Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Made in the U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen's blue-collar anthems are built around a basic rock and blues foundation, a trait that lends his songs an easy adaptability when covered by other artists, and there is ample evidence of that on the Bruce Springsteen Tribute: Made in the U.S.A. collection. From Eric Rigler's bagpipe version of "Born in the U.S.A.," which opens and closes the album, to Richard Furay (of Buffalo Springfield and Poco fame) singing "If I Should Fall Behind," it is hard to imagine stranger pairings of artist to song. Sometimes it works (Little Milton's moving take on "I'm on Fire") and sometimes it doesn't (Mike Love sounds tired, old, and clueless on "Hungry Heart"). Sometimes the idea (Ronnie Spector singing "Brilliant Disguise") is simply a lot more exciting than the execution. Tribute albums are often a mixed bag at best, but at least this one takes some chances, and that's worth a couple stars.