Springsteen

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

98. Today on Every Bruce Song Ever Randomly Presented One Every Day we have "Jackson Cage" from THE RIVER.

I think this is a cool song even if nobody really knows what a "Jackson Cage" is. Jackson, NJ? Reggie?

Are you tough enough to play the game they play? Ranked 126/340

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, I think it's Jackson Township, NJ, where our protagonist is trapped in her dead-end job and one-way life.

Another qualifier for the histrionic chorus list, but not so much. This is another Bruce song I'd like to hear a classick girl group do.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

99. "TV Movie," a leftover from 1982. Max Weinberg describes Bruce getting into a prolific rockabilly spree that also produced "Stand on It" and "Pink Cadillac" This was a couple years after FST(BTODC). ranked 182/340

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Bruce Nuce:
--An all-star concert tribute to NEBRASKA is coming soon to your PBS station
--Looks like our friend Gwreck was at Bruce's opening show in Pittsburgh and we expect a full report shortly

And in countdown news we reach the 100 song mark this morning with "Gypsy Biker" from MAGIC, in which Bruce mourns ...a biker. Not one but two guitar solos. Note in the writeup about never hearing this song live but enough with the vaguery, say why. Ranked 162.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

101. "Meet Me in the City" from THE TIES THAT BIND. Bouncy song about Bruce transmitting love messages to his girl from a prison cell, it almost sounds like some guy wrote a song that sounds sorta like Bruce, performed by The Magic Rats, the best Springsteen tribute band in the Tri-state area. Ranked 216/340

[Gwreck]

--Looks like our friend Gwreck was at Bruce's opening show in Pittsburgh and we expect a full report shortly

It was a show rescheduled from last year when Bruce had peptic ulcers that made it problematic to sing. Had an eclectic setlist with heavy focus on Darkness on the Edge of Town at the start — opened with “Candy’s Room” followed by “Adam Raised a Cain.” I was glad to see him playing “Long Walk Home” again (featured earlier in this thread), one of his best modern-day songs. A big greatest hits encore was a crowd-pleaser.

Is the band as great as it once was? Of course not. Are the tickets too expensive? Yes. But the man still delivered a 3 hour 7 minute show that’s still comparable (or at times exceeding) the best live touring acts. I thought Stephen Hyden captured the tour well in a review in Uproxx last year, writing that for fans, “there’s extra urgency now given the scarcity of Bruce Springsteen shows in the recent past and, perhaps, in the not-so-distant future.”

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Nice. I like "Long Walk Home" too. Once I put together these morning songs, I let Youtube run as it presents a mix of the songs I'd streamed and I'm getting a feel for the new-to-mes that way

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

102. Bruce kicks off his Bolo Tie Era with "Ain't Got You," sounding like Elvis with a Bo Diddly beat. I like this song because its a compact statement of purpose--Side A track 1 TUNNEL OF LOVE, just 2 minutes long, and you know what the rest of the album will be about. Also comments on the phenom of BITUSA making Bruce a wealthy guy but still beset by restlessness and longing. And the E-Streeters can go wank on this track, Bruce is practically doing it all himself. ranked 196/340

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

103. Today's Juice Loosening is an anthem of grief from THE RISING, "Empty Sky." Captures the immediate aftermath of the event--the building is not there! My wife is missing! I want revenge! Ranked 214/340

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

104. All aboard, Nebraska's our next stop


"Wild Billy's Circus Story" is ranked 134 and said to have been inspired by young Bruce's visits to a summer circus in Freehold, NJ. An earlier version of this song called "Circus Story" was evidently recorded for GREETINGS but has never surfaced.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

105. Before Morning Bruce goes on a short hiatus, enjoy the best Bruce song ever to include a rap verse, "Rocky Ground." Reviewer who ranks it up there at 53 applauds Bruce's gospelly attempt to contemporize and fake beats. What do YOU think?

[Edgy MD]

Is the trend toward videos that incorporate the entire lyrics sheet a concession to the notion that the audience's ears have grown less effective?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

106. We're back! Today's pick is probably the rockin'est cut from HUMAN TOUCH, "Gloria's Eyes." Definitely up there with Bruce's histrionic vocal performances, as he recounts a sad struggle to win Gloria's heart. It's not even worth it, Bruce! Ranked 286

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

107. Surprise! It's a sunshine pop composition from WORKING ON A DREAM called "Surprise, Surprise."

I wasn't at all familiar with this one that I recall. It's not bad as Raspberry-flavored power pop goes I suppose. Ranked 329, so judged to be the second-worst Bruce song we've heard so far.


Need to construct a Bruce Power Pop playlist when this is all over.

[Frayed Knot]

Heard a small radio tribute to the recently passed Power-Popper Greg Kihn and one of the songs played was his cover of Bruce's 'Rendezvous'
Bruce's version of that one shirley belongs on that list.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

We'll hear Bruce's own Rendevous before long.

108. The story goes that in the aftermath of 9-11 a truck driver passed Bruce on the street, rolled down the window and said "We need you, man!" So Bruce wrote a title track from the point of view of a spiritual and doomed fireman. Ranked 36

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

We'll hear Bruce's own Rendevous before long.

108. The story goes that in the aftermath of 9-11 a truck driver passed Bruce on the street, rolled down the window and said "We need you, man!" So Bruce wrote a title track from the point of view of a spiritual and doomed fireman. Ranked 36

Such a powerful song. Bruce at his best.

Sky of blackness and sorrow (A dream of life)
Sky of love, sky of tears (A dream of life)
Sky of glory and sadness (A dream of life)
Sky of mercy, sky of fear (A dream of life)
Sky of memory and shadow (A dream of life)
Your burning wind fills my arms tonight
Sky of longing and emptiness (A dream of life)
Sky of fullness, sky of blessed life (A dream of life)

[Edgy MD]

Another Mary.

Or the same Mary.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

109. Bruce croons about heartbreak and loss in the lush pop-soul of "There Goes My Miracle" from WESTERN STARS. Ranked 142

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Bruce A Day is taking a 3-day weekend and will rejoin you on Tuesday.

[Edgy MD]

I'm searching for ... MY LOVE!

Those last two have to be two of the higher notes in the Springsteen canon.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

110. The Big Bruce Countdown is back with a filthy mix of sex and politics called "Hey Blue Eyes" from the 2014 AMERICAN BEAUTY EP. AB was a collection of leftovers packaged and issued for 2014 Record Store Day, doncha know. Ranked 231

[Edgy MD]

Hey! Bruce is back!

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

111. Bruce is back with "Kingdom of Days" from WORKING ON A DREAM. Romantic Bruce is okay with me but I don't care as much for Sexy Bruce or Lovey-Dovey Bruce. This one is the latter. It's in the bottom 20 at 323

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

112. Los Lobruce with "Sleepy Joe's Cafe" from WESTERN STARS. Ranked 289