The Ghost of Tom Joad
Occupation
- Bruce Springsteen ─ vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards
- Marty Rifkin ─ guitar
- Soosie ─ Tyrell violin, backing vocals
- Danny Federici ─ Accordion, Keyboards
- Chuck Plotkin ─ Keyboards
- Garry Tallent ─ bass
- Jim Hanson ─ bass
- Jennifer Condos ─ bass
- Gary Mallaber ─ drums, percussion
- Lisa Lowell ─ backing vocals
- Patti Scialfa ─ backing vocals
The Ghost of Tom Joad is the eleventh studio album by American rock musician Bruce Springsteen and was released in 1995 on Columbia Records. After the release of the album, Springsteen joined a solo tour, called The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour.
General
Tom Joad, the titular character of the album, is the main character of John Steinbeck's Depression novel The Grapes of Wrath and in the songs of mourning Springsteen is a sign that America the working class and immigrants has turned his back, as in the times of the Great Depression of the 1930s years. The characters are modern, but the stories are as old as the Great Depression, the chronicler John Steinbeck was. Springsteen himself says that it has inspired John Ford's adaptation of Steinbeck's novel about this album. The title song, along with " Youngstown ", are the only two songs on the album that could be heard in the concert repertoire Springsteen.
Musically and lyrically the album in the tradition of Nebraska can be seen, which was published in 1982. In contrast to this but the songs are arranged with a larger number of instruments, with five songs were recorded with a full band.
The album reached the Billboard album charts only 11th place, interrupting the series of top places of the previous albums.
Title list
Words and music by Bruce Springsteen
Awards
The magazine Rolling Stone recorded the album in their list of "Essential Recording of the 90's " on, in Q Magazine it was one of the 50 best albums of the year 1995; for the Mojo magazine, it is one of " 100 Modern Classics " .1997 received the album Grammy Award for " Best Contemporary Folk Album."
Criticism
- Rolling Stone Magazine - Mikal Gilmore: ... Springsteen Has givenName voice to people who rarely have one in this culture. ( ... gives Springsteen a voice to those who rarely in this culture, a. )
- Melody Maker ( 18 11 1995, p.37 ): ... 12 fables ... [ did ] illuminate how the outside forces of chance and fate shape personal destiny ... " (12 fables that illuminate how external powers the opportunities and fortunes of the people influence. )
- New Musical Express ( Magazine) ( 18, 11, 1995, p.46 ): ... With THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD, Springsteen has ... re -established himself as a moving voice in a tradition of social documentary ... " ( the Ghost of Tom Joad with Springsteen again returned as moving voice in the tradition of social reportage. )
- AMG: .. one of Springsteen 's most deeply personal works ( ... a most personal of Springsteen's works )