Various Artists
The Bridge School Concerts: Volume One
»
Various Artists
The Bridge School Concerts: Volume One
Reprise, 1997
RiYL: Neil Young, MTV’s 'Unplugged' Series |
The first is the unfortunate story of Neil Young. His two sons, from two marriages, were both born with multiple sclerosis. As Young realized the trials his sons might face, he and his second wife, Pegi, began raising money to build a school to provide an equal education for children with disabilities such as the one their own kids possessed.
The second is the annual benefit concerts that occur in the Bay Area. Every year since 1986, Young has assembled an amazing cast of some of the biggest names in rock music to play mostly acoustic sets, with all proceeds going to the Bridge School. The list of performers includes enough stars for any rock fan to salivate over tickets: Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Simon & Garfunkel, Tom Petty, Beck, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Patti Smith, among others.
The Bridge School Concerts: Vol. One captures a sampling of 10 years of these concerts with songs from some of the biggest names on the above list. Hopefully, this collection's label Vol. One means there will be more to follow, since over the years, the Bridge School benefits have provided some incredible live moments. Vol. One collects mostly the obvious choices, sometimes at the price of being too obvious.
Young opens the disc with "I Am A Child," a song that exemplifies the thought behind the concerts. But who hasn't heard acoustic versions of the song multiple times already? The same goes for Pearl Jam, who turn in a great version of "Nothingman." Although the song is something of a Pearl Jam live rarity, why not include something a little more interesting, such as the rearranged version "Corduroy" that was performed the same night?
But the album does make up for this with some truly noteworthy moments. A rare 1993 Simon & Garfunkel performance of "America" shows despite their differences, the two can still make brilliant music together. The song begins slowly with only the duo's tight vocal harmonies and Simon's minimal guitar accompaniment before a backing band kicks in to give the soaring harmonies some extra punch.
Tom Petty's roaring solo version of "Show of A Doubt (A Complex Kid)" is among the most intense songs on the CD. Also notable is Bowie performing a buoyant, acoustic version of "Heroes" and Patti Smith capturing the concerts' tone with a rallying "People Have The Power."
Some of the disc's best moments come in the form of one band covering another. Don Henley and his band almost rival Simon & Garfunkel in the harmony department as they cover the Beatles' "Yes It Is." And Ministry is dead-on aping the faux bluegrass of the Grateful Dead's "Friend Of The Devil" (who knew Al Jourgensen could actually sing?). The only cover that doesn't work is the Lovemongers' version of "Battle Of Evermore." Once again, who hasn't heard this version countless times already?
Another thing that makes Vol. One worth the money is hearing some of the musicians flub up. Elvis Costello begins a heartbreakingly good version of "Alison" before Young comes on stage and ruins the moment by attempting to harmonize with Costello.
Although many of the songs on the CD are ones you've heard before in similar ways, Vol. One is worth owning for the rare moments. And the other songs all fit in the acoustic mood. Besides, as with the concerts, all the money goes to the school, and that alone makes the disc a must-buy.
PATRICK KASTNER | Affectionately known as Cousin Patty (yes, it's a "Throw Momma From The Train" reference), Patrick Kastner is a designer for the Columbus Post-Dispatch.