Bruce

This is one of my favorite Bruce songs because it is so high energy and never really slows down for a minute. I think this is also a great version because Joan Jett can really rock! This took place at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, on October 19th, 2001.

Here are the rest of the songs that featured Springsteen in some capacity:

Tiger Rose (with Sonny Burgess & the Sun Rythm Section) / All Just to Get to You (with Joe Ely) / Light of Day (with Joan Jett) / Bobby Jean / My City of Ruins / Land of Hope and Dreams / Thunder Road / Stand By Me

After reading all the reviews and setlists of the shows thus far on the “Magic” tour, I have come to a conclusion on which show stands out as the best of the best. Before I reveal my selection, I will say that I am going to keep bias out of the equation by not using my experience at any of the shows as a factor; I am going simply by reviews and setlists.

So, starting with the rehearsal show in New Jersey on September 24th, 2007, through the latest show in London on May 31st, 2008, I have chosen the March 24th, 2008, show at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.

This show just stands out as being one of the most energetic shows to date. The setlist is truly unbelievable with the world debut of “You’ll Be Comin’ Down” as well as the long awaited appearance of “Sherry Darling.” A few other gems included standout performances of “Incident”, “Rosie”, and “Glory Days.”

What a show!

Setlist: The Ties That Bind / Radio Nowhere / Lonesome Day / Adam Raised a Cain / Gypsy Biker / Something in the Night / Reason to Believe / You’ll Be Comin’ Down / Because the Night / She’s the One / Livin’ in the Future / The Promised Land / Sherry Darling / Incident on 57th Street / Devil’s Arcade / The Rising / Last to Die / Long Walk Home / Badlands

Encore:Girls in Their Summer Clothes / Born to Run / Rosalita / Glory Days / American Land

Originally, and for some time now, the plan was for Bruce and the band to end the “Magic” tour in Los Angeles, CA, in October 2008. However, recent proceedings in the scheduling point to a possible change in this plan. As of now, it’s tough to say where the tour will end, but one can only hope for the Garden State!

In general, the whole process of actually announcing the fall tour dates is taking very long causing Springsteen fans to moan and groan. However, as we move further along in the month of June, the announcement is getting closer and closer as Springsteen and company (Landau) are working to finalize the schedule.

All information still points to shows in secondary markets with a few in some major areas; of course I refer to New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York. BE PATIENT…it’s on the horizon!

Check back here for the latest as it comes!

What a great video in terms of sound quality and performance (of course it was professionally shot). This version of “Thundercrack” was shot during Springsteen’s 1974 tour supporting “The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle” LP. Enjoy!

On this date in 1978, the “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” LP was commercially released to the public. This all came after a three year absence from new studio material on account of legal battles with former manager Mike Appel. It is important to note that because of these stuggles, Springsteen was unable to record a new record. Springsteen and the band toured in 1976 through the end of March of 1977 during these tough times. Bruce ended his legal battles with Appel on May 28th, 1977; the E Street Band was in the studio by early June of that same year.

What came out of these sessions was one of Springsteen’s most brilliant works. While the album was definitely amazing, it was also very dark and gloomy. This should not surprise anyone who was privy to what was going on in Springsteen’s life during the time before the album was recorded.

Here is the official track listing:

1. Badlands, 2. Adam Raised a Cain, 3. Something in the Night, 4. Candy’s Room, 5. Racing in the Street, 6. The Promised Land, 7. Factory, 8. Streets of Fire, 9. Prove it All Night, 10. Darkness on the Edge of Town

Many of these songs remain staples of Springsteen’s concerts to this day. However, there are some rarer songs that were recorded for this album that either made it on “Tracks” (1998) or are still in the vaults. Some of the more notable outtakes from Darkness include: “Don’t Look Back”, “Iceman”, “Rendezvous”, “Spanish Eyes”, “Fire”, “Because the Night”, and “Hearts of Stone” just to name a few.

Here’s to you Darkness!

There is something special about the Jersey shore…there is just a feel in the air when you approach the beach or the small bars and clubs that the local music has made famous.  In Bruce Springsteen’s music, the towns along the coast have become alive and well represented.  In this post, I would like to take a look at some Springsteen’s songs that represent New Jersey’s most famous musical town, Asbury Park, NJ.  Some of these songs may surprise you in that they are not so obviously about Asbury while others are more certain.  Most of these were written by Springsteen alone or co-written with at least one other “Little” guy…

1) 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) - This amazing song off Bruce’s second album, “The Wild, The Innocent & The E  Street Shuffle”, is one of my personal favorites.  It really gives you the Asbury feel; if that isn’t enough for you, the song also pretty much describes the town perfectly (carnival rides, casinos, and all the rest…)

2) My City of Ruins - Springsteen wrote this song not about New York City, but about Asbury Park as it was written in the late 1990s (before 9/11/01).  However, Bruce put the song on “The Rising” album so it can also be about the big apple.

3) Love on the Wrong Side of Town - This was a song co-written by Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt.  According to Southside Johnny (who plays this one regularly unlike Springsteen), claims that this song is all about Asbury Park.   Some believe that before giving the song to Southside, Bruce and the E  Street Band recorded it during sessions for “Darkness On The Edge Of Town.”

Many more Asbury songs exist, but enjoy these for now! I will make another edition of this post as soon as I can.  Also, don’t forget to keep checking back for fall tour news!

You may have thought that by the time the band played their fourth European show that something new would have entered the setlist.  Well, this has not happened yet however, last night’s show was quite the crowd pleaser according to all reports.  Some nice rare stuff in there including two little gems from “Greetings.”  Other highlights included “Trapped” and “Growin’ Up” in the first encore slot.  Let’s hope the Boss is saving up all that craziness for the Jersey run in July… and wherever he plays in the fall…STAY TUNED!

 5/28:

No Surrender
Radio Nowhere
Night
Lonesome Day
The Promised Land
Magic
Trapped
Adam Raised a Cain
Darlington County
It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City
Because the Night
She’s the One
Livin’ in the Future
Mary’s Place
I’ll Work for Your Love
Devil’s Arcade
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
Growin’ Up
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Born to Run
Rosalita
Dancing in the Dark
American Land

In the new issue of Rolling Stone Magazine, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” is listed as fourteenth greatest guitar song of all-time. Up there with songs like “Johnny B. Goode” (Chuck Berry), “Stairway to Heaven” (Led Zeppelin), and “Brown Sugar” (The Rolling Stones), Springsteen’s biggest song is in with the biggest company. While most of Bruce’s songs are not recognized for their guitar genius, this one is quite obvious and deserves to be on such a list.

In my opinion, “Born to Run” is the perfect song on the perfect album…it doesn’t get any better than this list of songs:

Born to Run: Commercially Released: August 25th, 1975 (Columbia Records)

01. Thunder Road
02. Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
03. Night
04. Backstreets
05. Born to Run
06. She’s the One
07. Meeting Across the River
08. Jungleland

Don’t forget to keep your eye on this blog as we get closer to the fall tour announcement…

Here is what my dream setlist would look like given the parameters of the “Magic” tour…while being hopeful and realistic at the same time of course!

01. Don’t Look Back
02. Take ‘Em As They Come
03. Radio Nowhere
04. You’ll Be Comin’ Down
05. Out in the Street
06. Gypsy Biker
07. Candy’s Room
08. 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
09. Does this Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
10. Trapped
11. Because the Night
12. She’s the One
13. Livin’ in the Future
14. Be True
15. Drive All Night
16. The Rising
17. Last to Die
18. Long Walk Home
19. Badlands

20. The E Street Shuffle
21. Fire
22. Born to Run
23. Rosalita
24. American Land

25. Thunder Road
26. Glory Days

Yep..that would be thee show!

With the Manchester show up next (due to start in a few hours over in the UK), I thought it would be fun to take a look at a few of the songs that Bruce has NOT played yet on the Magic tour.  Now, I will only bring up some of the songs that I feel have a good chance of getting their tour debut; there is no reason to get crazy here.

One of the songs that I feel is long overdue is “From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come” which is an outtake from sessions for “The River” LP.  This upbeat song debuted in the 80s when Bruce would make frequent appearances at bars along the Jersey shore.  He debuted the song with the E Street Band on August 11th, 2003 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly. 

Speaking of bars along the shore, another song that has a good shot is “Seaside Bar Song” from “Tracks.”  This is a song that I could see opening up the encore set or possibly the main set.  What a treat this would be!

Another favorite from “Tracks” is another song left off “The River” that I feel should have been given more consideration; this would be “Take ‘Em As They Come.”  Bruce rehearsed this one with the band in Asbury Park in February but it did not get any action on the American tour.  Let’s hope the Boss setlists this sucker sometime soon!

A few more possibilities include “Hungry Heart”, “I’m Goin’ Down”, “New York City Serenade”, and the long awaited “Drive All Night.”

We shall have to wait and see.  Once again, check back here regularly for updates on Springsteen’s fall tour of the United States as an official announcement is imminent!