Bruce Springsteen

Yes, it’s finally official! Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band will be performing at the halftime show of Superbowl XLIII in Tampa on February 1st.

The announcement came during halftime of last night’s Eagles/Bears game at Soldier Field in Chicago. There was a small montage of footage from Springsteen’s run at Giants Stadium this past July.

All that’s left now is the wondering and guessing of what Bruce will choose to play on the world’s biggest stage. I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that “Born to Run” will be played somewhere in the set. However, the others will be much less predictable as there are a plethora of songs he can choose from. Likely candidates include “Badlands”, “Born in the U.S.A.”, “Dancing in the Dark”, “Glory Days”, “Hungry Heart”, and even “Radio Nowhere.” Having said this, I would not be entirely surprised to see him go with “Thunder Road” or even “Out in the Street” (although I feel the latter is not as likely, I still would not be surprised per say).

Also, let’s not forget that we will likely see the E Street Band embark on a tour directly following the appearance. All sources suggest that the tour will go right up until the time when Max Weinberg will make big jump to “The Tonight Show” with Conan O’Brien. Conan’s big debut is scheduled for June 1st, 2009 with his last date in the 12:30 slot coming around the end of December.

Now that we have an idea of what Bruce will be doing next year, how about his plans for the rest of 2008? Well, we do know that the E Street Band has no more dates scheduled for the current year. However, we might see Bruce pop up here and there with the annual “Light of Day” benefit concert scheduled for November 1st at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park. Also, nobody has said anything about Holiday Shows yet right? Who is to say that we won’t be rocking Convention Hall in December?

Let’s see what happens!

In honor of today being the first day of Bruce’s sixtieth year, let’s take a look back at setlists from each year in which he performed (starting with 1975) on or very close to September 23rd (only the 22nd, 23rd, and the 24th qualify). So, here we go!

23/09/75 - ANN ARBOR, MI - UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

THUNDER ROAD / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / PRETTY FLAMINGO / GROWIN’ UP / IT’S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / THE E ST SHUFFLE / SHA LA LA / SHE’S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / BACKSTREETS / KITTYS BACK / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA / DETROIT MEDLEY - BACK IN THE USA / 4TH JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / QUARTER TO THREE / CAROL / TWIST AND SHOUT

22/09/79 - NEW YORK, NY - MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 

MUSE BENEFIT CONCERT 

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / BADLANDS / THE PROMISED LAND / THE RIVER / SHERRY DARLING / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA / BORN TO RUN / STAY / QUARTER TO THREE

24/09/81 - HONILULU,HI

WEDDING RECEPTION FOR CLARENCE CLEMONS - SET DETAILS ARE UNKNOWN

22/09/84 - PITTSBURGH, PA - CIVIC ARENA

BORN IN THE USA / OUT IN THE STREET / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / ATLANTIC CITY / STATE TROOPER / HIGHWAY PATROLMAN / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN / GLORY DAYS / THE PROMISED LAND / THE RIVER / TRAPPED / BADLANDS / THUNDER ROAD / HUNGRY HEART / DANCING IN THE DARK / CADILLAC RANCH / CANDY’S ROOM / DOWNBOUND TRAIN / I’M ON FIRE / COVER ME / GROWIN’ UP / BOBBY JEAN / JERSEY GIRL / ROSALITA / JUNGLELAND / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / TWIST AND SHOUT - DO YOU LOVE ME / SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

23/09/85 - DENVER, CO - MILE HIGH STADIUM

BORN IN THE USA / BADLANDS / OUT IN THE STREET / JOHNNY 99 / SEEDS / ATLANTIC CITY / THE RIVER / WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY / TRAPPED / I’M GOIN’ DOWN / GLORY DAYS / THE PROMISED LAND / MY HOMETOWN / THUNDER ROAD / COVER ME / DANCING IN THE DARK / HUNGRY HEART / CADILLAC RANCH / DOWNBOUND TRAIN / I’M ON FIRE / PINK CADILLAC / BOBBY JEAN / THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND / BORN TO RUN / RAMROD / TWIST AND SHOUT - DO YOU LOVE ME / STAND ON IT / TRAVELLIN’ BAND

23/09/89 - SEA BRIGHT, NJ - THE RUMRUNNER

AROUND AND AROUND / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN / STAND BY ME / WHAT’D I SAY / GLORY DAYS / HAVIN’ A PARTY / TWIST AND SHOUT

22-09-92 - LOS ANGELES, CA - WARNER HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

RED HEADED WOMAN / BETTER DAYS / LOCAL HERO / LUCKY TOWN / ATLANTIC CITY / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / BOOK OF DREAMS / 57 CHANNELS / THE BIG MUDDY / LIVING PROOF / IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND / LEAP OF FAITH / LEAP OF FAITH #2 / MANS JOB / ROLL OF THE DICE / GROWIN’ UP / HUMAN TOUCH / SOUL DRIVER / SOULS OF THE DEPARTED / I WISH I WERE BLIND / THUNDER ROAD / MY BEAUTIFUL REWARD / LIGHT OF DAY / LOCAL HERO #2 / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN #2 / GLORY DAYS

24/09/96 - KALAMAZOO, MI, - MILLER AUDITORIUM

THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD / ATLANTIC CITY / STRAIGHT TIME / HIGHWAY 29 / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / JOHNNY 99 / HIGHWAY PATROLMAN / IN MICHIGAN / SELL IT AND THEY WILL COME / BROTHERS UNDER THE BRIDGES / BORN IN THE USA / DRY LIGHTNING / SPARE PARTS / YOUNGSTOWN / SINALOA COWBOYS / THE LINE / BALBOA PARK / ACROSS THE BORDER / BOBBY JEAN / THIS HARD LAND / THERE’LL NEVER BE ANY OTHER FOR ME BUT YOU / GALVESTON BAY / THE PROMISED LAND

23/09/97 - COLT’S NECK, NJ - SPRINGSTEEN RESIDENCE

PRIVATE PARTY FOR BRUCE - SET DETAILS UNKNOWN

24/09/99 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - THE SPECTRUM

GROWIN’ UP / NO SURRENDER / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / TWO HEARTS / THE PROMISED LAND / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / MANSION ON THE HILL / INDEPENDENCE DAY / YOUNGSTOWN / MURDER INCORPORATED / BADLANDS / OUT IN THE STREET / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE OUT / WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY / THE FEVER / BACKSTREETS / LIGHT OF DAY / BOBBY JEAN / BORN TO RUN / THUNDER ROAD / IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND / LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

22/09/02 - DENVE, CO - PEPSI ARENA

THE RISING / LONESOME DAY / THE TIES THAT BIND / THE FUSE / CANDY’S ROOM / EMPTY SKY / YOU’RE MISSING / WAITIN’ ON A SUNNY DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / WORLD’S APART / BADLANDS / TWO HEARTS / MARY’S PLACE / COUNTIN’ ON A MIRACLE / RACING IN THE STREET / INTO THE FIRE / DANCIN’ IN THE DARK / I’M A ROCKER / RAMROD / BORN TO RUN / MY CITY OF RUINS / BORN IN THE USA / LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS

24/09/02 - KANSAS CITY, MO - KEMPER ARENA

THE RISING / LONESOME DAY / NIGHT / THE FUSE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / EMPTY SKY / YOU’RE MISSING / WAITIN’ ON A SUNNY DAY / THE PROMISED LAND / WORLD’S APART / BADLANDS / SHE’S THE ONE / MARY’S PLACE / COUNTIN’ ON A MIRACLE / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / INTO THE FIRE / DANCING IN THE DARK / RAMROD / BORN TO RUN / MY CITY OF RUINS / BORN IN THE USA / LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS / KANSAS CITY

24/09/07 - ASBURY PARK, NJ - CONVENTION HALL

RADIO NOWHERE / NO SURRENDER / GYPSY BIKER / EMPTY SKY / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES / NIGHT / THE PROMISED LAND / LIVIN’ IN THE FUTURE / DEVIL’S ARCADE / CANDY’S ROOM / SHE’S THE ONE / LONESOME DAY / MY HOMETOWN / THE RISING / LAST TO DIE / LONG WALK HOME / THUNDERCRACK / BORN TO RUN / DARLINGTON COUNTY / AMERICAN LAND

This often overlooked outtake from the “Born in the U.S.A.” sessions is one that probably should have been included on the album.  In fact, it was played live twice between 1984 and 1985 which shows that Springsteen definitely gave the song some consideration for the record.  Yet, as with many tracks, we are left to sit and wonder how it got left off!

This was one of the songs that was cut at Springsteen’s California recording studio (Thrill Hill West) in Los Angeles at some point during the January/February 1983 sessions.  Apparently, none of the “Sugarland” takes were cut with any members of the E Street Band present and are said to feature Springsteen alone on multiple instruments. 

Five different versions of the song were cut with only one, the fifth of the five versions, encompassing a real rock arrangement.  Most of the others are either slower in nature while one of them is said to have more of a country feel.

Here is a youtube that features “Sugarland” AUDIO ONLY!

ENJOY!

On this day in Bruce history, September 9th, 1978, Bruce played one of the most often overlooked shows of the Darkness Tour. This rocker at Notre Dame University has proven to be one of the great Bruce shows of all time in terms of cover tunes. Included in this performance were the following songs: “It’s My Life” (Animals), the first ever E Street Band renditions of “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” (Swingin’ Medallions) and “Louie Louie” (Richard Berry), “Not Fade Away” (Buddy Holly), “Quarter to Three” (Gary U.S. Bonds), and finally, “Twist and Shout” (Isley Brothers, Beatles).

These great covers, combined with Bruce originals and the sheer grit and power that characterized the Darkness Tour, classifies this as one of the greatest shows of Springsteen’s career (in my opinion).

Thankfully, an audio recording of the show exists and is of very good quality!  However, there is a “cut” in the tape during “Prove It All Night.”  This is likely the reason that the setlist is missing the regular three songs that would normally close out the first set.  These would be “Racing in the Street”, “Thunder Road”, and “Jungleland.”

Here is the “known” setlist:

1978-09-09:

Setlist:

Badlands / Candy’s Room / Spirit in the Night / Darkness on the Edge of Town / It’s My Life / Factory / The Promised Land / Prove It All Night / Paradise By the “C” / Double Shot of My Baby’s Love / Louie Louie / Fire / For You / 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) / Not Fade Away > She’s the One / Backstreets / Rosalita

Encore:

Born to Run / Because the Night / Quarter to Three / Twist and Shout

I recently interviewed someone who has been to hundreds of Bruce Springsteen concerts dating back to 1973. Obviously, this person has seen every tour since the E Street Band Reunion in addition to all those great shows of the 1970’s and 1980’s. However, I now want to focus on the best show since the 1999 E Street Band Reunion. This time span includes (and not only E Street tours) the Reunion Tour (1999-2000; with the E Street Band), the Rising Tour (2002-2003; with the E Street Band), the Vote For Change Tour (2004; with the E Street Band); the Devils and Dust Tour (2005, Solo), the We Shall Overcome Tour (2006; with the Sessions Band), and the Magic Tour (2007-2008; with the E Street Band).

After a long conversation, I asked this person to name the best concerts that he witnessed since 1999. He said, without a doubt, that three concerts stand out in his mind as the best shows. It should come as no surprise that all of these shows involved the E Street Band. Here are the three shows in order by date (not rank):

1) September 24th, 1999 (The Spectrum - Philadelphia, PA)

2) August 11th, 2003 (Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA)

3) August 23rd, 2008 (Scottrade Center - St. Louis, MO)

What is really cool, in my opinion, is that each show came from a different tour. So, listening to the bootlegs of each of these three shows will yield a much different listening experience.

For more information (like reviews and setlists) for each of these shows, see:

http://www.backstreets.com/setlists.html

This is an awesome audience-shot video of “Badlands” from the Richmond, VA, show on August 18th, 2008.

This was the lead off song on Springsteen’s 1978 “Darkness on the Edge of Town” LP and is still a staple of his concerts to this day.

Enjoy!