Video: Steve Forbert “On the Streets of This Town”

It’s retro Friday once again, which means that we’re dipping into the archives to find some great music from years gone by.  This week it’s the turn of the legendary Steve Forbert.  ‘On the Streets of This Town’ is probably the perfect Steve Forbert song. It features a wonderfully rasping, gritty vocal, engaging and surprising lyrics and a gorgeous tune you can hum along to, all flowing over a pulsing rhythm.  In the narrative, Forbert feels he’s given all he can in a relationship but sings: “…all I’ve gotten back // Is this feeling that I lack // What I’m needing to live.”  It’s a bleak, lonesome story hidden behind such a lovely melody.  Later, he laments: “And you say you don’t see it // When a grown man starts to cry // You turn your face away and you walk on by.”   Listen to how that sweet, pure harmonica flutters as the song draws to a close.  The song is taken from ‘Streets of This Town’, the 1988 album that was Forbert’s first in six years.  It’s a collection of brilliant songs, produced by E Street Band bass player Garry Tallent; and the great guitarist Nils Lofgren also makes an appearance on one of the songs, ‘Wait a Little Longer’.

After enjoying this peek back in time, check out Forbert’s brand new material.  Over the years, Forbert has been highly prolific with new albums dropping regularly.  He has just released yet another acclaimed studio album ‘Moving Through America’.  It’s astounding that he’s been able to sustain such quality over a career spanning more than four decades.  Forbert has one of music’s most distinctive voices and it’s used to great effect here.  Enjoy.