Tunnel vision

I live in a world seemingly full of Bruce Springsteen devotees. Which is fine, however, please don't try and doorstep me; I won't be hoodwinked by the (almost religious) fervour he brings out among his faithful disciples. That said, I am rather partial to a couple of his songs. Just not when he's singing them. In particular I absolutely love two of the numbers from his Tunnel of Love album: the imagery he evokes, if not directly tangible, is certainly very believable. The first, One Step Up as covered by Gregson & Collister, is sublime. Not a word too many not a word two few in this slice of Americana - a Goldilocks song and no mistake.

The second is one that appears to have been aped a zillion times, not least by Everything But the Girl who covered it on their 1992 tour when promoting their Acoustic covers EP. It's a double rebound song given the full country treatment here by one of Scotland's finest.

★

Camera Obscura - Tougher Than the Rest 

You're not The Boss of me

Bruce

* Born in the USA: 100 %

* Detachable nose: 0 %

* Sharing a bedroom with Ernie: 0 %

* Muppet: 32 %

* Downfall parody: 96 %

Bert

* Born in the USA: 100 %

* Detachable nose: 99 %

* Sharing a bedroom with Ernie: 98 %

* Muppet: 100 %

* Downfall parody: 0 %

Native New Yorker

Bruce Springsteen calls him The Boss 

 Professional Bronxite Dion DiMucci surprised everyone in 1989, coming back after a long lay off, with a set of tunes produced by one of his biggest fans, Dave Edmunds. Yo Frankie gave the veteran Doo Wopper a more contemporary sound while still staying true to the early rock and roll singles he was churning out in the '50s with his band The Belmonts.

 What didn't do it any harm either were the cameo appearances of two more fans, Lou Reed and Paul Simon; both of whom can be seen gurning at the camera in this promo video for Written on the Subway Wall.