Letter Never Sent, Born In The USA Edition
Found in an old notebook from college (Civil Rights & Discrimination, if you care), a letter I started to someone I must have met at the BITUSA shows I went to in Greensboro, North Carolina, January 1985.
springsteen Archive
We Take Care Of Our Own
STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS:
- I hear a sax in my head instead of Nils in the intro. (Is it Nils? I don’t know. WOULD LOVE SOME ACTUAL CREDITS, so I knew who was playing what. Big downside to downloading. We’ll have them in the morning.
- I almost wish it was less pop and more of a barn burner with more electric guitar and less strings, but obviously we have no idea what this will sound like live.
- I like the piano, a lot. I like the other textural effects a lot less.
- I get the “angry” part – he’s saying, “this is what’s supposed to happen, and isn’t happening”
- This is going to be an interesting record to hear on tour in Europe.
- The bridge is absolutely killer and redeems any shortfalls I think I hear right now.
- This will be the most misappropriated/misinterpreted song he’s released since BITUSA. (Please leave your flags at home on tour, or at least don’t stand in front of me if you feel the need to wave them during this song.)
- Overall, I like it, am less worried about the record as a whole, and far less worried about the fact that I’d already bought tickets to 7 shows without having heard one note of the album.
More later.
Where’s the eyes, the eyes with the will to see
Where’s the hearts that run over with mercy
Where’s the love that has not forsaken me
Where’s the work that’ll set my hands, my soul free
Where’s the spirit that’ll rain rain over me
where’s the promise from sea to shining sea
where’s the promise from sea to shining sea
F**k Yeah, Setlists
This week over at Fuck Yeah, Setlists I’ve donated five setlists from my collection: Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers, R.E.M., Springsteen and the New York Dolls. If you like setlists, it’s an amazing site. If you’ve got your own setlists, he’s always looking for submissions!
me talking about Clarence on early-morning telly-vision
For some reason I put this on my Tumblr but not here – me and Rolling Stone‘s Anthony DeCurtis on Good Day NY on June 20th:
love to the big man.
Give my regards to Junior Walker and King Curtis.
–
more later, when I can manage it.
It’s time.
The E Street Band needs to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Call in the chips, rally the troops. Now.
7th Of December, Asbury Park: Inside the Carousel House
The contest was announced on Friday: enter to be an audience member at an exclusive Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (emphasis on E STREET BAND) video taping on Tuesday, December 7th, for a Springsteen webcast to be broadcast at a future date. Obviously, I entered; it was likely that this would be the only such sighting in 2010. I spent all Monday night hitting refresh on my phone, waiting to hear if I’d won, which I didn’t; only 15 people out of 2500+ entries got in. While it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve stood on the boardwalk in the cold hoping for a miracle, I wasn’t heading down the Shore this time without a way in; it was too uncertain, due to the small space, and it was too goddamn cold. The phone call extending me a way in came at 10:09am the next day; we had to be in Asbury by no later than 2:30. I put on tights, wool socks, jeans, tank top, thermal, long sleeve shirt, short sleeved shirt, sweater, hood, two scarves, a coat and a wool hat. (If you think this is unnecessary detail, you have clearly never stood in December cold in Asbury Park waiting for some Bruce Springsteen event.)
Thoughts On Bruce Springsteen on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
I had written off being able to attend this taping, until I got a text at 2:50 telling me to be at 30 Rock by 3:30. I got shin splints on the way over because I was walking so fast. I am so glad I was there, because if I’d watched it on tv later I would have kicked myself for not trying to get in. You’ve seen it on TV already (or can go watch it online) so I won’t reprise the entire evening. So, just a few thoughts:
Darkness Whore #1 on Live From E Street Nation, 9/24
I’ll be on Live From E Street Nation next Friday, 9/24 at 10:30am EST, where I’ll be grilling Dave Marsh on Darkness On The Edge Of Town.
Readers may remember that I had submitted a proposal to write a 33 1/3 on Darkness, which made it through the first round of approvals, but not the second and final round. Dave was going to be one of my sources, so I’m going to take advantage of all the research I did to put the proposal together and ask him the questions for our collective benefit.
darkness whores unite!
IT’S REALLY, REALLY HAPPENING
Bruce Springsteen – “The Promise: The Making of ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’” Sneak Peek from Columbia Records on Vimeo.
elsewhere