Bruce Springsteen revealed what he believes is the greatest vocal on any rock song in history.
The iconic performer is known worldwide for his legendary musical sound and he knows that sometimes it’s not just about the song itself, but also the person performing. So when it comes to what he feels is the greatest rock ‘n’ roll vocal of all time his selection is one that found its feet when the vocalist put his own special ‘twist’ on it.
The track in question is none other than The Beatles 1964 smash Twist And Shout which was originally recorded in 1961 by the Top Notes before the Isley Brothers recorded their 1962 version which had some moderate success. However, when John Lennon and his bandmates Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison put their take on it the single became a global smash.
It was John’s performance that left Bruce in awe as he explains: “It’s just an incredible song. [There’s] two incredible recordings of it. One is The Isley Brothers, and obviously The Beatles, with John Lennon on one of his greatest rock and roll vocals of all time. It’s quintessentially rhythm and blues.”
Meanwhile, Bruce has recently heaped praise on another famous face – Adolescence star Stephen Graham. Stephen plays Bruce’s late father, Douglas “Dutch” Springsteen, in upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. After filming wrapped, Stephen received a heartfelt message from the 75-year-old rock legend, who had visited the set.
Bruce expressed to Stephen how his performance felt like a reunion with his dad. The film, which is set to hit screens later this year, stars Jeremy Allen White as “the Boss” and Jeremy Strong as Bruce’s manager and record producer.
It’s a Golden Globe-studded affair that promises to delve into the musician’s life after his seminal 1982 album Nebraska, which sold over a million copies in the US.
Reflecting on the experience and the touching text, Stephen shared: “[Bruce] sent me the most gorgeous texts I’ve ever had in my life because I do, I play his dad when his dad’s like, I play him in the eighties… It was so beautiful and just said, ‘Better than any award that I could ever receive in my life.’ He’s an icon. He’s a hero.”
Stephen couldn’t hide his excitement about being cast as Springsteen’s father, who passed away in 1998, in the movie slated for release by 20th Century Studios later this year. In a conversation on Soundtracking with Edith Bowman, Stephen shared: “He’s a working-class hero. He’s an icon to thousands, millions.
“And he just, his text just said, ‘thank you so much. You know, my father passed away a while ago and I felt like I saw him today and thank you for giving me that memory.’ I was crying reading the text, do you know what I mean? Oh, mate. It was beautiful. You couldn’t ask for anything more, you know, to share that with someone was gorgeous. He’s a lovely man,” he gushed.
Bruce Springsteen gives verdict on the greatest vocal on any song in rock and roll history
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