Nils Lofgren
"The Ultimate Collection"
(Hip-O)
Grin
"The Very Best Of Grin featuring Nils Lofgren"
(Spindizzy/Legacy)
Which musician has played extensively with Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young (not to mention Ringo Starr)? Who plays the piano with skillful passion and guitar with crackling urgency and brawny technical prowess? Who used to thrill his fans with back flips off of a trampoline onstage? Nils Lofgren of course. First inspired by the guitar flash of the late Roy Buchanan, the diminutive rock and roller has been playing music since the mid-sixties. By the time Grin recorded their first LP in 1969 Lofgren was also playing piano on Neil Young's classic album "After The Goldrush." While Grin disbanded by the mid-seventies, Lofgren continued on making music and released a number of mildly successful solo albums. In 1984, Lofgren became a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band until they took their hiatus in 1988. When The Boss reactivated his old group Nils was again commissioned for duty and is currently touring with the Springsteen caravan.
But enough history, these two greatest hits compilations need some examination so let's get down to business. While the Grin collection captures young Nils in his formative years, there are still plenty of great performances to explore. A crunching American rock group with the capacity to indulge Lofgren's softer side, Grin's dual nature is exhibited on songs like "Sad Letter" and "Moon Tears." Grin had both variety and depth since Lofgren's youthful voice was often contrasted by drummer Bob Berberich's deep growl. Lofgren's songwriting embraced tender love ballads and tough rock anthems with equal enthusiasm. On "You're The Weight," Lofgren's guitar style is hot and relentless. With his brother Tom playing rhythm guitar behind him, Nils tears off some fluid lead guitar pyrotechnics with spellbinding ease. On 'Rusty Gun," Nils spins a folksy yarn about a gunfighter's misspent life before launching into an acoustic guitar flourish that has to be heard to be believed.
On the "Ultimate Collection" we find Nils at his songwriting and guitar-playing peak. A fascinating guitar stylist who uses plenty of harmonics and displayed a white-hot tone, Lofgren can play traditional psychedelic/hard rock like nobody's business. His lilting voice and sweet songwriting makes for an unusual combination with his savage string-bending, but Lofgren's adroit piano playing and anthemic balladry makes him one of the most well-rounded musicians working today. On his classic "Keith Don't Go" Lofgren pleads with the legendary Rolling Stone not to martyr himself with abuse. Nils then launches into some of his trademark guitar fireworks that make this track sound as fresh today as it was when it was recorded in 1975. While Lofgren's most successful song was also his most commercial effort; "I Came To Dance" is still typical Nils. With spooky slide guitar and an emphatic discussion with "Dr. Feelgood," Lofgren does what he must to get his girl -- dance. A true romantic, Nils Lofgren's rock and roll journey is best summed up by his bittersweet but optimistic ballad, "The Sun Hasn't Set On This Boy Yet."
Taken together, these two compilations document the thirty-year career of rock's most able-bodied guitar slinger. He's not really a star and never will be, but Nils Lofgren is still out there playing up a storm.
by Mitch Myers
copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc.