“Her Love Falls Like Rain” – Willie Nile

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Dave's Strange World

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From the 2009 album “House of a Thousand Guitars,” is a lovely ballad by Willie Nile. Nile is an immensely talented singer-songwriter who always seemed on the verge of breaking big, but never did due to various circumstances. He recorded some albums in the early 1980s for Arista with members of the Patti Smith Group as backup musicians. Pete Townsend was such a fan, he hired Nile to open some dates for the Who back in the 1980s. Among his fans and backing musicians over the years: Bruce Springsteen, Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Roger McGuinn, and many others. A vastly terrific and underrated talent.

“Highway Patrolman” – Johnny Cash

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Another stellar cover of a song from Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska” album. I find it great that so many terrific artists have covered songs from this understated classic. Sean Penn based the script for his directorial debut “The Indian Runner” on this song.

“Atlantic City” – The Band

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Here’s a cover I never expected … though the more I think about it, I’m not sure why that was my first reaction. While “Atlantic City” is about New Jersey mobsters and casino rats down on their luck, this Bruce Springsteen classic is a folk song at heart. And if anyone can do a folk song right, it’s The Band (with Levon Helm on vocals). A beautiful, beautiful cover.