What we're listening to" Springsteen 'Born to Run'

Now I don't know about you, but unlike the Springsteen hordes, there's my own preference for 'Darkness on the edge of town' (blogged here before) but I'm in a minority. 

Without doubt 'Born to Run' (recorded in 1975 and was the Album that preceded the 1978 'Darkness') is considered not only his greatest, but one of the greatest Albums of all time. It got him on the cover of 'Time' and 'Newsweek' in the same week. 

The Album cover (photo shot by Eric Meola is held up too for its graffiti greatness) and that's a Fender he's holding against the late Sax player, Clarence Clemons (died 2011). There you go.

1975 was Bruce's year of fame. 

There is no argument that this Album has some superb tracks - 'Tenth Avenue freeze out', 'Backstreets', 'Thunder Road' and 'Born to Run' which was the single.

It was his third record. Composed on piano, it was modelled on the Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" production style and took a staggering 14 months to record. It was and is, widely critically acclaimed.

Of course as a live band, Springsteen is untouchable, so the Album became a key feature of his tours. I've seen him live and truly extraordinary. 

From New Jersey, his father was Dutch/Irish hence the Dutch surname and Bruce regularly comes to Ireland (note his 'Live in Dublin' Album). The "Boss" is 68 and tours again, later this year.

The respect and admiration that Springsteen evokes, is really untouchable. His charitable causes and general outlook, is part of what makes him as great as he is. Hard to knock.

Get 'Born to Run' and play it loud but then look to 'Darkness' too. There's others ('Tunnel of Love', 'Born in the USA') but these 2 records are standouts.

And now, let me give you a view on one of the greatest rock n roll tracks of them all from 'The Wild, The Innocent'. 

It's just an excuse perhaps to show the greatest Rock live footage ever with Clarence playing his part. Turn it up - you won't see better.

Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog (you can search them in the Search top left on the Blog)......ACDC 'Back in Black': Grace Jones 'Nighclubbing': Stevie Wonder 'Songs in the key of life': The Cars 'The Cars': Billy Joel '52nd Street': Beatles 'Sgt Pepper': Tom Petty 'Damn the Torpedoes': World Party 'Bang': Eric Clapton 'Slowhand':John Mayer 'Room for Squares': Ry Cooder 'Bop til you drop': Jon&Vangelis 'Friends of Mr. Cairo': Mary Chapin 'Come on, Come on': Frank Zappa 'Joe's Garage': Joni Mitchell 'Blue': Steve Gibbons 'Caught in the Act': Elton John 'Tumbleweed Connection': Elton John 'Honky Chateau': Gallagher & Lyle 'Breakaway': Warren Zevon 'Excitable Boy': Donald Fagen 'The Nightfly': Supertramp 'Breakfast in America': George Michael 'Listen without predujice': Radiohead 'The Bends': Beyonce 'Lemonade' Album of the year 2016: Oddisee 'The mix Tape': Soul 11 Soul 'Club Classics': Jennifer Warnes 'Famous Blue Raincoat':Art Garfunkel 'Watermark': REM 'Out of Time': Van 'Keep me Singing': Frank Sinatra 'Songs for Swinging Lovers': Al Stewart 'Year of the Cat': Stevie Ray Vaughan 'Texas Flood':Frank Ocean 'Blond': Jimmy Buffett 'Son of a Sailor': Marc Cohn 'Marc Cohn': Bill Withers 'Complete Sussex and Columbia': Hendrix 'Electric Ladyland': ABC 'Lexicon of Love': Rickie Lee Jones 'Rickie Lee Jones': Billy Joel "Glass Houses": Rodriguez "Cold Fact": Prefab Sprout 'Steve McQueen'; Chet Baker 'Live 64-79'; The Stone Roses 'Stone Roses'; Joe Jackson 'I'm the Man'; Oasis 'Morning Glory'; Bob Dylan 'At The Budokan'; Van "It's too late to stop now Volume 2/3/4"; Air 'Moon Safari'; Talking Heads 'Stop Making Sense'; Lynyrd Skynyrd 'One for the road'; Marvin Gaye 'Whats Goin on'; Mercury Rev 'Deserters Songs'; Dave Matthews 'Crash'; Beyonce 'Lemonade'; Prince 'Sign O the times'; Daft Punk 'Random Access Memories'; Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black';Police 'Outlandos D'Amour'; Michael Jackson 'Off the Wall'; Carole King 'Tapestry'; Beatles 'Red Album'; Sex Pistols 'Never mind the Bollocks'; Sam Cooke 'Live at Harlem Square'; The Doors 'LA Woman'; Thin Lizzy 'Live & Dangerous'; Kendrick Lamarr 'Butterfly'; Aretha Franklin 'Amazing Grace'; Clapton '461'; Massive Attack 'Blue Lines'; The Clash 'London Calling'; Chris Isaak 'At The Filmore'; Bob Dylan 'Street Legal'; Bad Company 'Straight Shooter'; Jackson Browne 'Love is Strange'; Lou Reed 'Transformer'; Steely Dan 'AJA'; Stones 'Black+Blue'; Stephen Bishop 'Careless'; Nils Lofgren 'Night after Night'; Mike Oldfield 'Tubular Bells'; Neil Young 'Harvest'; Led Zep '4'; David Bowie 'David Live'; Van Morrison 'It's too late to stop now'; Wings 'Band on the Run'; Rod Stewart 'Atlantic Crossing'; Ryan Adams 'Heartbreaker'; Santana 'Essential'; Bob Dylan 'Desire'; Roxy Music 'For your pleasure'; Bob Marley 'Legend'; Stephen Fretwell 'Magpie'; James Taylor 'Sweet Baby James'; Deep Purple 'Machine Head'; Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'; Leon Bridges 'Coming Home'; Eagles 'Hotel California'; Jungle; Aretha 'Soul Queen'; Neil Young 'After the Goldrush' ; Zappa 'Overnite Sensation'; Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'; Keith Jarrett 'Koln Concert'; Doobies 'Southbound'; Stevie Earle 'I feel Alright'; Tom Waits 'Closing Time'; Pink Floyd 'Dark Side'; Van Morrison 'Moondance'; Eric Church 'Caught in the Act'; Randy Newman 'Little Criminals'; Elton John 'Madman across the water'; Patti Smith 'Horses'; Doobies 'Captain and Me'; Steely Dan 'Can't Buy a Thrill'.

What we're listening to. Nils Lofgren 'Night after Night'.

Nils Lofgren must be tired everytime he's mentioned as being part of 'The E Street Band' (replacing Steve Van Zandt in 84). He still is with Springsteen, but he's had a superb solo career. 

He's done a huge lot with Springsteen (Born in the USA, Tunnel of Love to name a few) and indeed with Mr. Young's Crazy Horse (playing piano/guitar on After the Goldrush, Tonights the Night) but should have more recognition in his own right.

Born in Chicago (his Dad was Swedish, hence the name) and in 1977 he released this double live Album. 

"I came to dance" is probably his best known track but 'Keith don't go', a tribute to Keith Richards, is so well regarded and both are here. Add to that, 'Back it up', 'Moon Tears', 'Going Back' and 'Code of the Road', you have an excellent rock album. 

Hard to get the Album but if you can find it, it's really worth it. As he is. And if he see him playing live, just go!

His 'Acoustic live' from 1997 gives a real insight into a virtuoso guitarist and notably there, you'll find a terrific version of 'Keith don't go'. 

Don't believe us, have a listen (especially from 3 minutes on...)

What we're listening to this week. Springsteen 'Darkness on the edge of town'.

Although everyone talks about 'Born to Run' (the Album just before this), there's little doubt that 'Darkness' is the Album that made Springsteen.

His fourth Album from 1978 it features classics like 'Racing in the Street', 'Candy's Room', 'Darkness', 'Factory' and at the time, he discarded a lot of material which didn't go on the Album. One being, 'Because the Night' which was recorded by Patti Smith. 

It's very blue collar and his pic on the cover reflects that. But it's a classic and also brought the E Street Band to greater prominence. Clarence Clemons is here and Steve Van Zandt was crucial to the production and credited as such.

There's a 2010 excellent documentary too about the making of the Album but again, it's a "must have" in any rightful music collection. And it's a great introduction to Springsteen. Here's the stand out track for us anyway - 'we only run for the money, got no strings attached"........