Springsteen

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Today by the way marks the 43rd anniversary of my first Springsteen show. Here's the setlist, according to the Internet. 2 Gary US Bonds songs in a row, he must have been there but I don't fully recall. In this countdown we heard "Johnny Bye Bye" and I would have said it was the first time. What I remember best was the closing medley and "Who'll Stop the Rain?":

Badlands
Out in the Street
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Independence Day
Johnny Bye-Bye
Summertime Blues
Two Hearts
The Promised Land
The River
This Land Is Your Land
Who'll Stop the Rain
Prove It All Night
Thunder Road
Hungry Heart
You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
Cadillac Ranch
Sherry Darling
Jole Blon
This Little Girl
Point Blank
Candy's Room
Ramrod
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
I Don't Want to Go Home
Jungleland
Born to Run
Detroit Medley

[whippoorwill]

Played the treads off of our Who’ll Stop the Rain 45 when we were kids trying to figure out what it meant

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

58. Today's Big Spin lands on Mike Piazza, No. 31, who cues up "The Price You Pay" from THE RIVER. This one always sounded a little bit too much like "The Promised Land" to me but its a fine song on its own. I probably would've ranked it with the Turk Wendells.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

59. Today we get another astonishing gem from TRACKS, "Rockaway the Days." This sad tale of Billy's life and death could become a billion-seller by the right country artist, or maybe a big rocker if only the band crashes in after the first chorus. This was a BORN IN THE USA leftover--I'm right at the part in the new Bruce book where these are discussed, including some that are still awaiting release. Ranks is 237/340

The groove reminds me of an early 70s pop-rocker that may or not be "Shambala" by 3 Dog Night or "Night Moves" by Bob Seger? Turn it up!

[Edgy MD]

It's even got a river! In a valley!

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

With blood on his shirt back to Mary he did run

Up the road to a neighbor's house he drew near

Some awkward lyrics Buce did write

[Edgy MD]

On the record this song was not included.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

60. Wayne is always the criminal. "Darlington County" ranked 129/340

[Edgy MD]

If you posted this two days earlier, it could have been played in real time.

Poor Wayne. He helps get Bruce a union card and then Bruce leaves him in the dust. Poor, poor Wayne.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

61. "Wages of Sin" from TRACKS. This was another song recorded for USA but left off, apparently because Bruce felt the subject matter cut too close to the bone for him, but also not BITUSA-y enough.

[Frayed Knot]

Bruce's daughter Jessica fails to qualify for the U.S. Equestrian Olympic team.
She won a Silver medal as part of a team jumping competition at the Tokyo games in 20201

[whippoorwill]

60. Wayne is always the criminal. "Darlington County" ranked 129/340

Used to sing the ‘little gurl, you’re so young and pretty’ part to my granddaughter when she was a baby.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

62. Bruce brings it hard with the power-pop with "Little White Lies" from THE TIES THAT BIND collection. Ranked 271/340

You may recognize the opening couplet of this song "We met on open streets where we both had no place to go/I remember how my heart beat when you said "Oh Billy I love you so" as being nearly identical to the first lyric of the previously counted down "Loose Ends" (day 19; ranked 76)

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

One thing I didn't know (I imagine I should've, and others here did know) was that Brian DePalma's goofy, all-American "Dancing in the Dark" video was a second attempt at a promo film for the song, the first being a darker read on the song by Jeff Stein that Springsteen supposedly walked out of the shoot on, quitting after one hilariously goofy take. I mean, I'm sure editing in other footage and camera angles would have added some more texture and substance to it, but the Internet being what it is, the footage from that one take lives on and comes across like Ben Stiller imitating Springsteen teaching an exercise class.



If that video had been released, it might not have ruined Springy's career, but it might have saved Billy Squier's

I learned today this vid was shot around the corner from Chez Lunchbucket

[Edgy MD]

NPR: The nearly forgotten story of the 'Born in the U.S.A.' remixes

If you heard it in the summer of 1984, or if you can track it down now (one hint: look on YouTube), the first thing you’d notice in Baker's “Dancing in the Dark” remix is how the rhythm track completely envelops you before you get any clues as to what the song is. The keyboard intro hits later, with the delay making the first few lines more impactful. The remix makes the song larger; it’s not just a bright pop tune any more, and it’s just barely hugging the border with rock and roll — it’s still on the edges, but could make a break for it at any second. And Springsteen’s vocals in the original beautifully convey frustration and exasperation up front, but you physically, tangibly feel the distance in the remix. Baker engineered the feeling of a larger room, a more vast expanse — which, for a song that’s about isolation and alienation, is an essential reading.

But not everyone agreed with this new direction, especially within the core fanbase Springsteen had been building for over a decade. In the fall of 1984, Backstreets Magazine, the professional-grade fan publication devoted to the Boss, declared, “The 12” remix version of ‘Dancing in the Dark’ is unequivocally the biggest piece of s*** ever to be pressed onto vinyl and adorned with Bruce Springsteen’s name … Simply put, I can’t believe Springsteen actually released this monster canine of a record.”

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

That was an interesting article. Also by the song-ranker.

I firmly believed that Bruce "would never let that happen."

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

63. Today's daily Bruce Juice injection is "Worlds Apart" from THE RISING. Opens with "tape loops, Qawwali singing, and Arabic rhythms," and lasts for 6 minutes, but as un-Bruce as that is, it eventually goes Bruce on you. Not so bad. 233/340

[G-Fafif]

The Blaster Mix was a blast on the order of the combined no-hitter.

[Edgy MD]

That's great. And I appreciated being reminded in the comments that Nimmo played the role of Mike Baxter in that presentation.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

64. Today's Bruce Song is "Nothing Man" another slow-burning tale of 9/11 sorrow and grief from THE RISING, now on a 2-tune streak. Ranked 278

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

65. Bruce briefly and acoustically recounts his wedding day and hanging with his ex-in-laws with "The Honeymooners." Didn't make the TUNNEL OF LOVE final cut. 261/340

[Edgy MD]

Man, that guy was ambivalent about the matrimonial state, wasn't he?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

66. Here's another song I only just heard but like a lot already, "Chain Lightning" from THE TIES THAT BIND. Sounds like a Bond theme and yet very 1980 too. Up my alley. Wasn't in Apocalypse Now--just the video. 230/340

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

67. We all know, good albums have good closing tracks. "My Beautiful Reward" is a laid-back, yearning LUCKY TOWN door-shutter in which Bruce turns into a seagull. Very moving. 169/340



Warning: "Daily Bruce Juice" may be sporadic in coming days

[whippoorwill]

If it’s because of a trip, have fun!