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liebzz


Certified D.J

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The Springsteen Thread
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Can't remember if this is already in existence or if that was something that was being discussed on the old GTW forums, but I've been in a Nick-like run of this lately, and wanted to see if anyone else was up to some Springsteen.

Last year, I really discovered the Hammersmith Odeon '75 show and rode a year long obsession with it (I basically consider it the best live album ever made), and can still go back and listen to most of this show without skipping most of the songs for a strong 2 hours.

Recently, I have been venturing more towards the albums, with my favorite 3 in pretty regular rotation (Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ; The Wild, The Innocent, and the E STreet Shuffle; and Darkness on the Edge of Town), with a decent smattering of a few other albums (The Rising, Magic, Born in the USA, and Born to Run) from time to time. Hiwever, I find myself haivng trouble getting into The River, or anything post- Born in the USA until The Rising.  I am wondering if it is just lack of familiarity or if it just doesn't hold up to the heavyweight albums listed above (calling 7 album heavyweights by any artist is pretty significant, as an aside)?

Discuss.

Also discuss - massive, amazing, mind boggling Darkness boxed set coming out in November.

Oh, and I love Nebraska, but don't listen to it often as you really need to be in a particular space to take that album in...and you can't do anything else - like multitasking...when someone asks: "what are you up to?" you respond "Nebraska. Please leave me alone to my thoughts."

-- Edited by liebzz on Friday 10th of September 2010 12:00:28 PM

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The Mystery Tramp


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I heard a live version of Thunder Road on one of the first radio static episodes (I think - or it could have been one of Nick's mixes), and it changed my life as much as any song ever has.  Since finding that my dad had the physical album, I've probably listened to that version of that song at least three times a week.  It will be my 'funeral song', and like a weirdo I've stuck post it notes in a couple of locations to remind my forgetful girlfriend not to let me down should I snuff it first.  I think it's the best live performance of any song I've ever heard, and utterly eclipses the album version, beyond all comprehension.  And the album track is great.  I've even embarrassed myself singing it at karaoke in front of a fellow GTW'er, and the time I've sat at work wishing I'd written the lyrics probably runs into days.

Whether it pips Visions of Johanna and Blind Willie McTell as my all time favourite song is still up for debate, but I've not felt the need to give it some breathing space in all the time I've been gorging myself on it, as I have with both the aforementioned tracks.  So, thank you Nick, thank you so very much indeed.

Nebraska and We Shall Overcome are my favourite Springsteen albums, The River is my second favourite Boss track.

-- Edited by The Mystery Tramp on Friday 10th of September 2010 01:56:40 PM

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wes


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I have a Bruce Springsteen t-shirt and whenever I wear it everyone always laughs at me, and I completely understand why.  Alot of the stuff he did and continues to do is rediculous and awkward and cringeworthy.  He slides into a camera at the Super Bowl, has a soul patch, and has made some pretty terrible music.  His performence in the "We Are the World" song video is probably the most bull****astical of all the people there, and that's saying something. 

But when he gets it right its ****ing magical.  I have NEVER heard a song like "State Trooper", and dout I ever will.  Almost every time I pick up a guitar I play the intro to "Its Hard to Be a Saint in the City.  "Lost in the Flood" still gives me chills. 

So I'm still going to wear my Springsteen t-shirt, even though he looks like a Dad on The Jersey Shore.

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Nick


The 5th Beatle

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I swear I didn't see this thread before I wrote this whole damn thing:

http://www.staticandfeedback.com/voices/0609back.html

Weird.

Anyway, usually my Bruce vice of choice is Nebraska. I listen to that album far more than anyone claiming to be functional should. It's to the point where it's almost never actually filed away, but instead always sitting out on my coffee table (or, the chest I use in lieu of a coffee table). "Nebraska," "Highway Patrolman," "State Trooper," god damn that entire record is amazing.

I agree that the corniness factor with Bruce can be off the charts sometimes. But my god, from 1973 to 1982, he was as good as anyone could be. And he's still capable of being pretty good now.


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liebzz


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Nice take Nick.

I'm currently in the midst of listening to a show from Passaic, NJ on 9/19/78, and it's blowing my mind pretty damn well. Great great show, which I think is the essence of why I have become a Springsteen fan.

I agree also that there's a fair amount of Springsteen cheesiness, even in Born to Run and Born in the USA. I think the first two albums, where he seems to not have thought of that yet, are among his finest, but I generally enjoy anything from Greetings through Born in the USA regardless.

And on Thunder Road, I personally think the live versions from the 70s that are just piano are way more beautiful and hard hitting than any of the full band versions that I have heard.

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Nick


The 5th Beatle

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I don't know if I still have it after so much computer weirdness in the past two years, but I definitely had that show at one point. There's a Detroit medley in there, I think. Either way, that was his peak, I'd say. (Off topic, I have a Stones bootleg from that same venue recorded, I think, two weeks later, which is also incredible).

For the past two days, I've been stuck on "Badlands" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" after running through the first three albums and Live/1975-85. And that live version of "Thunder Road" was on the first ever podcast on this site, I believe.

I don't know. When he's on, he's just on. It's scary.


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Nick


The 5th Beatle

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Also, does it freak anyone else out that, as they've aged, Nils Lofgren has turned into a mini-Bruce? He looks exactly like him, only three inches shorter.

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liebzz


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I never noticed that. When I watch the band onstage, I tend to be more concerned that Little Stevie is finally gonna just go for the kiss. I mean, they are a fancy rock band, and they can afford two mics...so why must Stevie insist on being so close to Bruce?

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dtrain


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Nils is immensely talented...

someday when i have time, i'll write more of my thoughts on Springsteen...

a musician's musician. a true artist. a breath-taking performer.


hope everyone is well

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