Today's Humpday Happytrack is a cover of Bruce Springsteen's great song, Dancing in the Dark.
The artist is Ruth Moody - she is best known as one of the founders of the Wailin' Jennys, the female roots music supergroup. Ruth started out as a solo artist and she continued to pursue her solo career, separate from the Jennys. We are lucky that she kept making her own music. This woman has an amazing voice, and she is one of those people that is the master of several instruments - guitar, banjo and more.
There are live versions of this song on YouTube. I am partial to the album version for reasons I will discuss below. Here is Ruth's version of Dancing in the Dark. Click on the link and check it out.
Why do I love this track?
First of all, Ruth Moody sings like an angel - a pensive, wistful angel that is quietly expressing great emotion with every note she sings. She is a Canadian bluegrass artist, classically trained and soaked in instrumental expertise and yearning bluegrass vocal harmonies. She brings that vocal instrument to this Springsteen classic.
Second, the source material is well-chosen. This is, in my opinion, Springsteen's best song.
Third, the production and musical arrangement are outstanding. The track has subtle rhythmic urgency that is intense enough that I didn't even notice the absence of a drummer on the track. The vocal harmonies are impeccable. The instrumental voicings bring the feel of chamber music to this 1980's rock anthem - viola, bowed double bass, acoustic guitar and rhythm work on the mandolin. Ruth and her team turn this tune into meditative musical poetry.
Finally, the topper - near the end of the track, there is an outstanding jazz mandolin solo that darts in and out of the vocal harmonies before the song comes to an abrupt halt. I haven't been able to determine who played the mandolin on that track - I'm trying to find the original album notes.
My strong recommendation - dig into Ruth Moody's solo work. The Wailin' Jennys discography is also worthy of attention. Enjoy Ruth's great music!
I think this version of Dancing in the Dark would leave The Boss shaking his head in amazement.
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