Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Live: 1975-85 (3CD)
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Free Music Notes for Live: 1975-85 (3CD)
Free Music Review: The Master of Live Performance
Hit: 5 Stars
When I grudgingly accepted a pair of tickets to see Springsteen in Austin in the early 80's, I thought I'd simply drag my not-so-interested sister with me and stay for a few songs just so I could tell my generous friend I'd gone. Springsteen was not someone whose music I knew anything about, and I sure didn't think I wanted to sit in a crowded auditorium and listen to mediocre music.In Austin, in the Frank Erwin Center, I soon realized I had nosebleed seats and Springsteen would be little more than a speck to me. Oh, well, I thought. Going downstairs will be easier than going up, and I won't be here for long.
It took me three days to really get my voice back and a lot longer to come down from the high of that evening.
Springsteen, as usual, had no opening act, and for 4 hours that evening, I watched the rest of the audience stand up and sing along with every single song. (The only time anyone sat down was when Springsteen chatted with us, and even then most people stood up and talked back to him as if he could hear what they were saying, as if he was having a personal dialogue with them.) I saw a performer who not only did his personal best to make the show a spectacular one, but who also had a firm hold on what it took to make a show magical while never coming across as conceited or self-involved. Springsteen sat at the edge of the stage and talked to us, introduced us all to Vietnam vets, talked softly (and a bit shyly) to us about the plight of farmers both local and national. He encouraged us to contribute to various community-based organizations that served vets, farmers, and food banks. He talked about himself, and about his music. And he played some of the most touching and rousing music I've ever heard. I didn't know his songs, so I couldn't sing along with everyone else, but I *wanted* to sing along. God, I wanted to. His performances are understandably legendary, and based upon my own experience, I can say that he deserves legend status. He may be a quiet man when it comes to talking about himself, but when he's playing and singing--he puts himself completely out there, no holding back, and he makes you want to put the same energy out there, too.
It's clear he brings emotion to his sets; his interaction with the soon-to-depart Van Zandt was touching and lovely. It was so amazing to see two men willing to admit that they were important to each other. Seeing Springsteen perform "Billy Jean" that night was incredible.
So, in case you're wondering if the above is apropos of nothing, I meant it to convey to you what this performer puts out there with each performance and how this boxed set reflects that or doesn't.
It does Springsteen justice.
This boxed set represents some of his best work, and it also shows why he is so well-loved as a performer. He truly loves what he does; that's apparent in every song. The E Street Band is spectacular, always in sync. You won't find a misstep here. These guys played together like they grew up helping each other fine-tune their skills and their approach to each song. Absolutely fantastic together! There isn't a cut in this set that doesn't reach out and grab you. Over a decade after its release, it remains one of the most amazing live collections ever, maybe even the best of all.
Turn off the lights, turn the stereo up, find a temporary spot to sit. Don't worry if your couch is uncomfortable. You won't be sitting down for long anyway.
Free Music Review: Because the Night Before Springsteen......
Hit: 5 Stars
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through my lair
Everyone was dancing, a great party was there,
Stratocasters were displayed by the fire so alive
In hopes that Bruce Springsteen soon would arrive,
The children were listening to "Thunder Road" in their heads
While "Bobby Jean" and "Rosalita" bounced into their sled,
While Marshy with her lipstick and I in my cape
finished gift wrapping with double stick tape,
When outside my castle the sound of guitars
Made me grab my Gibson and play a few bars,
Away to the window, I heard pounding drums
I looked in the distance, beyond boardwalk bums,
The moon then reflected a motorcar form
I knew all at once, this was not the norm,
Then everyone saw just what was at hand
A pink cadillac and an 8 member band,
With a buff old driver, so lively and keen
I knew in a moment it must be Springsteen!
More rapid than "the river", his comrades they came
He played harmonica then called them by name;
"Now, Scialfa! now, Clemons! now Lofgren and Tallent!
On, Bittan! on Federici! on, Weinberg and Van Zandt!
To the top of the charts, no arena too small
Play those songs! Play those songs! Please play them all!!!!"
And as big bulldozers that come to the lot
cleared burnt chevrolets for a landing spot,
So up to the house-top, the band memebers flew,
All with their instruments, and Bruce Springsteen too.
And then, in a guitar riff, I heard right on high
The intro to "Badlands", of this I can't lie,
As I replaced a string, and was turning around
Down the chimney Bruce came with a total "live" sound,
He was dressed in blue jeans, a working man's brigade
And his clothes were all soaked from the shows he has played,
A bundle of c.d.s he had tucked in his hand
And he looked just like someone from "the promised land",
His eyes were intense, his demeanor so cheery
He was barking to the crowd, "Hey now don't be so dreary!"
His singing voice, so raspy and raw
Held all the revelers, totally in awe,
A fender guitar pick he held in his teeth
for if one should break, he had some relief,
He had a broad face with no fat on his belly
I knew all at once, he never ate at a deli,
He was revved up and ready, a right jolly superstar
And I laughed and I laughed, like I do at a bar,
A wink of his eye and a mean guitar riff
Gave everyone there, a good holiday lift,
He sang and sang these songs we can't forget
And filled all our stockings with this 3 c.d. set,
And raising an "Adam" and raising a "Cain"
He has to leave, before snow turned to rain,
He sprang to his car, his bandmates looked down
And disappeared in the "Darkness On the Edge of Town",
But I heard him exclaim, after he was all done
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, WE WERE ALL BORN TO RUN!!!"
Peak Springsteen plus peak Live recording. One of the best live performers ever.
Enjoyment to all this cherished time of year--your own, Metamorpho
Free Music Review: rare & very satisfying
Hit: 5 Stars
This set earns five stars, because it contains very good music ... and it's live, a very rare experience for a Springsteen fan. It is out of question that there are a lot of unreleased songs by BS - I own about 2,000 bootlegs by him, all of them rare live and studio songs and I know what I am talking about when I say that this collection of live recordings does not offer much of them. But the songs it offers are really great. I would recommend you to buy this album together with the recently released Live In NYC cd. It might be great fun to listen to the way he did his songs back in the late 70's and early 80's and how performs them today. For exemple, the live version of "Born in the U.S.A." on LINYC is completely different than the version contained in this box-set. "Badlands" sounds pretty much the same, while you get a very emotional introduction (more than 5 minutes) by Bruce Springsteen to "The River" on this album, yet the sound of the music is not as sinister as on LINYC. My favorite songs from this box-set, my top five, are:
1. Thunder Road 2. Born To Run 3. No Surrender (my favorite song by BS) 4. The River (because of the intro) 5. Racing In The Street
LINYC:
1. Lost In The Flood 2. If I Should Fall Behind 3. Atlantic City 4. American Skin 5. Born In The U.S.A. (very fresh compared to the earlier vs.)
If you scan this list of my 10 fav. songs I get from these 5 cds, you will notice, that if you own both of them you'll have a very fine collection of live music by one of the greatest song-writers/singer of all time. Bruce Springsteen's music offers a huge spectrum of different facettes: darkness, despair, sadness, outrage, humor, passion, humanity.
His music is very true to people, to our lives, to our fears and the way we deal with them - expressions built upon our memories and our dreams. I think that not only the music on these 5 cds (LINYC and Live: 75-85) is very a very rare live collection, but that Bruce Springsteen himself is very rare. He has the power to not only express his thoughts but to let us feel.
If you have never listened to BS before and you want to try him out, I'd suggest that you start out with the 3-cd box-set first before checking out LINYC.
If you want to get convinced of buying one of his two live albums or even both of them, let me tell you one thing: this is Rock'n'Roll - the way it has been and the way it is supposed to be, because after all "we learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school." And you might want to listen to these records.
Free Music Review: Over 3 Hours Of Exhilerating Rock And Roll.
Hit: 5 Stars
Even today, Bruce Springsteen's concerts achieve something close to a religious experience. Anyone who has seen him live knows that The Boss has an ability to touc his fans in a way few other artists have been able to do. His songs speak directly to them, and they know every word, as if they're connected by soul just as much as sound.
While he no doubt is still able to retain that special connection today, few argue that Bruce hit his peak in the years 1975 to 1985, when he was unquestionably the best live act in town. Their absolute worst nights would be considered definitive shows for lesser bands, but Springsteen and The E. Street Band played with an energy unseen in rock and roll, built up from the frustration Bruce felt from the trappings of his small town upbringings and his desire to make his dream real.
This three cd, 40 song set serves as the definitive documentation of what it was like to see The Boss live in his best years. Every song here is pakced with that aforementioned energy, each one exploding out of the starting gate. This is the kind of music rock and roll was created for - in your face, raunchy, anthemic and unapologetic. There's a visceral thrill matched only by some form of Divine Intervention that comes from hearing 80,000 people singing along to every song by heart. Listen, on Disc 1, for how, in unison, every single audience member raise their voices for the opening lines of "Hungry Heart." This performance alone is proof of Bruce's genius with his fans.
Elsewhere, there are blazing renditions of classics like "Rosalita," "Born In The U.S.A.," "Badlands," "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and a host of others that leave their recorded renditions in the New Jersey dust. "Born To Run," one of rock's most prominent anthems, is given its definitive treatment, and the result is almost haunting, with Bruce's voice screaming against the throngs of admiring fans with sizzling, almost superhuman passion. (Surprisingly, given their popularity at the time of their releases, neither "Dancing In The Dark" nor "Glory Days" are present.)
Songs Bruce wrote for other artists are also included in vastly superior renditions, such as "Fire" and "Because The Nights," as well as excellent covers of Edwin Starr's "War" and Tom Waitts' "Jersey Girl."
The booklet contains lyrics as well as a slew of rare photos of Bruce and his band. The sound quality is excellent, and this cd is a flawless document of one of rock's most important figures.
Free Music Review: Rediscovering Bruce
Hit: 5 Stars
I was 12 years old when my best friend gave me his copy of "Born in the USA." His mother was against any kind of rock n roll and so he had to give it up. I was instantly a fan as I played Darlington County and Never Surrender. When a Springsteen song came on the radio in the car I would beg my mom to turn it up. She like his music too and for Christmas 2 years later she bought me the 5 record set of "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live/1975-85." I played those records without end and learned so many new songs I had never heard before. I skipped school the day "Tunnel of Love" came out and ran to the store to buy it.
Years later I bought "The Rising" and "Devil and Dust" but I had grown older and never put them in the CD player. I had gotten over my Bruce Springsteen phase. Then one night I was watching the Super Bowl with my 12 year old daughter and The Boss was on stage for the half-time show. When he finished my daughter said "I like him, who is that?" I no longer had the cassette tape of "Born in the USA" and my 5 record set had been lost over the years from moving and a divorce.
I found the 3 CD set and bought it along with "Born in the USA" and "Tunnel of Love." My daughter has favorites songs and she loves The Big Man. When I bought the DVD "Live in Barcelona," she watched it from beginning to end with me. We had rediscovered Bruce.
"Live/1975-85" is by far the best collection to own. One reviewer stated it was the only Springsteen CD you would ever need. I disagree. However, I believe it should be the first CD anyone should get if they had never listened to Springsteen before. There is such a great variety of songs and you can feel the energy that must have been pouring out of Bruce and the E Street Band those nights. When The River plays my daughter sits quietly and listens to Bruce talk about his relationship with his father before the song starts. I can see it in her eyes, she is just as big a fan as I was and now am again. I just recently bought the 3 CD set for her birthday and she gave me a big hug.
If there is no other Springsteen CD you ever will buy, then this live set is the one you should own. Put it in the CD player and sit back and relax. It is just like being there.