Bruce Springsteen
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I have seen and even met my teen/early 20’s idols. Music took life to a different level back in the 80’s and up to the mid 90’s, and then life takes over
In 85 I missed Springsteen but have seen him every Australian Tour since
I’m pretty content at 56 with the exceptional 2017 Aami Pit experience. I don’t think I’d have the stamina to do it now.
And I’d tell that broken hearted 15 year old that missed out to not stress, something better is coming your way in 40 years
From the Australian piece:
With shows planned for Canada, parts of Europe and the UK through to mid-2025, every Australian fan wants to know when we’ll see the great man on these shores again.
“Well, we certainly will be there at some point,” Springsteen says. “I’d like to have gone last year or this year. But we’ve had a variety of complications. One, Patti’s health has been an issue for us as a family. That’s had a lot to do with how and when we book places, and how we can get some place, and how we cannot get some place at a given moment.
“We’ve got such great, great fans in Australia,” he says, staring down the barrel of his computer and sending a message out to the faithful. “Folks, I love you. We’ll be coming out there to see you eventually. We’ve just had so many great times down there.”
With shows planned for Canada, parts of Europe and the UK through to mid-2025, every Australian fan wants to know when we’ll see the great man on these shores again.
“Well, we certainly will be there at some point,” Springsteen says. “I’d like to have gone last year or this year. But we’ve had a variety of complications. One, Patti’s health has been an issue for us as a family. That’s had a lot to do with how and when we book places, and how we can get some place, and how we cannot get some place at a given moment.
“We’ve got such great, great fans in Australia,” he says, staring down the barrel of his computer and sending a message out to the faithful. “Folks, I love you. We’ll be coming out there to see you eventually. We’ve just had so many great times down there.”
In more positive news, the Nugs release of the Asbury show from last month is amazing. Well worth the $20 odd Aussie for the lossless download. Really nice change of pace from the relatively static set lists of the rest of the tour.
RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
Haven't seen Road Diary doco yet but the George Stephanopolous doco, Backstage and Backstreets had me thinking of these lines from a Jimmy Barnes interview in 2019 about Bruce, that I posted more of the article at post #8,579 in this thread.
George said something about how loud rehearsal was at an empty stadium when he was up on the side of the stage. This is what Jimmy said about how loud Bruce is;
And the other thing was, getting on stage with him, not only did he work like a maniac and drove the band really hard, but he was as loud as f . . k, and he was f . . king aggressive. I loved it. It was not what I expected; it was really intense. His amps are all pointing up, so you don’t hear it [when you’re in the crowd], but you get up on stage next to him and it’s deafening. It’s fantastic. He’s a beautiful guitar player, too; I love his playing.”
Is there a chance Springsteen could possibly be as intense a performer as Barnesy, a man who devotes his entire being to every note of every song? “I think he is,” he replied with a laugh. “It’s a different intensity, but he’s as intense as anybody I’ve seen.”
George said something about how loud rehearsal was at an empty stadium when he was up on the side of the stage. This is what Jimmy said about how loud Bruce is;
And the other thing was, getting on stage with him, not only did he work like a maniac and drove the band really hard, but he was as loud as f . . k, and he was f . . king aggressive. I loved it. It was not what I expected; it was really intense. His amps are all pointing up, so you don’t hear it [when you’re in the crowd], but you get up on stage next to him and it’s deafening. It’s fantastic. He’s a beautiful guitar player, too; I love his playing.”
Is there a chance Springsteen could possibly be as intense a performer as Barnesy, a man who devotes his entire being to every note of every song? “I think he is,” he replied with a laugh. “It’s a different intensity, but he’s as intense as anybody I’ve seen.”
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That’s like saying I might come down from the Bush up here to watch North Train on a Wednesday afternoon. Love the club and all but it ain’t happening
Watched the George Stef piece on Disney…it was great and left me thinking we need a longer exposition
Funny moment on Jeopardy just now, contestant worships at the church of "Springsteen"
Has been to 60-70 of his concerts over the journey!
Has been to 60-70 of his concerts over the journey!
- Thread starter
- #8,734
Rookie numbers really, there are several people I know who have seen hundreds.
Still more than me though!
Someone in this thread needs to go on ABC's hard quiz with their topic of Bruce Springsteen!!
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- #8,737
I reckon I could do it considering some of the questions I've seen on other topics that I know a bit seem pretty easy.
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- #8,738
Done a top 100 - people interested in coming for the ride?
Gasometer RussellEbertHandball Ford Fairlane Gough pjcrows Planet14 Hoos Ram-Man
Gasometer RussellEbertHandball Ford Fairlane Gough pjcrows Planet14 Hoos Ram-Man
Hoos
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Absolutely, although I'm not familiar enough with his material post '80's to attempt my own top 100. I'll save that for Dylan.
Very interested to hear yours though.
Why not!
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Bring on the classics
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- #8,742
This is all purely based on the time I decided to make a list lol. And it's just favourites, not what I think his best songs are.
-----
100) Walk Like A Man (Tunnel of Love)
Now I’ll do what I can, I’ll walk like a man
Another song in the long list of songs about his father and father/son relationships, and definitely one of the most touching.
Walk Like A Man is simply beautiful. Its message and lyrics are wonderful.
The Devils & Dust arrangement had my jaw on the floor with how stunning it is. The switch from the organ to the piano is seamless and really elevates the song to a higher level.
99) Cover Me (Born In The USA)
Hold me in your arms, let’s let our love blind us
Cover Me leaps out at you from its opening. That opening solo that Bruce unleashes is awesome.
Max holds that steady beat, and the power in the vocal is great. The solo midway through again makes you sit up and take notice,
Thank God he didn’t give this away to Donna Summer!
98) Lonesome Day (The Rising)
House is on fire, viper’s in the grass
Lonesome Day signalled the renaissance of The E-Street Band. It is the opening track of The Rising which was the first release of a full album with new material The E-Street Band since Tunnel of Love back in 1987 – a 15 year hiatus.
When I first fired up The Rising, this got me right away. I was only 15, and I was young, naïve, inquisitive and impressionable. My dad hounded me for months to listen to this album, and I kept dismissing him every time he did. He’d asked me to listen to things previously and I’d never liked them, and I thought this would duly follow suit.
After about four months I relented, and I will sit here quite gladly and say I enjoyed quite a few humble pies.
This ticked all the right boxes – it had force, but wasn’t too strong. The opening violin gives me a tremendous sense of hope and relief. It’s a committed vocal performance, full of conviction and urgency, the bassline is great, and
While it is definitely in the overplayed bucket – and probably has been for the past four or so tours – you can see why it is a stalwart in the setlist. Everyone has a chance to show their worth, everyone is involved, it gets the crowd up and going and sets the tone for what is to come.
Its resilience and repetitive cries of “it’s alright” shows that things can be OK, irrespective of what happens. People get through things, and life can go on.
Also much prefer the original live arrangements of this song
97) High Hopes (High Hopes)
A scream slow me down before the new year dies
I love the urgency behind the guitar in this. With the pairing of the bongos and the high hat, it is something that really caught my ears the first time I heard it.
While the album may not be too popular, I actually think the title track is pretty underrated. It’s not something you hear mentioned much at all.
The horns in the chorus really enhance things and I love the “oomph” the track carries with it. It has swagger and it shows it’s not here to mess about.
96) Hitch Hikin (Western Stars)
Yes indeed sir children are a gift
I love the beauty of Hitch Hikin. It sounds so simple and warm with the banjo backing the Bruce’s vocal.
The orchestra coming in subtly is a thing of beauty and I’ll argue forever that strings enhance everything.
The song just floats on by, it’s inoffensive, it’s not in your face and it wraps your arms around you and takes you on a gentle ride that is so smooth you’d not want to get off.
The strings are what make this song great in my mind. And just how clean the vocal is not only on this track, but this entire album is exceptional.
I do love that final verse, I feel like I am in that car with that character, watching things fly by.
95) Mary’s Place (The Rising)
Your favourite record’s on the turntable
Mary’s Place is one of the ultimate feel good songs of the Springsteen catalogue. I’ve always thought this track, Sunny Day, I’m A Rocker and Hungry Heart would make great alternatives on each night for crowd participation.
While its subject matter may be somewhat dark, it is hard not have a smile running from ear to ear when this is played.
Evidently, it appears to be about a wake, and the narrator trying to get through this time. And, the coping mechanism is getting lost in the music at Mary’s Place. I feel that’s almost metaphoric for a lot of us here. When we’re at a show, all the bullshit going on outside of that stadium is forgotten about for the three hours. You’re there, in that moment, absorbing everything around you, with every fibre of your being.
Its upbeat, joyous sound with the E-Street Band in full swing brings for great listening. The sax about halfway through elevates this and really sees the song close out strong. The way he builds from nothing to a roar in that second verse is outstanding too. And then, having the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand before storming home is incredible. The build up combination of drop the needle pray and turn it up, which starts at an already moderate pace, quickly accelerates to a huge singalong where you cannot but help shout TURN IT UP!, and hearing everything explode at the summit of the build shows the party is really in full swing.
I love – and I think we can all relate to the line – “your favourite record’s on the turntable, I drop the needle and pray, turn it up!”
I really, really, recommend listening to this on headphones as loud as you can. It’s brilliant. And turn it up!
While it may be (another) song that is overplayed, I do love the arrangement from The Rising Tour – the extended intro, the exchanging lines with the crowd, it fills me with such joy that I sit there and grin like a massive dufus every time I sit there and listen to it.
-----
100) Walk Like A Man (Tunnel of Love)
Now I’ll do what I can, I’ll walk like a man
Another song in the long list of songs about his father and father/son relationships, and definitely one of the most touching.
Walk Like A Man is simply beautiful. Its message and lyrics are wonderful.
The Devils & Dust arrangement had my jaw on the floor with how stunning it is. The switch from the organ to the piano is seamless and really elevates the song to a higher level.
99) Cover Me (Born In The USA)
Hold me in your arms, let’s let our love blind us
Cover Me leaps out at you from its opening. That opening solo that Bruce unleashes is awesome.
Max holds that steady beat, and the power in the vocal is great. The solo midway through again makes you sit up and take notice,
Thank God he didn’t give this away to Donna Summer!
98) Lonesome Day (The Rising)
House is on fire, viper’s in the grass
Lonesome Day signalled the renaissance of The E-Street Band. It is the opening track of The Rising which was the first release of a full album with new material The E-Street Band since Tunnel of Love back in 1987 – a 15 year hiatus.
When I first fired up The Rising, this got me right away. I was only 15, and I was young, naïve, inquisitive and impressionable. My dad hounded me for months to listen to this album, and I kept dismissing him every time he did. He’d asked me to listen to things previously and I’d never liked them, and I thought this would duly follow suit.
After about four months I relented, and I will sit here quite gladly and say I enjoyed quite a few humble pies.
This ticked all the right boxes – it had force, but wasn’t too strong. The opening violin gives me a tremendous sense of hope and relief. It’s a committed vocal performance, full of conviction and urgency, the bassline is great, and
While it is definitely in the overplayed bucket – and probably has been for the past four or so tours – you can see why it is a stalwart in the setlist. Everyone has a chance to show their worth, everyone is involved, it gets the crowd up and going and sets the tone for what is to come.
Its resilience and repetitive cries of “it’s alright” shows that things can be OK, irrespective of what happens. People get through things, and life can go on.
Also much prefer the original live arrangements of this song
97) High Hopes (High Hopes)
A scream slow me down before the new year dies
I love the urgency behind the guitar in this. With the pairing of the bongos and the high hat, it is something that really caught my ears the first time I heard it.
While the album may not be too popular, I actually think the title track is pretty underrated. It’s not something you hear mentioned much at all.
The horns in the chorus really enhance things and I love the “oomph” the track carries with it. It has swagger and it shows it’s not here to mess about.
96) Hitch Hikin (Western Stars)
Yes indeed sir children are a gift
I love the beauty of Hitch Hikin. It sounds so simple and warm with the banjo backing the Bruce’s vocal.
The orchestra coming in subtly is a thing of beauty and I’ll argue forever that strings enhance everything.
The song just floats on by, it’s inoffensive, it’s not in your face and it wraps your arms around you and takes you on a gentle ride that is so smooth you’d not want to get off.
The strings are what make this song great in my mind. And just how clean the vocal is not only on this track, but this entire album is exceptional.
I do love that final verse, I feel like I am in that car with that character, watching things fly by.
95) Mary’s Place (The Rising)
Your favourite record’s on the turntable
Mary’s Place is one of the ultimate feel good songs of the Springsteen catalogue. I’ve always thought this track, Sunny Day, I’m A Rocker and Hungry Heart would make great alternatives on each night for crowd participation.
While its subject matter may be somewhat dark, it is hard not have a smile running from ear to ear when this is played.
Evidently, it appears to be about a wake, and the narrator trying to get through this time. And, the coping mechanism is getting lost in the music at Mary’s Place. I feel that’s almost metaphoric for a lot of us here. When we’re at a show, all the bullshit going on outside of that stadium is forgotten about for the three hours. You’re there, in that moment, absorbing everything around you, with every fibre of your being.
Its upbeat, joyous sound with the E-Street Band in full swing brings for great listening. The sax about halfway through elevates this and really sees the song close out strong. The way he builds from nothing to a roar in that second verse is outstanding too. And then, having the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand before storming home is incredible. The build up combination of drop the needle pray and turn it up, which starts at an already moderate pace, quickly accelerates to a huge singalong where you cannot but help shout TURN IT UP!, and hearing everything explode at the summit of the build shows the party is really in full swing.
I love – and I think we can all relate to the line – “your favourite record’s on the turntable, I drop the needle and pray, turn it up!”
I really, really, recommend listening to this on headphones as loud as you can. It’s brilliant. And turn it up!
While it may be (another) song that is overplayed, I do love the arrangement from The Rising Tour – the extended intro, the exchanging lines with the crowd, it fills me with such joy that I sit there and grin like a massive dufus every time I sit there and listen to it.
- Thread starter
- #8,743
94) Jackson Cage (The River)
Every day ends in wasted motion
I love the conviction we get in the chorus in Jackson Cage, you can feel – and hear – him really going for it.
Jackson Cage’s best bits for me are the various piano runs throughout and the drumming.
That halfway point through the third verse you can really feel the tension increase, things seem like they tighten and you hear him going for it.
Jackson Cage is a song I am definitely more attracted to because of its music, rather than its lyrics. Its message is definitely confusing to me.
93) Be True (Tracks/The Ties That Bind)
I’m ridin’ on the power and the promise of your last kiss
I am a harsh critic of The River. I think there is a lot of junk on there, and it’s not one of my favourite albums by a long stretch. The fact this was one of the songs left off – albeit thematically – could have made the album so much better.
The piano in the intro is great, and the melodies with Steve throughout are classic Springsteen.
The sax taking the song out is a nice little addition too.
The premise that this song holds for me is simple “be true to me and I’ll be true to you.” If only all relationships were that simple.
92) Two Faces (Tunnel of Love)
Two faces have I
Two Faces is grim. It’s dark, it’s unpleasant, it’s uncomfortable.
The simplicity behind it is great, and the song is short and sharp in its delivery. There is no hidden meaning in its title, there are no metaphors. It’s literally about someone having two faces, a good one, and a not so good one.
91) Frankie Fell In Love (High Hopes)
One and one makes three
While High Hopes may not be the greatest of albums, there are definitely some tracks on there that should not be looked upon badly.
Frankie Fell In Love may not be the best track on the album, it may not be the greatest song he’s ever written, and there may be nothing exceptional about it. However, the track is by far and away the most fun song on the record. The studio cut is great and I love the sheer joy you can hear that comes through in the recording.
It’s a fun little track that’s got some incredibly catchy and has some funny lyrics. I mean, who knew it was possible to work Shakespeare and Einstein into one song? It’s a shame it turned out to be such a disaster live.
And of course, it drove the popularity behind and 1 makes 3.
90) Last To Die (Magic)
A martyr’s silent eyes petition the drivers as we pass by
Last To Die is filled with anger and venom.
Its connotations to war are clear and obvious, and the outlook the song takes on is bleak. The images are grim and are not ones you want sitting at the forefront of your mind. There is urgency and desperation in the vocal performance, and you can hear the promise in the lyrical delivery of “we’ll be the last to die for this mistake.”
I love how clear the snare is in this track, and Steve’s solos really amplify the anger the song holds too.
Every day ends in wasted motion
I love the conviction we get in the chorus in Jackson Cage, you can feel – and hear – him really going for it.
Jackson Cage’s best bits for me are the various piano runs throughout and the drumming.
That halfway point through the third verse you can really feel the tension increase, things seem like they tighten and you hear him going for it.
Jackson Cage is a song I am definitely more attracted to because of its music, rather than its lyrics. Its message is definitely confusing to me.
93) Be True (Tracks/The Ties That Bind)
I’m ridin’ on the power and the promise of your last kiss
I am a harsh critic of The River. I think there is a lot of junk on there, and it’s not one of my favourite albums by a long stretch. The fact this was one of the songs left off – albeit thematically – could have made the album so much better.
The piano in the intro is great, and the melodies with Steve throughout are classic Springsteen.
The sax taking the song out is a nice little addition too.
The premise that this song holds for me is simple “be true to me and I’ll be true to you.” If only all relationships were that simple.
92) Two Faces (Tunnel of Love)
Two faces have I
Two Faces is grim. It’s dark, it’s unpleasant, it’s uncomfortable.
The simplicity behind it is great, and the song is short and sharp in its delivery. There is no hidden meaning in its title, there are no metaphors. It’s literally about someone having two faces, a good one, and a not so good one.
91) Frankie Fell In Love (High Hopes)
One and one makes three
While High Hopes may not be the greatest of albums, there are definitely some tracks on there that should not be looked upon badly.
Frankie Fell In Love may not be the best track on the album, it may not be the greatest song he’s ever written, and there may be nothing exceptional about it. However, the track is by far and away the most fun song on the record. The studio cut is great and I love the sheer joy you can hear that comes through in the recording.
It’s a fun little track that’s got some incredibly catchy and has some funny lyrics. I mean, who knew it was possible to work Shakespeare and Einstein into one song? It’s a shame it turned out to be such a disaster live.
And of course, it drove the popularity behind and 1 makes 3.
90) Last To Die (Magic)
A martyr’s silent eyes petition the drivers as we pass by
Last To Die is filled with anger and venom.
Its connotations to war are clear and obvious, and the outlook the song takes on is bleak. The images are grim and are not ones you want sitting at the forefront of your mind. There is urgency and desperation in the vocal performance, and you can hear the promise in the lyrical delivery of “we’ll be the last to die for this mistake.”
I love how clear the snare is in this track, and Steve’s solos really amplify the anger the song holds too.
Awesome start!
I was a lot older when The Rising came out at 31 years young
911 shook me up at the time all of these miles away and that CD was bought on the day it was released. It was a big day because it was the first album in a decade; when you had to physically wait and it was a blinder of an album
As a footnote I visited the 911 Memorial in Dec 2023 and it was a sobering experience
I was a lot older when The Rising came out at 31 years young
911 shook me up at the time all of these miles away and that CD was bought on the day it was released. It was a big day because it was the first album in a decade; when you had to physically wait and it was a blinder of an album
As a footnote I visited the 911 Memorial in Dec 2023 and it was a sobering experience
- Thread starter
- #8,745
I remember my uncle left a burnt copy of it on our back step for my dad. How times have changed!
Yeah, the memorial is very moving. We spent about 4 hours in there.
Yeah, the memorial is very moving. We spent about 4 hours in there.
- Jan 7, 2018
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Is this the same 100 as the one you did before?
On another music forum people are doing a tears for fears top 40 and someone adds up the rankings and does a final top 40 countdown based on everyones top 40.
It took me a week to do a list of 40 songs and I was making changes daily.
I imagine a top 100 would be heaps of toing and froing.
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I would rather stick a needle in my ear than hear another T4F song played
Hehe, I've been listening to them all year!
Some nice stuff there. Walk Like a Man is a massive favourite of mine, a lovely counterpoint to most of his songs about his father. Overall, Tunnel of Love might be the best writing of Springsteen's career.
Mary's Place, like Waiting on a Sunny Day, is dead to me due to being overplayed live. I don't really rate the Rising as an album, I think it is way too long and has too much filler, so I rarely go back to the original album versions, so the overlong sermons in MP and the excruciating children singing in WoaSD are the ones burned into my consciousness. Might need to go back and listen again.
Magic on the other hand is in my opinion his best E Street album since the 80s. Last to Die is fantastic, and was great on the 07/08 tour. Shame it has disappeared since then, can't remember it coming at all in recent years.
Mary's Place, like Waiting on a Sunny Day, is dead to me due to being overplayed live. I don't really rate the Rising as an album, I think it is way too long and has too much filler, so I rarely go back to the original album versions, so the overlong sermons in MP and the excruciating children singing in WoaSD are the ones burned into my consciousness. Might need to go back and listen again.
Magic on the other hand is in my opinion his best E Street album since the 80s. Last to Die is fantastic, and was great on the 07/08 tour. Shame it has disappeared since then, can't remember it coming at all in recent years.
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- #8,750
Much different (that was done 9 years ago IIRC!).
I had a shortlist of 140, it was bloody hard cutting it down.
Everybody Wants To Rule The World is one of the all time great tracks.I would rather stick a needle in my ear than hear another T4F song played
Mary's Place would make a great rotational track with Sunny Day, I'm A Rocker and Hungry Heart.
The Rising is brilliant, big fan of it.
And correct on Last To Die, neglected like most of the Magic album bar a handful of songs.
