The cover of Graziano Romani’s album, “Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen.”
While researching an article in April on the songs that will be featured on Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming boxed set Tracks II: The Lost Albums, I discovered that one of them, “Don’t Back Down,” had been included on Italian singer-songwriter Graziano Romani’s 2001 album Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen. Looking into him a little further, I discovered a number of things.
Romani also released a followup in 2017: Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen.
Romani has recorded other Springsteen songs, on his own and with his bands The Rocking Chairs and Megajam 5. He also has performed some Springsteen songs live.
He tends to focus on obscure — or, at least, let’s say, rarely covered — Springsteen songs, rather than the ones that have been performed many times by many different artists.
His interpretations are generally straightforward but have a lot of passion and conviction. His voice is deep, rough-edged and resonant.
Here are 40 songs I was able to find on YouTube, with a Spotify playlist embedded below them. The songs are in the order that Romani recorded them, or performed them in concert, and I have included some information about the origins of each one. (Brucebase was an invaluable resource.)
I have also included a Spotify playlist with the 27 songs I was able to find there.
For more about Romani, visit grazianoromani.it.
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“Restless Nights.” From The Rocking Chairs’ 1987 album New Egypt, and also included on the 1997 multi-artist compilation, One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen’s original, a The River outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“Loose Ends.” From Megajam 5’s self-titled 1997 album. Springsteen’s original, a The River outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“Don’t Back Down.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen originally worked on this song from 1981 to 1983, and a version of it will be included on Tracks II: The Lost Albums.
“Streets of Fire.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978).
“Soul Driver.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on Human Touch (1992).
“Jesse.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen made a demo of this song in 1972 but has never released it in any form.
“Drive All Night.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on The River (1980).
“Leap of Faith. From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on Lucky Town (1992).
“Point Blank.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on The River (1980).
“Walk Like a Man.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on Tunnel of Love (1987).
“All I Need.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen gave this song to Gary U.S. Bonds to record on his album On the Line (1982).
“The Way.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original, a Darkness on the Edge of Town outtake, was included as a bonus track on The Promise in 2010.
“None But the Brave.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original, a Born in the USA outtake, was included on the bonus disc of the Essential Bruce Springsteen anthology in 2003.
“My Beautiful Reward.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on Lucky Town (1992).
“Night.” From Soul Crusader: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen (2001). Springsteen’s original is on Born to Run (1975).
“Stolen Car.” From The Rocking Chairs’ compilation Sparks of Passion: Best and Rarities (2002). Springsteen’s original is on The River (1980).
“Frankie.” From Up in Dreamland (2003). Springsteen’s original, a Darkness on the Edge of Town outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“The Promise.” From the multi-artist 2003 tribute album Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen. Later included on Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Different versions of Springsteen’s original, a Darkness on the Edge of Town outtake, were included on 18 Tracks, in 1999, and The Promise, in 2010.
“Racing in the Street.” Cover from 2005 concert. Springsteen’s original is from Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978).
“Real World.” From Between Trains (2008). Springsteen’s original is on Human Touch (1992).
“Wreck on the Highway.” Cover from 2008 concert. Springsteen’s original is on The River (1980).
“Be True.” Unplugged home recording from 2014. Springsteen’s original, a The River outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“The Price You Pay.” From Vivo/Live (2015). Springsteen’s original is on The River (1980).
“Hold On (To What You’ve Got).” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen gave this song to Gary U.S. Bonds to record on his album On the Line (1982).
“Protection.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen gave this song to Donna Summer to record on her self-titled 1982 album.
“Because the Night.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Co-written with Patti Smith and released by her Patti Smith Group as a single in 1977 and on their 1978 album Easter. Springsteen released his own version on his 2010 album The Promise.
“Club Soul City.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen gave this song to Gary U.S. Bonds to record on his album On the Line (1982).
“Love’s on the Line.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen gave this song to Gary U.S. Bonds to record on his album On the Line (1982).
“Man at the Top.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen’s original, a Born in the USA outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“Lift Me Up.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen’s original was included on the soundtrack of the 1999 movie “Limbo.”
“Lion’s Den.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen’s original, a Born in the USA outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“I Wanna Be With You.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen’s original, a Darkness on the Edge of Town outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“The Long Goodbye.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen’s original is on Human Touch (1992).
“Factory.” From Soul Crusader Again: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (2017). Springsteen’s original is on Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978).
“When the Lights Go Out.” Cover from 2017 concert. Springsteen’s original, a Human Touch outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“Something in the Night.” Cover from 2017 concert. Springsteen’s original is on Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978).
“The Fever.” Cover from 2017 concert. Springsteen first performed “The Fever” in concert in 1973; the first studio version was on Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes’ I Don’t Want to Go Home album in 1976.
“Thunder Road.” Cover from 2018 concert. Springsteen’s original is on Born to Run (1975).
“Happy.” Cover from 2018 concert. Springsteen’s original, a Lucky Town outtake, was included on his 1998 boxed set Tracks.
“Badlands.” Cover from 2024 concert. Springsteen’s original is on Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978).
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