but other than Stairway, it is all pretty great.
DeleteStairway To Heaven is a fantastic song that's been played to death and no one needs to hear it again. But there are some other choice cuts on IV that I like a lot.
ReplyDeleteTough question. Today I'd say it's a tie between II and IV though, like every Zep album, both have songs I'd rather skip. Other days it could easily be any of the first 5 (not a big fan of PG as a whole but side 3 is pretty nice).
ReplyDelete