60) Murder Incorporated
So the comfort that you keep's a gold-plated, snub-nosed .32
Not quite sure why this doesn’t get more plays. It is a real belter, pumps you up, would be a great show opener. Would have been right at home on Darkness. Has you rocking from go to woe. Bruce leaves nobody behind on this and you’re taken on a six minute power ride, and there is no time for stopping.
This was initially recorded back in 1982 with the Born In The USA sessions, but did not see an official release until the release of greatest hits in 1995. From the get go it sounds like classic Springsteen. The thud of Max’s drums, followed with the intro of the guitars. The organs feature prominently too.
And for the next six minutes, you feel compelled to tap your foot to the beat and fill with anger, because let’s face it, this song doesn’t exactly put a smile on your face. That’s not to say songs need to have a happy vibe about them to enjoy them. The sax solo feels like it’s just been shoved in for the sake of it. But somehow Bruce managed to make it work. Nils’ wows us with a blistering solo before the bridge and we are treated to one final verse and raspy Bruce belts out a “I could tell you were just frustrated livin with Murder Incoporated.” Bruce struts his stuff and nearly sets his guitar on fire, Stevie throws a punch back (much like the Saint duel at Hammersmith), but Bruce shows why he’s Boss.
Before you know it that six minutes is up and you still feel full of energy and want to continue the fist up as if you were in the pit, even though you’re sitting down at home.
59) Sad Eyes
Sad eyes never lie
One of the few I have chosen from Tracks in my list.
Polar opposite to Murder Incorporated. Nice and mellow ballad. There’s nothing amazing about this musically, or lyrically really. It’s simple, and simple is sometimes good. No crazy solos, no pounding drum beat from Max. Although the bass line is fairly prominent, and nobody ever knocked a good bass line. We get treated to Bruce’s falsetto, rather pleasant on the ear if you ask me. Doesn’t really play it much live, the only version I have found on YouTube is one from the D&D Tour and he sort of struggles with the falsetto.
Opinion is divided on the actual meaning of the song, but whatever it is, it’s an underrated tune. 58) Iceman
Once they tried to steal my heart, beat it right out of my head, but baby they didn’t know that I was born dead.
A true hidden gem on Tracks IMO. When you listen to the lyrics, they are some of his darker ones. It sounds like this guy has lost everything who meant everything to him. People are trying to steal his heart, but he was born dead – making him cold. He is The Iceman.
57) Trapped
Good will conquer evil and the truth will set me free
Yeah, I know, it’s not really a Springsteen song, but he’s released it so it gets the nod in my book.
Originally written by Jimmy Cliff, it seems to be very popular amongst Springsteen fans.
The first recollection I have of this song, I would have been about 15. My dad came home from work one day and said he’d heard a song by Springsteen on the radio. He managed to remember the “But now I’m trapped” line and I was able to do search the lyrics and I found it. Eight years later and I’m here doing this.
I’ve never really loved this song to be honest, but at the same time, I have never really had any beef with it. I find myself singing (if you can call it that) at the top of my lungs during the chorus without a worry in the world.
The Big Man’s solo in this is kick ass. You can tell he is really going for it, and he definitely owns it, and just like that, we’re back to how the song started, then we get one final chance to test our lungs.
56) For You
Your cloud line urges me and my electric surges free
Imagery. It is a powerful tool. And Springsteen uses it extremely well. This song is one of those examples.
Now, this song is at opposite ends of the Spectrum when it is played with the band and when Bruce plays it on the piano. With the band, it doesn’t sound too depressing, it bops along and you can tap your foot to it and Bruce seems happy enough when he sings it. You put him in front of the piano and you realize how heartbreaking this song really is. But alas, it gains intimacy. Absolutely outstanding song. Lyrically it is amazing. It’s up there with his best written songs. My heart breaks every time I listen to it and I think of the male character in the song.
It sounds like it’s about a guy who is in love with a girl, and she’s tried to kill herself. And that he’ll always be there for her. But, like a lot of his songs, it is open to interpretation.
55) Born In The USA
BORRRRRRRRRRRRN IN THE USAAAAAAAAAAA
It’s 1985. You have reached the ultimate height of superstardom and this is the song (and album) that’s got you there.
I’m not going to bore you with all the Regan stuff because we’ve all heard it a million times and it doesn’t get any more interesting. Or the meaning of the song.
This is stadium rock at its best. From the opening where Max is bashing his snare like he has a point to prove, Danny on the synths, Roy on keyboards, it has you fist pumping like no tomorrow. Then throw in 40,000 odd people screaming at the top of their lungs and you’re getting the best possible experience for Born In The USA. It’s not great lyrically, but what it is, is LOUD. This is the song you turn up if you want to piss off your neigbours – because it is that damn loud. The fact it is easy to sing along to, is probably why it is so popular, and for the fact that a lot of American’s have probably misinterpreted the lyrics, like Regan. Nonetheless though, it get’s the crowd going. Obviously not my most favourite of Bruce songs but its catchyness gets it in there.
You’re doing it now aren’t you.
BORN IN THE USA!
The crowd here is great. Italians going nuts, brilliant.
54) Youngstown
I pray the devil comes and takes me, To stand in the fiery furnaces of hell
My first choice from Nebraska.
When I first heard Youngstown on the Live In N.Y.C. DVD I did not like it. At all. I don’t know what it was, I think it was that it was a little too heavy for me at that stage and I was still pretty much into mainstream Bruce and was still delving into his catalogue yet to discover his true potential. But the years wore on and I thought I’d give it a go. Then it started to grow on me. Basically it’s about a steelworker who works in Youngstown, Ohio.
And it revisits a common theme in Bruce’s song – the division between the poor and wealthy.
Once I made you rich enough, rich enough to forget my name
Bruce sounds really throaty when he sings this. Having said that though, I think he delivers a great vocal performance. We are treated to Danny, or Charlie, now, on the accordion. And The Professor on keyboards. The highlight is obviously Nils’ solo. Probably his most famous one. It’s blistering. He is such an underrated guitarist it isn’t funny. Max delivers yet another more than convincing performance behind his drum kit too.
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53) Lonesome Day
Better ask questions before you shoot, deceit and betrayal's bitter fruit
Number 53 presents us with the most recent selection in terms of age of songs so far.
Straight out of the blocks, this one doesn’t leave anyone left standing still. The opening track off the 2002 album The Rising, is yet another foot tapper. It will have you screaming ‘YEAH!’ whether you’re in the confides of your car or living room or at a concert. One to really get the crowd going. I think it’s best place was second song into the set straight after The Rising.
I have read in a few different places that it was a little overplayed, which is probably a fair call considering it made 313 straight appearances in set lists stretching back from July 2002 to November 18, 2009, the third last show of the WOAD tour. Bruce must love it.
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52) Atlantic City
Everything dies, baby, that's a fact, but maybe everything that dies someday comes back
The original version, which appears on Nebraska, is of course an acoustic. Fast forward to the Reunion Tour and we see a full band version, to which I prefer. The acoustic is okay, but I think the band version owns this song. There is the Sessions Band version too, but I am just not a fan of anything of that album (sorry).
Max with a commanding beat grabbing our full attention to open the song. Snare/bass/snare/bass and so on. Then when we hit the chorus, the rest of the band comes in and we are in for a real treat. This song is meant to be angry and that’s exactly what you get.
Random fact: The Chicken Man mentioned in the first line was about a Mafia Boss who was killed back in 1981 after a nail bomb exploded on his porch after he walked out there.
51) Devil’s Arcade
They said heroes are needed, so heroes get made
This is the first of four songs from Magic to appear on my list. And boy is it a ripper. The swirling of Danny’s organ draws us in then Soozie’s violin carries us further.
This is not a song that will have you smiling for joy by any means. However, it will make you smile due to the sheer fact it is that damn great of a song. I can’t really find any flaws in it. Musically I find it to be very haunting; the notes on the organ are perfect. Combined with the guitar, and violin, along with Max’s little flurries, it all fits so well together to combine a song so good I am not sure why I have not polled it higher.
Sounds like a soldier who has gone to war and possibly died, or dying. What Devil’s Arcade is exactly, remains unknown.
50) Seaside Bar Song
The radio man finally plays something you can move to
With song number 50 we see another addition from Tracks make its way onto my list.
I didn’t know this even existed until a little over a year ago when I stumbled across it on YouTube after he played it in Philly.
It’s catchy, it bops along, it gets you smiling. It’s a song that’s appropriate if you’re driving along the coast, or if you’re just chilling at the beach. Or if you’re sitting outside on a summers day. It works anywhere. Most importantly – it’s fun. Got to love the addition of horns too. The breakdown towards the end too is great with the drums. qylAN0-IdnM
Love is a banquet upon which we feed
Personally, this song has seen inconsistent views with me. When I first heard it, I thought it was okay, nothing special. It would sit in my playlist and not really garner many plays. I think it’s because the only version I had was 75-85 version. And for me, I prefer Bruce’s voice more as he got older. Then the Darkness Box Set came out and the original was on there. I listened to it the whole way through and discovered it really is a great song. I know this completely contradicts what I said about Bruce’s voice. I have just never been that big on his 75-85 voice, even though many think it’s when he sounded best.
I managed to find a bootleg version from the WOAD Tour and it achieves some plays here and there.
Love the piano intro. You know what I am working my way to. Nils shines yet again. An absolutely electric solo. There is a version floating around on YouTube where he spins around eight times and then does a sommersault…. While playing the solo. Such a talented guitarist.
I am surprised Bruce gave this to Patti Smith to be honest. Another song that would have been at home on Darkness.
48) Take Em As They Come
Little girl, gone are the days, faded away into a clear blue night
The only reason I know about this song is because I was downloading a bootleg from a torrent for some tracks I wanted better quality of and I thought I’d give this a go anyway.
How this is on Tracks I do not know. It is a testament to how good his albums are if this does not make it on. (And the fact that Tracks has four discs). For those playing at home, it didn’t make the cut on The River. And to add that they’re still better than most of the garbage released today. Mind boggling. Only been played nine times live too. An extremely rare gem.
Sounds like this guy is going to do whatever he can to protect his girl too.
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47) My Love Will Not Let You Down
I got a time bomb tickin’ deep inside of me, I wanna tell you what I wanna say
The first song that opens on the Live In N.Y.C. DVD. I must admit, I had not heard it until I purchased it. But I know as soon as it started, I really liked it.
Max gets the beat rolling then everyone else is involved before you know it. This is intense. It’s got a quick beat. The piano adds a nice element. It’s a great show opener in my opinion. It picks them up and takes them for a ride and has the heart beating and more importantly, the fist pumping. Exactly what you want to start a show. The message is fairly straightforward and the lyrics aren’t really too complex. Yet another song that should have been on The River but didn’t make the cut. Speaks volumes. kmjLVDWVCtg
46) The Fuse
Your kiss and I'm alive
What is unique about this song is that Bruce uses a 12 string, and Max uses a drum machine. Not something we hear often in Springsteen songs, and especially together. (I think in the live version he uses a double kicker. I am not 100% sure on that though).
I think it’s one of the best tracks off The Rising. Severely underrated by a lot of Bruce fans and it is played nowhere near enough. It’s got that haunting feel about it too. The drums are what do it for me in this song. Just something about that beat makes me want more. The image I have when I listen to it, is a country town, on a very hot summers day.
Absolutely love the bridge on this track.
Tires on the highway hissin' something's coming You can feel the wires in the tree tops hummin' Devil's on the horizon line Your kiss and I'm alive
It feels almost climatic to an extent, it pulls up short though, which I think is what makes it great.
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45) The E-Street Shuffle
Everybody form a line!
Bruce Springsteen: "I wanted to invent a dance with no exact steps. It was just the dance you did every day and every night to get by."
And that’s how it started. The real E-Street is in Belmar, New Jersey. It is where former piano player in the band, David Sancious’ mother lived.
The first song in the countdown to appear from the 1973 album, The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle. It’s a fun song; you can see Bruce, as well as the band enjoy performing it. And it’s one I have a smile on my face when I listen to it. Just evokes a whole heap of joy. Power Thirteen, what a name for a character in a song too. Very unique. E-Street Shuffle involves heavy horn use too and the opening guitar work by Bruce is catchy as hell. Piano work is phenomenal too. And let’s not forget the ‘Ye-ah, yeah, yeah’!
What amazes me though is that this is on the end credits of the live in N.Y.C. DVD. I have no idea why they would not include it. Puzzling to say the very least. eb_GhFKiEQI
44) Darkness On The Edge Of Town
Till some day they just cut it loose, cut it loose or let it drag 'em down
Firstly, I’ll start by saying this is one Hell of an album. It might be dark, it might be angry, but oh boy, this is one ripper of an album.
The song itself closes the album. Jon Landau has always said you need to start and finish the album with strong songs. (Adam Raised A Cain opens Darkness).
The first time I remember hearing this was on the Live in Barcelona DVD. What impressed me most about it was that massive note that Bruce holds towards the end. I thought it was amazing. I remember counting how long it went for, I think it was 10 seconds.
Like most characters in Darkness, this guy is down in a real rut. He’s lost the love of his life, however, by the third verse; it seems he does not care too much for that.
Bruce has stated this song is best performed live so the audience can generate its intensity. I can see why.
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43) Bobby Jean
Good luck, goodbye, Bobby Jean
The second song to appear off B.I.T. USA.
Despite having a (somewhat) joyous sound, if you listen to the lyrics, they are kind of depressing, not majorly, but a little. For those who don’t know, this is about Stevie leaving the band to pursue a solo career.
Bobby Jean is another of those songs that I don’t hate nor love. It is in the rotation, but I don’t play it consistently. Not to say it is a bad song though. I didn’t discover it until quite a few years after I got into Bruce. Which is strange considering BIT USA is his most commercially popular album. Clarence’s solo is great. Springsteen: "A good song about youthful friendship."
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42) American Skin
Is it a gun, is it a knife, is it a wallet, this is your life
The story of 41 shots is pretty grim. It was written after NYPD officers shot a black man dead after they thought he was reaching for a gun after they asked him for I.D. Yeah, that’s pretty bad, but it gets worse. They proceeded to shoot him 41 times. The six officers were cleared of murder.
Now, being the person Springteen is. He decided to write a song about it. It caused a lot of backlash, and when he was playing at MSG during the Reunion Tour, they refused to provide security in protest.
It’s a fairly dark song. The lyrics are powerful and provocative, the music builds as the song progresses and Bruce pulls out a great solo while wielding that famous Butterscotch Telecaster. aQMqWAiWPMs
The sun rises up, I climb the ladder, A new day breaks and Im working on a dream
The album which inspired the most recent tour. As for the song itself, it’s got that pop sound, that in turn making it catchy.
I’ve mentioned simple earlier in the countdown, and I’ll do it again. There is nothing fancy about, it is just straightforward. No fancy tricks here, just sounds like simple pop music. And I’m pretty sure it’s the only song to have a whistling solo!
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40) She’s The One
But if she wants to break you, she's gonna find out that ain't so easy to do
And so we have hit number 40, another track from Born To Run. In my opinion, Max and Roy really drive this. The drum beat is so commanding, it reminds me of Backstreets. It is furious, it’s thumping and it’s fast. Boom, boom, boom, boom-boom. The floor toms really get a work out. If you notice in the clip I paste, during the first verse, there is a towel over the floor tom, to give it a more a of a heartbeat sound. Roy’s work on the piano is nothing short of brilliant either. It’s fast and it helps drives the song with Max’s beat. The two combine so well, which is ultimately thanks to Bruce. But you have to give credit to Max and Roy. Then there is that ripping solo from the Big Man about 3/4s of the way through, again a ripper. You can hear that he’s really going for it.
And just to finish it off, Bruce decides to rip out the harmonica. There’s a lot going on in She’s The One. And all of it is great. vw-e8GNxqKM
39) You’ll Be Comin Down
Easy street, a quick buck and true lies
Probably a bit of curve ball with this entry. As far as I know, Bruce has only played it once live. I’m not quite sure why this is the case. Maybe it didn’t work well live, who knows? Having said that though, I do have the live version that they played and it sounds fine to me. I couldn’t pick out a fault with it; I thought it worked quite well.
It’s one of those songs that just takes a back seat on Magic. You know it’s there, but it never rears its head. It just sits back and enjoys the ride. Again, it’s not overly complex and we get treated to a solo from Clarence.
Various things I have read about this song differ. Some say it’s about Bush, others say a girl. All I know is that when I listen to it, it makes me feel happy. It’s got that cheery vibe about it.
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38) Dancing In The Dark
Stay on the streets of this town, and they'll be carving you up alright
This is weird for me. It’s weird I have it so low considering it’s the song that got me in to Bruce, but at the same time, there probably other songs below this that I like more than it. I guess I will have to settle with it here.
The song that really shot Bruce to superstardom in the 80s. Also gave Courtney Cox her big break. What’s interesting about Dancing In The Dark is that, when played live, it sounds nothing like the original. The original has 80s written all over it. But when you hear it live, it’s got a more rockier feel, you don’t hear the keyboards/synths as much. Max’s snare is not as pronounced and the guitars are more prominent.
As for the song itself, it’s received a few plaudits. It was Bruce’s firs song to receive regular play time on MTV, it also won him his first Grammy. And I am pretty sure it was played at every show during the WOAD tour. Also played at every show during the BIT USA tour. Definitely a set list staple and you would expect nothing less for the biggest song off BIT USA.
The lyrics may be lost in the music, but that just means you’ll have more fun.
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And Bruce’s sister is hot.
37) Candy’s Room
But to get to Candy’s Room, you got to walk the darkness of Candy’s hall
Another song from Darkness. Strangely enough, I only really started loving this when they started releasing little snippets from the box set. I remember seeing the Paramount Theatre performance, turning my volume all the way up and listening to it on repeat.
Something about it grabbed my attention and didn’t let it go. It’s a furious song. It’s fast paced. It’s unrelenting. It’s intense. Three minutes of pure explosiveness. Three minutes of dynamite. The drum beat is fast and in turn Max really drives this song forward. Roy bashes away at his piano energetically. Bruce’s guitar solo is kickass.
The lyrics are kind of perverted. Then again it is about meeting up with a hooker.
Not much else to be said, really. vb5dtn9tVpU
And when you can generate that much intensity/passion, in front of an empty room, you know you’re doing something right.
36) No Surrender
We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school
That line is definitely one of my favourite Springsteen lines. From the way it is sung, to its simplicity.
Basically it’s about the inspiration rock music can provide. It also later became a representation of his friendship with the E-Street Band.
Doesn’t get enough plays at Bruce concerts really. A real hidden gem from BITUSA. Was the last song to make the album too, thanks to Stevie.
Don’t give up, and follow your dreams, this is what this song is all about to me. Couldn't decide which version to put, so I went with these three :D u1rTI0oCe0E YMRbh0OqM JxVu41Vsthg
35) Don’t Look Back
So put your foot to the floor and darling don't look back
I’m kind of funny when I listen to songs. Some songs I will only listen to when the sun’s out, others only when it’s raining. But with Don’t Look Back, it’s one of those songs for me, which I can listen to at any time.
It’s another song in the countdown to appear off Tracks, and another song which didn’t make the cut on The River.
I was introduced to it on the Live In NYC album. Disc 2 never really got much attention from me until I bought Live in Barcelona, ironically. I thought I’d give it a go. This was one of the songs that grabbed my attention.
Sounds like a love song to me, whatever happens, the male and female character won’t regret their decisions.
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34) Spirit In The Night
I think I really dug her 'cause I was too loose to fake
The funny thing about Spirit In The Night is that I don’t really like the full band version. I will probably get slated for it, but I just feel there is too much going on. Maybe I don’t like the beat, I don’t know. However….
The solo version of Spirit from Bruce in Barcelona, is awesome. The melody sits better with me, and the whole tempo of the song just flows better in my opinion. And you would think with just the piano, it would seem more intimate and take the fun away from the song. But no, the fun remains front row, center.
You feel compelled to sing because of the Spanish crowd (bless those Europeans), and it adds to the fun of the performance. For a song that is solely on the piano, it just doesn’t feel like it because of the crowd. They get involved and make you feel like you’re there with them.
What is also unique about Spirit is the large list of characters - Crazy Janey - Wild Billy - G-Man - Hazy Davy - Killer Joe
Wild Billy may well be Bruce, with Crazy Janey being a love interest when he was younger.
And we danced all night to a soul fairy band and she kissed me just right like only a lonely angel can
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Me and Crazy Janey was makin' love in the dirt singin' our birthday songs
Love his head movements when he hits those opening chords. tZWmbt_d76Y
33) Meeting Across The River
Here, stuff this in your pocket, it’ll look like you’re carrying a friend.
If there ever was a song to precede Jungleland, this is perfect.
I’m pretty sure I heard this the same day I discovered Jungleland, which I think was March 2008. I could be wrong though. I was sitting on YouTube cycling through Bruce clips and I stumbled across the Passaic version of this song.
I thought it was amazing. The song screams desperation. The protagonist is really down on luck. He’s in big strife, with what would seem to be somebody in the mob.
It is a very haunting track. Bruce is only accompanied by a piano and a trumpet, but that’s all he needs and he makes it work. The trumpet adds that element of something different, and I think it really helps the song. For some reason, when I hear the trumpet, I think of the 60s night scene.
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32) Your Own Worst Enemy
Your own worst enemy has come to town
Another curve ball, and another song from Magic. A really underrated song in Bruce’s catalogue. I don’t really remember much about upon the first few listens with Magic, but I think some point through last year, I started listening to it on my playlist. And it really grew on me.
The violin adds a great element. None of the instruments are too overpowering either, Bruce sounds like he is kind of crooning (I think), and the song sounds like it is sung in a key. It also sounds a tad churchy, but in a good way.
Apparently the song is about Bush. But listening to the lines
There’s a face you know Staring back in the shop window The condition you’re in You just can’t get out of this skin you could kind of get the impression that Bruce is singing about someone being their own worst enemy.
A song that is not played nearly enough, which is a real shame considering its quality. The violin adds a great element. None of the instruments are too overpowering either
Definitely one of the best songs off Magic. z_-_1C4Qerw k93IFtiPnC4
31) The Promised Land
Blow away, the dreams that tear you apart
And another song from Darkness chimes in to say hello. When I got the Barcelona DVD, this was one of the songs I skipped (shameful looking back on it I know). Then the Hyde Park DVD came out and I gave it a shot. How wrong I was to have skipped it whenver I would watch the Barcelona DVD.
It’s got that same, broken dream theme that most of the songs on Darkness have in common. Typical blue collar guy going absolutely nowhere in life but he dreams of a better life – The Promised Land.
Working all day in my daddy's garage Driving all night chasing some mirage Pretty soon, little girl, I'm gonna take charge
It sounds happy, but you can hear the despair in the lyrics. Props to Bruce for the use of harmonica in this too. The intro is great, not Thunder Road great, but it adds something different to a generally depressing album. And you can’t forget the ‘Blow away’ part when it’s done live. It is spine tingling and at the same time, somewhat breaking. Clarence’s solo tries to lift you up, but at the same time it reminds you that you’re not going to get all the way up with its melody/tone.
The last verse sums it up, if he could have anything, it will be that better life he dreams about.
Well the dogs on Main Street howl, cause they understand If I could take one moment into my hands Mister I ain't a boy, no I'm a man And I believe in a promised land ekdXmPlCBOY
30) Loose Ends
Well how could something so bad, darling, come from something that was so good
To be honest, I have never listened to Tracks in its entirety, I have only previewed it on Amazon, once, and this track never stood out when I listened to it. So I never really went out of my way to listen to it again. Then one day I was sitting on YouTube and this was in related videos. It was a version from the Reunion Tour. As soon as I heard Max pounding on his drums in the intro, I was hooked. I ripped it off YouTube straight away and listened to it several times that day.
I don’t know what else to say about it really. To sum the song up, it’s a relationship gone wrong. Again, like a lot of things off Tracks, it doesn’t get played too often. Big shame, it’s a ripper track.
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29) Human Touch
We're all riders on this train
For all the great things Bruce has brought us, you can’t really name too many positive reasons for breaking up the ESB. However, it didn’t completely back fire.
And that’s what leads us to entry 29, Human Touch.
From the 1992 album of the same name, it is probably the best song he wrote when he went solo (Joad fans will be cursing, but live with it).
This song really sets the stage alight when it’s done live. Bruce and Patti play it like a duet, sort of. Bruce of course commanding the stage as always, but Patti is just a little to his left. You can really see the chemistry between them when they hit the bridge and again toward the end of the song when they are sharing Bruce’s mic. What’s even better is how well this works with the ESB.
My favourite part of Human Touch is probably the outro. The band is rocking in full force and Bruce is wielding that Telecaster like a chainsaw, it’s brilliant.
In regards to the video clip, here is a funny story about it from another site;
“So then a few years pass, and Meiert hired me to shoot a band called the Rituals and we’re shooting all the view on materials, it’s always like rituals like ancient African rituals, and we’re shooting in this cave and we got this moving camera. There’s lightning-strikes machine, and we’re shooting weddings and all first strange ritualistic behavior. And then when shoot material with this girl in like a ‘30s or ‘40s apartment. Well, we’re shooting the girl and there’s lightning flashing, and they told me we’re going to New Orleans, and there’s going to a street car and a spark when it goes over the joint. And so I’m playing with that in this shoot as well, and there are interior lights coming through the windows.”
“In between takes, I look, and Springsteen comes walking into the studio. So I go, ‘Oh, f*ck. What the f*ck is he doing here?’ I’m thinkin he’s probably coming out to a meeting with Meiert to talk about either what’s he going to be doing in the future, or look at some video Meiert made for him. So I just keep my eye here on the camera, thinking I’ll just stay with the camera and he’ll leave eventually. I won’t to have to deal with this guy. I’m not going to talk to him. So we’re shooting another take and as we finished the take, I get tapped on the shoulder by Springsteen, and he goes, ‘Daniel, the circle becomes complete.’ He says, ‘You were right on how you wanted to light me. I was wrong. This [video you are on right now] is my song. We’re shooting here now, and this is the only way we could get you to do it. I want to apologize because you were right.’ And that turned out to be the video for ‘Human Touch’, which I think, is a great video in a lot of ways.”
You can see the full background story here: http://goldenageofmusicvideo.com/?p=436
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28) Wrecking Ball
And all our little victories and glories, have turned into parking lots If Wrecking Ball is anything to go by, we are in for one Hell of an album if the rumours are true about a new album being in the works.
This shows he hasn’t lost it. This song is amazing. I can’t express my love for it enough. It really is a brilliant I have absolutely no affiliation with New Jersey, or the Giants Stadium at all and this brings tears to my eyes at times.
The song starts with just Bruce quickly strumming his guitar, in front of a sold out Giants Stadium. The lyrics are awesome, gives you a real feeling of nostalgia, and you can hear the passion in Bruce’s voice as the tempo slowly builds. Max comes in, and eventually the full band is introduced. Curt Ramm delivers a fine performance on the trumpet, and it adds something different to this song. It really has you moving during the chorus.
Bruce has always been good at writing lyrics that supply the listener with great imagery, I mean,
Now my home was here in the Meadowlands, where mosquitoes grow big as airplanes Here where the blood is spilled, the arena's filled, and Giants play the game
You can imagine the players giving it the all for their team, putting their lives on the line and doing whatever they can to get the win for their side.
And then there are these three lines;
And your game has been decided, and you're burning the clock down And all our little victories and glories, have turned into parking lots When your best hopes and desires, are scattered through the wind
I have this image in my head of an American Football team keeping the ball because the score is close and they want to desperately win, people cheering like crazy when the final whistle is blown and celebrating like no tomorrow. Then you’ve got that final line, which signifies the end. The stadium is gone, it’s reduced to dirt.
Fucking brilliant song.
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27) Adam Raised A Cain
You're born into this life paying for the sins of somebody else's past
I think I started it earlier, but I was never really a fan of 80s Bruce’s voice. Not sure why, I have always liked it from the Reunion Tour onwards. The drum mix from the Live 75-85 CDs seems too out there for me and I generally don’t like any of the versions of songs from that album, which is why I never really got into Adam Raised A Cain.
But as we all know, in November last year the Darkness Box Set was released and on that came, in what my opinion is the best thing on the discs, the Paramount Theatre performance. And on that of course, is Darkness played in its entirety.
So that gave me another chance to form an opinion on Adam Raised A Cain. The song opens with Bruce raging war against his guitar. The sound is raw and powerful, really shows no mercy to anyone. The bassline is absolutely kickass. It really carries the song from start to finish. Garry Talent does an amazing job, and is not praised often enough. I don’t think he’s actually written a more angry song. That guitar solo is really something else. You can hear him raging through each note, leaving everyone for dead in his path and not letting up.
Hard to believe you can generate this much passion - when you’re playing in front of nobody.
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The solo in this clip is the best solo I have seen him play.
27) Radio Nowhere
I want a thousand guitars, I want pounding drums
IS THERE ANYBODY ALIVE OUT THERE?
The question asked at the start of pretty much every Magic show, before Bruce and the band would power into Radio Nowhere like no tomorrow.
It’s loud, it’s powerful. The opening intro is a killer, it’s unrelenting, leaving nobody to spare. A great song to tap your foot to. One of those songs that is even better when it’s full blast. When Bruce released this earlier before Magic came out, I was rapt at how good the song was. I knew we were in for a great album if the songs were going to stay at this level.
Personally, the song for me really pumps me up. I used to listen to it when I went on runs, it’d really spurn me on.
Here’s a quote from Bruce about the song: "It's an end-of-the-world scenario - he's seeing the apocalypse. All communications are down. That's my business, that's what it's all about - trying to connect to you. It comes down to trying to make people happy, feel less lonely, but also being a conduit for a dialogue about the events of the day, the issues that impact people's lives, personal and social and political and religious. That's how I always saw the job of our band." mG5clK9HoQE
26) Night
Hell all day they're busting you up on the outside
This is brutal from the get go. It’s in your face from the start, begging to be played at full blast while you play air drums or tap your feet to it. Then there’s the air guitar bit during the intro too. I never really liked Night on the Barcelona DVD, I’m not sure why, it just never grabbed me. As for Live in Hyde Park though, wow! I was hooked and reeled in to a front row, centre seat when I heard it for the first time. It really grabbed my attention and shook me internally. It made me want to play it again, and even louder than the first time.
I was really obsessed with it back in April. I’d just play it over and over. The drum beat is fast, and merciless. You can’t help but love Clarence’s sax through Night either.
Would have to be one of the most intense songs when Bruce plays it live too, there’s no letting up!
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25) Secret Garden
She'll look at you and smile
I remember back in 2006 I was watching Cold Case with my mum and this song was at the end of the episode. I fell instantly in love with it.
To this day, it is still one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Everything is just so soft throughout the song, nothing is in your face. Everything sits on the same level and you can’t help but just soak it all in. The melody from Roy’s piano is perfect, Max’s work on his kit with the brushes add a nice, subtle beat. The notes on the keyboard are repetitive but not boring. Bruce’s vocal work is perfect, the backing vocals from just enhance Bruce’s. Clarence’s solo is probably his most beautiful solo. It’s beyond beautiful. That solo can bring tears to my eyes at times. Absolutely amazing.
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24) Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
Tear drops on the city
The fourth song to appear from BToR. The story of how Bruce met Clarence on that day back in the 70s in Jersey while playing at the Stone Pony
Bruce of course being ‘Scooter’ and Clarence ‘The Big Man’
When the change was made uptown And the Big Man joined the band
When Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half With a Tenth Avenue freeze-out, Tenth Avenue freeze-out What a Tenth Avenue Freeze Out exactly remains to be seen, but this is one catchy track.. You just can’t help but get up and dance.
There’s a lot of different versions of 10th Avenue. My favourite used to be the Reunion Tour version, but then I heard normal versions from the WOAD Tour, and thanks to the Jungleland site…. I found an acoustic version, which is my favourite of the song.
And this is how you own a stage! hlN1x52g9kk
It’s so much more intimate, I LOVE it.
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23) Drive All Night
I get shivers down my spine girl and all I wanna do is hold you tight
Another rare addition from The River.
A near 10 minute ballad when performed live. Clarence’s sax solo takes us to a great height like most of his solos do.
It’s sung with great emotion, you can really feel that the character would drive all night for his girl. Remember, this was written before computers and everything we find so convenient was around today.
“I swear I’ll drive all night just to buy you some shoes”
The character Bruce has written about really loves his girl. He’d do anything for her, the line above tells us so. This is true love at its finest.
I’ll let the music do the rest of the talking…
Love the bit at the very end. I won’t spoil it! ufez3o2kbWQ
22) It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City
I was the king of the alley, mama I could talk some trash
Oh my God. The power of Saint is unreal. It’s very fast paced, doesn’t really let you catch your breath, it’s not very long either and before you know it, it’s finished. You know when a sang makes a Marlon Brando reference, you know it’s going to be good, and Saint definitely delivers. The lyrics are like something out of a rap song but with good music.
A lot of Greetings was written with a rhyming dictionary, and you can tell during this song especially.
I had skin like leather and the diamond-hard look of a cobra I was born blue and weathered but I burst just like a supernova I could walk like Brando right into the sun Then dance just like a Casanova With my blackjack and jacket and hair slicked sweet Silver star studs on my duds like a Harley in heat When I strut down the street I could hear its heartbeat
Brilliant writing considering how young Bruce was too when he wrote this. Then there is the musical side of it, that guitar duel with Steve is nothing short of shit hot. Love Max’s work on the cymbals during the bridge too.
Absolutely blistering performance, again from Philly vKddm_oELhU
21) Girls In Their Summer Clothes
She went away, she cut me like a knife
Probably the best song to come off the Magic album. It’s got that happy feel about it, puts a smile on your face when it comes on and you feel better after listening to it. A good song too when you’re driving down a highway too, sunnies on, and the wind rushing through your hair.
Again Bruce does well with imagery throughout the song. The start of the song sounds like an outsider looking in, during a summer evening, everyone is happy, really enjoying themselves. As the song progresses, we reach the line
She went away She cut me like a knife Hello beautiful thing Maybe you could save my life
Sounds like the character in the song has lbeen dumped by his long time partner, but has found a new girl which has given him a new lease on life.
JuFKZG2EIIE 20) Thunder Road
Roll down the window, and let the wind blow back your hair
As soon as you start playing Born To Run you are greeted with that lovely harmonica intro. The sound of youth, the sound of freedom, the sound of…. Brilliance.
And then you’re treated to the spectacle that is Thunder Road. Considered by many Bruce fans as his greatest song, and you can’t really argue much why it wouldn’t be (ironic I know it being at number 19), but it is really an amazing song.
I first remember hearing it on the Barcelona DVD (it closes that concert), it grabbed me straight away. Everything about it was great, I really couldn’t fault it. Then over the years it grew more and more on me and I can’t help but wonder how does someone at the age of 24 come up with something like this? Many artists of today would be honoured to have written anything half as good, but to Bruce, it’s just another amazing song in a long list of songs that have lyrics that only a few could match.
The lyrics, the music, the Roy Orbison reference, the live versions where the crowd sing the end of the first verse, the piano to carry it along, the sax solo. Where does Thunder Road fail to deliver? It doesn’t. I feel terrible having it so low, but it’s just personal taste and I just happen to like other songs more. Not taking away anything from Thunder Road, it is the perfect song to open or end an encore.
Thunder Road, ladies and gentlemen, is Bruce Springsteen near his absolute best.
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19) Badlands
It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive
Two album openers following each other. This time, it’s Badlands, the song that opens Darkness On The Edge Of Town
It’s in your face from the word go. Max bashing away with his bass drum and on his snare, Roy serving up his usual great work on the piano. Then Bruce comes in…
And it’s 6 minutes of music that will leave you full of energy, only wanting more. This is another one of those songs you pump your fist to like you’re a teenager at a club, and then shout the lyrics at the top of your lungs without a care in the world. This is what Badlands is. It’s a stadium rocker, it’s an anthem to Bruce fans, it’s a staple on setlists, it’s a show opener, it’s a first set closer, it can be in the middle of the set, it can be in the encore, it can be anywhere and you’re let loose like no tomorrow. That guitar solo is kick ass, you can hear Bruce is really torturing the guitar, but in a good way. Clarence’s solo drives the song forward even more, the pounding of Max’s drum forces you to tap your foot. The woah-oh-oh-oh bit. If this song doesn’t get you pumped up, nothing ever will.
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18) The Rising
A dream of life comes to me, like a catfish dancin' on the end of the line
The song I criminally forgot. I don’t know how, but luckily I realized.
The only positive thing to come out of 9/11 was The Rising. Had that not happened, we probably wouldn’t have been treated to arguably Bruce’s finest album of recent times.
I remember when this CD was released my uncle gave it to my dad, and my dad absolutely raved about it. He kept pestering me to listen to it, and I brushed it off because he said that about a lot of other CD’s which I never liked, so I didn’t see why I should view this one any differently. Anyway, from memory, I gave in one day because I was bored and I whacked it in my CD player in my room. I was 14 at the time, then the love for Bruce really started growing. I would listen to the album on repeat because I couldn’t get enough of it.
Then the Barcelona DVD came out and this was the opening track for the majority of The Rising Tour shows. The violin gives us something different to start off the song. Lyrically, it sounds like a firefighter responding to the events of 9/11. The song is intense and powerful, you can’t help but picture the character in the song.
Here’s the Barcelona version
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17) Downbound Train
I dropped to my knees, I hung my head and cried
Entry 17 may come as a bit of a surprise. It never really receives that much recognition off BIT USA, but my word, it is a crackerjack of a song.
Let me just say, that intro for Downbound Train is awesome. I can’t describe how much I like it. The unique thing about Downbound Train is that it doesn’t have a bridge. Sure the music disappears, but the tempo remains the same. The song doesn’t really follow any sort of structure, well to me anyway. It’s pretty much five verses with three of them mentioning the title at the end of them. Downbound Train is about a guy who is in a really terrible place. Lost his job, lost his girl and it just seems nothing is going for him. You can hear the anguish in Bruce’s voice when he performs this, it’s heartbreaking. And as I said, that opening riff is awesome!
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Big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams
The new song released on the NYC DVD. What a spectacle it is. Nearly 10 minutes of Bruce and The E-Street Band at their cohesive best.
It’s a song that doesn’t get played enough in my opinion. Really should see more of a regular slot in the encore as opposed to the likes of Hungry Heart and stuff. That riff Bruce plays during the intro is great, Steve’s work on the banjo is something different, Clarence has a solo, but when this song reaches its climax musically is Max’s solo towards the end. It’s about 30 seconds of him showcasing his talent, or rather what Bruce has written, but nonetheless it’s great. You can’t help but drum away to yourself and pretend you’re Mighty Max and you are driving the beat of this magnificent song.
This is about leaving all the bad behind and getting to enjoy the good parts of life. Forgetting about the negatives, and going to a place that is full of positives.
So, I’ll see you all, in the Land Of Hope and Dreams.
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15) Roll Of The Dice
I’m a thief in the house of love and I can’t be trusted
Cuuurrrrrrvvvvvvvveeeeeeee baaaaallllllllll!
A lot of you are probably wondering why this is so high. Listen to it, and you’ll see why. It is really a great song that receives nowhere near the recognition it deserves. The piano work is top notch, Max shows no remorse on his drum kit, and the outro, where Clarences shines really takes the song to a whole new level. The trade offs between Steve and Bruce are also a highlight. If you’re ever feeling down, whack this on, and I guarantee you, five seconds in, you’ll have a smile from ear to ear that nobody will be able to wipe off your face. Nobody. As mentioned some time ago, not many positives were brought about when Bruce broke up the ESB and formed a new band to record new music. Again, this is an exception to that, just like Human Touch.
Plenty of gambling references about throwing sixes and nines, rolling snake eyes and we can’t forget the title of the song. Lady luck gets a mention too.
The music was actually written by Roy, and it was the first song Springsteen had not written by himself.
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She just sits on the porch of her daddy’s house where all her pretty dreams have been torn
Darkness is by no means a joyous album, and Racing In The Street shows this. A 7 minute ballad, and nearly 10 minutes when it’s done live, comes in at number 14.
The song sounds heartbreaking. You can hear the pain in Bruce’s voice, the depressive manner in which the piano chords were written, but it only adds to the song. The Professor’s piano work throughout the entire song is amazing. It is definitely up there with the best work he’s ever done with the ESB, or possibly the best. So delicate, yet played to perfection, and you really would expect no less. What he plays in the outro is nothing short of brilliant. Masterful flurries just one after the other, it blows your mind, especially when you see how he does it. It’s just amazing to watch.
Danny Federeci’s work on the organ can’t go unnoticed either, just after the end of the final verse, then Max chimes in. Eventually, the whole band is jamming and you see their experience show. Everyone shines, it really is masterful writing by Bruce. But the outro on Racing is nothing short of spectacular.
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13) New York City Serenade
Hey vibes man, hey jazz man, play me your serenade Unlucky 13 sees the first entry from The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street Shuffle, since entry 45 brought us The E-Street Shuffle.
A 10 minute+ epic that honestly doesn’t get enough plays. I only discovered this song a few years ago, but when I found it, I immediately loved it.
The long piano intro that teases you, but captivates you the longer it goes on, a rarity with Bruce on acoustic guitar and for 10 minutes he gives us his all and controls that stage like water off a ducks back. The song sort of has a bit of a jazz influence to it as well. The lyrics are amazing, we are introduced to characters such as Billy, Diamond Jackie and the Fish Lady. A lot of references to Manhattan too, I could imagine walking the streets of NYC one night and listening to this, I think it would be a pretty amazing feeling.
What’s even more amazing he was 23 when he wrote this. Brilliant.
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12) Born To Run
The highways jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
One, two!
Your hear is racing, you are filled with euphoria, your fist is already pumping in excitement, you’re jumping up and down like an uncontrollable maniac, you’ve got a smile from ear to ear then nobody will wipe off your face and that’s because Bruce has just launched into BToR with the band.
From that opening drum roll, followed by the bending of those notes on Bruce and Steve’s Fenders, you know you’re in for an amazing song. The hit that shot Bruce to fame, one of the greatest albums of all time. Everything affiliated with Born To Run is phenomenal.
The music, the lyrics, the excitement it generates, the images, the fun, the liberation, the sax solo, the anthem-like nature of it, the moments it leaves you breathless because of how amazing it is, the woah-oh-oh-oh’s you sing at the top of your lungs no matter where you are because you just don’t give a damn when this is on. Born To Run has it all. If you’re going to have a song that everybody is going to remember you by, Born To Run is the song to have.
Don’t ask me why this is number 12. I love it, and I mean really love it, it would probably be higher any other time I make a countdown, but the songs ahead of it I listen to more, not to say they are better by any means though.
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11) I’m Goin’ Down
My kisses used to turn you inside out
Probably surprising for a lot of you that this is so high, but the first time I heard this, I loved it immediately. Since that guitar opening, it grabbed me straight away and it still hasn’t let me go. This is the third song I have listened to every morning for probably the past year and a half. Like Dancing In The Dark, the upbeat music hides it somewhat depressing lyrics. It’s not to say the lyrics are great by any means, just your simple pop/rock 80s love song, but it is really, really catchy.
You can see how much fun Bruce has on stage with it, good one for the crowd to belt out the chorus too as well.
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10) The Ties That Bind
You walk cool, but darling, can you walk the line, to face the ties that bind
Again another song I discovered only about a year or so ago. Trawling through YouTube I was seeing the most recent uploaded Bruce vids, and he had just completed his two night stint at Madison Square Garden playing through albums in their entirety, The River of course was one of those albums. Now I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but I’m not that big of a fan of The River. Sure it’s got some good songs, but as a whole, it doesn’t really do it for me. But, like everything in life, there are exceptions, and Ties is one of the exceptions in this case.
Ties opens The River with crashing snare drums and an energetic guitar riff. It’s another real foot tapper, you can’t help yourself. The chorus is catchy as Hell with the bai-ai-ai-ai- ai-ai-ind bit and Bruce has done a great job at creating a catchy hook. Clarence beams on the sax solo with the support of Max showing no mercy once again behind his drum kit.
All in all, Ties is a really underrated song in my opinion. It needs more plays, and it would open a show perfectly, just like it does with The River. The energy the song exerts is bound to get everybody going for the rest of the show.
Just look at the passion in this clip below, it brings tears to my eyes .
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And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, they're shootin' up the street
One of the Springsteen epics. And it certainly doesn’t fail in delivering a knockout punch. Coming from Bruce’s 1972 debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park makes it even more remarkable. Only 23 when this was written, probably younger actually come to think of it. The song is haunting, depressing, powerful and raw with Springsteen near his best. It’s hard to believe it is off his first album. Something so great, so epic, was written by a person in their early 20s. It’s almost beyond comprehension, then you realize it’s Springsteen.
This is definitely up there in terms of lyrics and music with Incident and Jungleland. The piano to lead us through the first quarter of the song, then the drums come crashing in, the tempo rises and everybody is jamming and Bruce takes it up a notch with his vocal work. You can imagine the fire he’s got in his veins as he is pounding through this second half of the song.
Lost provides many great images due to the lyrics. In particular “Hey man, did you see that, his body hit the street with such a beautiful thud.” It’s almost too good to be true that a lyric such as that has been penned. That whole last verse sounds almost like a gangland battle, kind of similar to Jungleland in parts.
Intensity near its highest point.
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8) Something In The Night
You can ride this road till dawn without another human being in sight
Yet another entry from Darkness. And another song where you can feel the pain in Bruce’s voice throughout the entire track.
I have loved this for a very long time, and I have always been very envious of those who have been at a concert on the rare occasion he plays it live. Those moans throughout the intro, with Max’s work on the drums beginning to rumble louder and louder is something really special. Then the band makes itself known following Max’s climax.The music in it is not overly complicated, much like the lyrics, so they work well off each other.
By far the best bit the combination of Bruce’s guitar work and Max doing his thing on the drums at the end of the final verse. The bass drum to replicate a heartbeat and to back Bruce’s vocal, Bruce letting off that little rip on that Telecaster and Max bashing that tom followed by the floor tom.
Those moans to close the song out are amazing too. Such a painfully sad song, but it leaves you marveling in its greatness.
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What is even more astonishing as how you can generate that much emotion in front of nobody. 7) Streets of Fire
I walk with angels that have no place
This completes the entries from Darkness, so for those hanging for Prove It All Night or Factory, sorry to disappoint.
Streets of Fire is a dark, emotional song that is full of raw power. An absolutely electric song. That telecaster is near breaking point by the time Bruce is done with the song. The way he makes it wail are incredible. Absolutely incredible.
As mentioned in the Something In The Night entry, it is hard to believe in (all of ) the Paramount Theatre performances he can generate so much emotion in front of an empty room. The sign of an amazing musician. The best performance for my mind too. The intensity he shows throughout the song, and the absolute power that beams out of that telecaster is phenomenal. I’m not going to lie, the solo is one of my favourite to play air guitar too as well.
Absolutely kick ass song. g_m9skT35RA
6) Incident On 57Th Street
Upstairs the band was playing and the singer was singing something about going home
I’m starting to sound like a bit of a broken record, but how a song like Incident came off Bruce’s second album, before he made it big, and when he was only 24 is astonishing.
From the opening chords on Roy’s piano, to Bruce’s bending on his Telecaster straight after, followed by those amazing lyrics, Incident is so good it’s almost hard to believe. And we can’t forget that outro either. Wow. Then for another 7-10 minutes we hear the story of Spanish Johnny.
I have had a version from the Reunion Tour in Philly I thought was the best version I heard for a very long time. Upon first listen on the Barcelona DVD, I was never really a fan, but it grew on me after a while, but I just appreciated the full band one so much more. I heard various versions through the Magic tour and it still didn’t match up to the Reunion Tour, because it sounded like it was being played too fast, then, on the WOAD tour, the Philly version was surpassed. The band sounded even tighter, Bruce’s vocals were better and everything was running like clock work. Then not so long I heard the version at Main Point and I was absolutely gob smacked at how something so intimate was produced. The violin in the intro was a superb addition; you could hear the emotion pouring out of it, just incredible. Bruce sounded so vulnerable with just the piano; it truly is an incredible rendition of an amazing song. And talk about great lyrics…
Well like a cool Romeo he made his moves, oh she looked so fine Like a late Juliet she knew he'd never be true but then she really didn't mind Upstairs a band was playin', the singer was singin' something about goin' home She whispered, "Spanish Johnny, you can leave me tonight but just don't leave me alone"
Definitely one of my favourite Springsteen verses/lyrics, and one of my favourite of all time.
I honestly cannot fathom how amazing this would be to see live, and I envy those who have.
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And if you haven’t heard the Main Point version, listen to it NOW
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Then there is this, which is from Friday. It is the ONLY acoustic guitar version I have heard of this song. Just when you thought he didn’t have another surprise left in the bag he ripped this out in Pittsburgh.
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5) Rosalita
I know your mama she don’t like me cos I play in a rock n roll band
What I only noticed yesterday is that Incident and Rosalita appear on my countdown straight after each other as pure chance, just like they do on WIAESS.
Still to this day, I have not seen anyone have more fun with any other song than Bruce Springsteen with Rosalita.
This song just spells out F-U-N. It is impossible to listen to this song and not feel a rush of huge happiness shooting through your veins with a smile from ear to ear plastered on your face. It is the ultimate feel good Springsteen song.
He just feeds off the crowd so effortlessly when he plays it live. The crowd are more than willing to complete lines, and can you hardly blame them? It just flows so easily when Bruce throws it over. You can see how much fun he has when he plays it. Bruce turns into a kid on stage and he doesn’t give a damn, and nor should he. It is the ultimate crowd pleaser, and the ultimate show closer. To be honest, Rosie could be played anywhere in a show and it would fit in perfectly. That’s how good it is. Oh, and that opening guitar riff, amazing.
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Thirty years later, and you would still think he’s playing it in 1978.
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4) Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street
She said “man the dope’s that there’s still hope”
From one fun song, straight on to another. Entry number 4 sees the fifth entry from the Greetings From Asbury Park album. Again, like most of the songs on Greetings, the rhyming is heavy and the lyrics are bizarre. From wizard imps, to sweat side pimps, to Broadway Mary, to the lucky young matador, this is a true gem of a track.
Only heard the original for the first time upon writing this entry and the final lines of the song are truly weird with the music that accompanies it as opposed to live version. It almost comes to a sudden halt to let Bruce finish off singing and that’s the end of it. Completely different to the live versions where they keep jamming and play an outro that goes for a minute or so. Very strange indeed.
It’s a song that goes well on a summers day when you just don’t give a damn.
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3) Growin’ Up
I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid
Another surprise in the top 10, and particularly, so high up.
Growin' Up is a joy to behold.
My first recollection of Growin’ Up goes back a few years. The first version of it I heard was the 1972 recording at Max’s in Kansas City. I liked it for a song that used only an acoustic guitar. Then I managed to find the version from the 1975-85 disc and finally got a copy of a version from The Reunion Tour which is my favourite. It’s a joyous song that keeps that feel throughout the track. When I listen to it, I feel like a kid again, and a little nostalgic.
This is the second song I listen to every morning after I wake up. Without fail. wtF4ATNH1Qw
The story in the middle is brilliant. It’s a must watch. It brings tears to my eyes every time.
2) Backstreets
We swore forever friends on the backstreets until the end
All those years ago when I bought Live In New York City on DVD, I neglected disc two for quite some time. I would play disc one and not even give disc two a chance in Hell of being played. Then I was bored one afternoon and I thought why not give it a go. First cab off the rank on disc two was Backstreets, I had no idea what to expect, and especially the impact it would have on me.
From those opening piano chords where Roy is ruling the roost without taking too much of the spotlight. Followed by the organs, then the rumbling of Max’s floor tom, followed by that commanding drum beat that is displayed throughout the song, then Bruce giving that real twang from his Telecaster, I knew it was going to be amazing, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It has stood the test of time in my love for Springsteen.
It is the first song I listen to every morning when I wake up, I’ve been doing that for probably 2 years now and I am still not sick of it. I don’t think I ever will be either. I listen to it during the day too, the song is flawless. Everything about it is brilliant. The drums, the piano, Bruce’s guitar, the organs. The breakdown after the third verse when it’s done live. All of it. The lyrics are some of the best I have heard. The solo is my favourite piece of music. The passion he shows when he sings this is almost unparalleled. The second best song off Born To Run. And if Max ever controlled a song, THIS was it.
It is my favourite song of all time. Musical brilliance near its epitome. Absolutely faultless song. I don’t think I have seen him command a stage more and evoke so much emotion as what he does during Backstreets.
Watch them all, and I guarantee you’ll be blown away each time. qarqIUFmcgY 2rH0lP5H5u8 qOzNxeBvrmI
1) Jungleland
Man there's an opera out on the Turnpike, there's a ballet being fought out in the alley
Where do I start? Whatever I say it isn’t going to do the song any justice whatsoever.
Firstly let me start by saying it is by far the greatest song I have ever heard and the greatest song I will ever hear in my life. Nothing can, or ever will surpass it. It is perfection. If God wrote a song, it wouldn’t be as good as Jungleland. It is impossible, in my mind for a better song to be composed than this work of art. Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, impossible. From start to finish, it leaves me breathless, and even though I know what’s coming next and I have listened to it more times than I have had cooked dinners, it still blows me away that this song actually exists, and was written by someone when they were only 24. When you look at Born To Run, as an album it’s quite amazing the amount of quality that oozes out of it. You’ve got Lost In The Flood, Backstreets, Thunder Road, Born To Run, and of course Jungleland, which are true epics. Amazing.
The first time I heard Jungleland I would have been 18 or 19. I remember either downloading it or ripping it from the Live in NYC CD, but never actually listened to it. So I thought I’d give it a crack. It was instant love. Nothing was going to stop me from holding it in such high esteem. From the start, much like Backstreets, I knew it was phenomenal. I would listen to it before I go to sleep and be in tears by the end of it because of how good it was. Clarence’s solo is something that is almost too good to be believed. But when you realize it’s a Springsteen song, it starts to make sense.
This is where Roy shines the most. While Backstreets and Racing are pivotal parts in showcasing the Professor’s talents, Jungleland is where you really hear what he is capable of. From that delicate intro, to thundering through the verses, to providing the backing during Clarence’s solo, then the backing for the outro, to the energetic playing to close the song out while Bruce is whailing, it’s just wonderful. Even though there is a lot going on, the piano is a foundation which carries Jungleland superbly. Credit to Bruce for writing it and as much credit to Roy for stepping up to the plate and delivering masterfully.
The swirling organ during the intro adds charm and mystery, and a bit of optimism. An underrated and probably doesn’t get enough spotlight, it sits back, and does its job fine enough though.
The tempo builds as the first verse goes on and then all of a sudden by the end of the second verse you’re shouting DOOOOOOOWN IIIIIIIIIN JUUUUUNGLEEEEELAAAAAAAAAAAND at the top of your lungs, like you’re front row centre. By this point we have been introduced to possibly the best characters in a song ever - The Magic Rat and The Barefoot Girl. I mean, how awesome are those names? Anybody could write about Steve, Brian, Joe and so on, but those names are something else. They kind of give of this aura of secrecy and make you want more.
Jungleland is in full swing now. Drums are pounding, guitars are being played with fury, Roy is unrelenting on the piano, Bruce is giving it all vocally. It’s all come together. You can see the passion almost bursting out of Bruce’s veins. Hell, I’d be the same if I wrote something this good too. You can hear it in his voice too, it’s awe-inspiring to watch.
While I think Bob Dylan is the greatest lyricist ever, I think Bruce is very underrated to your John Doe. I mean, look at the lyrics of Jungleland, they are by far the best thing he has ever written, and that is really saying something when you look at the quality of his catalogue. Songs like Lost In The Flood, Incident, Backstreets, NYC Serenade, Racing In The Street are definitely no pushovers, but when Jungleland is incomparable to them, it really is saying something about the quality of the lyrics. You could pick out any line and be blown away.
The rangers had a homecoming in Harlem late last night And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine over the Jersey state line Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain The Rat pulls into town rolls up his pants Together they take a stab at romance and disappear down Flamingo Lane
Well the Maximum Lawman run down Flamingo chasing the Rat and the barefoot girl And the kids round here look just like shadows always quiet, holding hands From the churches to the jails tonight all is silence in the world As we take our stand down in Jungleland
The midnight gang's assembled and picked a rendezvous for the night They'll meet 'neath that giant Exxon sign that brings this fair city light Man there's an opera out on the Turnpike There's a ballet being fought out in the alley Until the local cops, Cherry Tops, rips this holy night The street's alive as secret debts are paid Contacts made, they vanished unseen Kids flash guitars just like switch-blades hustling for the record machine The hungry and the hunted explode into rock'n'roll bands That face off against each other out in the street down in Jungleland
In the parking lot the visionaries dress in the latest rage Inside the backstreet girls are dancing to the records that the D.J. plays Lonely-hearted lovers struggle in dark corners Desperate as the night moves on, just a look and a whisper, and they're gone
Beneath the city two hearts beat Soul engines running through a night so tender in a bedroom locked In whispers of soft refusal and then surrender in the tunnels uptown The Rat's own dream guns him down as shots echo down them hallways in the night No one watches when the ambulance pulls away Or as the girl shuts out the bedroom light
Outside the street's on fire in a real death waltz Between flesh and what's fantasy and the poets down here Don't write nothing at all, they just stand back and let it all be And in the quick of the night they reach for their moment And try to make an honest stand but they wind up wounded, not even dead Tonight in Jungleland You cannot pick a bad line. From the Barefoot Girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge, to the Maximum Lawman running down Flamingo Lane, to meeting ‘neath that Giant Exxon sign, to flashing guitars like switchblades. Or how about the backstreet girls dancing to the record that the DJ plays? The poet’s down here don’t write nothing at all is amazing too. The lyrics are faultless. I can’t pick a favourite line, there are that many, it’s just too hard. Sounding like a broken record, but writing this at 24 is almost inconceivable.
Then comes along the defining moment of Clarence Clemons career, and many Bruce fans’ favourite moment. That epic sax solo. Not much needs to be said, I have run out of superlatives to use, everyone knows how good it is. The passion, the emotion, the length, all of it. Max provides a solid foundation too throughout the solo, the crashing of his symbols are awesome.
After Clarence’s moment of glory, we are treated to some very depressing piano chords. They fit with what is coming up though. You can hear the pain in Bruce’s voice. It sounds like he himself has lost someone close to him, the anguish is heartbreaking, and the piano only adds to it. Then there are those final whails. You thought the ones in Something In The Night were filled with pain, these are the epitome of pain.
Then, the epic masterpiece that is Jungleland, is finished.
I’ve written too much already, and interpreting this song is difficult. So I’ll leave you to form your own assumptions of it. Whatever you come to though, it sure as hell will be incredible.
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61) Murder Incorporated 60) Sad Eyes 59) Iceman 58) Trapped 57) For You 56) Born In The USA 55) Youngstown 54) Lonesome Day 53) Atlantic City 52) Devil’s Arcade 51) Seaside Bar Song 50) Because The Night 49) Take Em As They Come 48) My Love Will Not Let You Down 47) The Fuse 46) E-Street Shuffle 45) Darkness On The Edge Of Town 44) Bobby Jean 43) American Skin 42)Working On A Dream 41) She’s The One 40) You’ll Be Comin Down 39) Dancing In The Dark 38) Candy’s Room 37) No Surrender 36) Don’t Look Back 35) Spirit In The Night 34) Meeting Across The River 33) Your Own Worst Enemy 32) The Promised Land 31) Loose Ends 30) Human Touch 29) Wrecking Ball 28) Adam Raised A Cain 27) Radio Nowhere 26) Night 25) Secret Garden 24) 10th Avenue Freeze Out 23) Drive All Night 22) It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City 21) Girls In Their Summer Clothes 20) Thunder Road 19) Badlands 18) The Rising 17) Downbound Train 16) Land Of Hope And Dreams 15) Roll Of The Dice 14) Racing In The Street 13) New York City Serenade 12) Born To Run 11) I’m Goin Down 10) Ties That Bind 9) Lost In The Flood 8) Something In The Night 7) Streets Of Fire 6) Incident On 57th Street 5) Rosalita 4) Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street 3) Growin Up 2) Backstreets 1) Jungleand
Those unlucky to miss out…
Lonely Night In The Park
This is your chance, you're going to take it, If she can dance, you can make it
Had I knew about this song before I started the countdown, it would probably would have ranked somewhere between 15 and 10. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case though, and I didn’t hear this song until mid October.
Surprising I know, but this is one high quality track. It sounds ironic as it didn’t make it onto any album, but with Bruce, it is understandable as we all know. It was written in the Born To Run era, and probably would have looked and sounded out of place had it been on the album.
It’s catchy, the opening chords are welcoming and the bass is soothing. Bruce sounds great, and when he goes high during some lines, it adds to it and takes that song up a few notches. Based on the music and Bruce’s tone, it sounds like a very fun song. But if you look deeper into the song and read the lyrics, you realize it’s about guy who is, as the title suggests, lonely.
This song makes me feel genuinely happy. I suggest you get it in your library too.
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Higher and Higher
I almost included it in my list, almost. But I decided to take it out as it was a cover. It pained me to do it, but I thought it wouldn’t be fair, so I opted to leave it. Had it made it in however, it would be in the top 10.
Never have I seen anyone have as much fun with a song. Ever. You thought he had fun playing Rosalita, well you ain’t seen nothing yet. Higher and Higher takes it to a whole new level. He dances like he doesn’t give a shit, bops around like he’s king of the world, it’s an awesome sight to see. It’s a song of pure joy, and it works perfectly with The E- Street Band. The horns, Roy jamming out on the piano, Max with the steady beat, all of it comes together so perfect, and so effortlessly, it’s like clockwork, it’s that perfect.
Then there is the switch up to D. A key change halfway through a song they’ve never played before. Unbelievable! And they do it like it’s nothing. But it’s what you’d expect from Bruce and the band, they’re so good at what they do, nothing can challenge them. I can’t praise it enough. Nobody will ever understand I don’t think. I hope you guys get the joy I get when I listen to this song. It brightens up my day, it leaves a smile on my face for the 8 minutes it plays, it makes me want to live life to its maximum potential.
This is the song that makes me the happiest I can feel. Nothing else comes close. Not even Rosie.
The best cover you’ll see of any song.
Watch all of the video, you’ll be lost for words.
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