Bruce Springsteen

[Nico]

I'm having my own personal "Springsteen revisit" since seeing him in concert last week. It was absolutely AMAZING. I'd never seen him live prior and I can't believe how much energy and passion he (as well as the band) put into the singing, playing, and overall performance. It was mind-blowing, though I'm not too surprised because I'd heard from everyone who has seen him that his shows are almost always brilliant. This was a top, top, top concert in my book. I highly recommend anyone go see him if you haven't already.

But getting back to my point...is anyone here a Bruce fan? I love so much of his work. His early albums are so lyrically brilliant, and of course Born to Run is a classic. I bow to Nebraska and actually it's possibly my personal fave since I heard it years ago. But even his "commercial" stuff like Born in the USA is top stuff (nix the title track for me). There's just SO much great stuff...I absolutely adore the Rising album- and his new one, and the Seeger one he made. I think I'm starting to understand all the crazy love he gets- I used to not get him, but now it's a total 180.

Does anyone here have anything to say about Bruce. Like him? Dislike him? Has anyone seen him live? Any fave songs, albums, performances? I just feel like talking about him right now for some reason.

[LukeA]

Which show did you see last week? I saw the show here in Portland last Friday.

I'm a huge fan. My favorite albums of his are "Wild, Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle", "The River", and "Tunnel of Love". Quite amazingly, he didn't do a single song from any of these albums... although it was a real treat to hear "For You" and "Lost In The Flood" back to back.

The turning point for me was the solo acoustic tour he did for "Devils & Dust" in 2005. Not only is it a great bunch of songs (especially "Long Time Comin'", "Leah", & "The Hitter"), but sparse solo nature of the tour allowed for him to perform basically his entire back catalogue in concert over the course of the year. My biggest regret is that I only went to two shows on that tour (I was too distracted/preoccupied with U2 that year)

[Nico]

I saw him on the 24th in Columbus. Incredible show.

Originally Posted by LukeA

sparse solo nature of the tour allowed for him to perform basically his entire back catalogue in concert over the course of the year. My biggest regret is that I only went to two shows on that tour (I was too distracted/preoccupied with U2 that year)

Wow, that sounds amazing. I haven't actually heard the Devils and Dust album. I'm going to get that one next, as well as The River. I heard the latter a few years ago and adored it but never got around to owning it.

Can I ask...the song Fire from his 1975-1985 Live album...is that something he just does in concert or a cover? And can it be found on an actual studio album?

Thanks so much!

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by Nico

I saw him on the 24th in Columbus. Incredible show.

You're telling me! You got to see Incident... probably my #1 favorite Bruce song. I've yet to see it live- he doesn't do it all that often.

Originally Posted by Nico

Can I ask...the song Fire from his 1975-1985 Live album...is that something he just does in concert or a cover? And can it be found on an actual studio album?

Fire is actually a Bruce Springsteen original- he gave it to the Pointer Sisters. The only officially released version of the song is on the live album- a studio version doesn't exist. He still occasionally does the song in concert, but not all that often. Every 40-50 shows or so.

A great Bruce internet resource is Brucebase- http://www.brucebase.org.uk/. It has extensive information about every show Bruce has played since the very beginning. For example, here's the setlist for the '05 solo acoustic show in Columbus at the Schott- http://www.brucebase.org.uk/gig2005.htm#59

[Stew_Matthews]

There are quite a few Springsteen fans on here. There will be a thread in the archive here somewhere….

He is my favourite male artist just ahead of Neil Young and Dylan. I agree that you need to see him live to get the Bruce phenomenon. He is amazing in concert and the energy with the E-Street Band is unique. I can’t think of another act where they turn on the house lights three quarters of the way through the show and everyone is on their feet and going mad. And it doesn’t matter whether he’s playing to 8000 or 80000. The setlist – I saw both Chicago shows on this tour and we got plenty of different songs. Naturally he doesn’t tend to drop Badlands or Born to Run cos everyone wants to sing those but you always get a cross section of his work.

I’m seeing a few more dates on this tour, I’m particularly looking forward to the Giants Stadium shows in July. I saw him three times at Madison Square Gardens when the E-Street Band reformed a few years back – the best shows I have seen.

My favourite track is Racing in the Street – the best official recording is the one on his 3 CD Live set with the long play out from Roy Bittan I think. Tunnel of Love is my favourite album, then I struggle to choose between Nebraska, Devils & Dust and The Ghost of Tom Joad.

In addition to Luke’s suggestions, www.backstreets.com is a good resource.

[Beachwood Mac]

I've been a fan almost from the beginning. I first saw him in 1978 when he played at the Naval Academy. My brother graduated that year and he got us tickets. He really delivers at every show and each time I think it can't get better, it does. My favorite tour was probably the Tunnel of Love tour. It was hard to get tickets but a big group of us drove up to LA to see him. He doesn't make it to San Diego enough but hopefully he will this leg of the tour.

You can always get good recordings of his shows. Both the Portland and Columbus shows are on dimeadozen right now. I'm not sure there are many shows that haven't been recorded.

[David]

Originally Posted by Beachwood Mac

I've been a fan almost from the beginning. I first saw him in 1978 when he played at the Naval Academy. My brother graduated that year and he got us tickets.

Wow, that must have been great. I first saw the E Streeters in 1981 on the River tour at the L.A. Sports Arena. Plus I saw one of those big Coliseum shows on the Born in the USA tour. I haven't listened to Springsteen probably since the mid 1980s, but I regard him as the major aesthetic, cultural & possibly even political force in the rebirth of American populism during the Watergate era & beyond.

My favorite songs? MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER & ATLANTIC CITY

[Beachwood Mac]

Originally Posted by David

Wow, that must have been great.

It was. He was still relatively unknown even though Time magazine (I think) named him the next big thing. It took a little while for his greatness to be recognized.

Originally Posted by David

Plus I saw one of those big Coliseum shows on the Born in the USA tour.

I saw him at the Human Rights show at the LA Coliseum. Joan Baez opened followed by Tracy Chapman, Peter Gabriel and Sting. Springsteen didn't even come on until Midnight and still played a 2 hour set. And this was on a weekday!

[Nico]

I think I really fell for him album-wise with the Rising. I think the whole album was such a powerful statement in connection with what was going on at the time. Everything flows and the songs are perfect, imo, and sound only better live. Right now I think my favorite songs are Darkness on the Edge of Town, Better Days, and Girls in Their Summer Clothes. But it changes constantly...

BTW, how amazing is that song Highway Patrolman...in fact the entire Nebraska album. Oh, I so want to see him live again!

[golddustwoman77]

I'm going to see him in Charlotte, NC in a few weeks. I'm so excited! I haven't seen him before live, because he never comes this close---if you want to call it close. Charlotte is four hours from here, but anyway, I can't wait. My favorite albums: Born to Run, Born in the USA---I grew up listening to that album, and I love the new album---Magic. My favorite song is Brilliant Disguise, but I love many more: Atlantic City, I'm on Fire, Cover Me, etc.

I'm so glad the concert was terrific. That gives me hope that Charlotte will be terrific too.

[Stew_Matthews]

Caught the great man last night at the Honda Centre in Anaheim. Even better than the Chicago dates.........Nils Lofgren played some stunning guitar parts.

Highlights - Murder Inc, Atlantic City, Ghost of Tom Joad, Across the River and Jungleland and the best performance (for me) was Because The Night.