Nils Lofgren – Mountains (Cattle Track) (Album Review)

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Nils Lofgren makes Mountains with his friends who include Ringo, Neil and the Croz.

As a member of Bruce’s E Street Band and Crazy Horse, Nils could be considered rock’s MVP. Originally he was in a power-pop band called Grin, but then forged a solo career beginning in the mid-70s, that continues, on and off, to this day.

Nils LofgrenNils’ previous solo record was thing called Blue With Lou, released in 2019 and featured co-writes with none other than Lou Reed that dated back to the 70s. This time around Lofgren has written all new material and, along with his co-producer and wife, Amy, has put together a modest, if pleasant record… which pretty much sums up his solo work.

Mountains opens with Ain’t The Truth Enough and the first thing we here is Ringo Starr on drums. Nils himself play some tasty slide guitar and his voice sound the same as it always has…distinctive but not quite compelling….with a slight Dylansque drawl. Backing vocalist Cindy Mizelle takes things up a notch.

It’s a good start, and the following track, Only Ticket Out is another mid-tempo rocker in the vein of Cry Tough or Keith Don’t Go, but not quite and memorable.

Speaking of Keith, Nils pays tribute to his old bandmate Charlie Watts on a tune called Won’t Cry No More (For Charlie Watts), a bluesy work out, again ably assisted by Ms. Mizelle’s vocal chops.

Other guests include the late David Crosby, who can be heard harmonizing on I Remember Her Name and ace bass player Ron Carter on Only Your Smile, a beauty of a piano ballad.

Not so beautiful is album closer, Angel Blues, a schmaltzy love song complete with a harp and a children’s choir.

Oh, and Nils does cover a Springsteen rarity. Back In Your Arms was written by The Boss back in ’95 and eventually released on the 1998 Tracks compilation. It’s a lovely song, but I’m suspicious of its origin. The song sounds very, very similar to a tune written and recorded by soul man John Ellison, of The Soul Brothers Six back in 1993. I know because I happened to produce that album and was surprised how familiar it sounded. Me thinks John might want to contact Bruce’s publishing company.

But back to Nils’ Mountains…Lofgren has never made a bad record, but he’s never made a great one either, and Mountains hasn’t changed a thing.

Marty Duda

Compare the two songs! Listen to Bruce Springsteen’s Back In Your Arms as recorded by Nils Lofgren and Welcome Back by John Ellison. (Note: both feature a gospel vocal group)

 

 

 

Marty Duda
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