There may be no bringing together the E Street Band right now, a group almost big enough to constitute a mass gathering in its own right. But Letter to You sounds live enough to make you feel a little guilty listening to it, as if you’re violating quarantine. That makes the album feel all the more precious, and the lack of a tour all the more painful. Letter to You is the first time since Born in the U.S.A. that Springsteen and the E Street Band recorded live in the studio to this extent, and possibly the rawest album they’ve ever made, with close to zero overdubs. “It’s the only album where it’s the entire band playing at one time,” says Springsteen, “with all the vocals and everything completely live.” (A few of Springsteen’s twangy guitar leads, played on a Gretsch, are among the only exceptions.)
“It was really like the old days,” says drummer Max Weinberg. “Just pure musical energy, with the hard-earned musical and professional wisdom of guys in their 70s, or close to 70.” It also happens to be the most classically, unabashedly E Street-sounding album since at least The River. It’s a late-period rebirth of sorts, and it started with thoughts of death.
a "Tracks 2" box set is very much in the works. The new album includes three old songs - Song For Orphans, If I Was The Priest, Janey Needs A Shooter - that he stumbled on while gathering material for the box set. Song For Orphans is a real gem - hard to believe it didn't make it onto the first two albums.
Last Thursday, at the Harvard Square theatre, I saw my rock'n'roll past flash before my eyes. And I saw something else: I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen. And on a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time.
I envisioned 70 as old and frail, white haired, wrinkly, incontinent (maybe), toothless, sickly and on your death bed.
Now maybe Bruce is a bit of an anomaly, I saw him a Gillette when he was 67 or so running around like a marathon runner for 3+ hours, but he has helped me to reshape my opinion of age.
I'm not a fan of most of his music after Born in the USA, other than a handful of songs, but I have seen him 20+ times live since then just for all his work before then. It's a testament how strongly that body of work has held up that he's still relevant and not just relevant but at or near the top of his craft.
dedicated followers as this thread shows. That said, I like a lot of his music and I read his autobiography, which is very good and recommended to you fans of his who haven't read it. He's a very good writer on top of everything else.
Wish I could have seen his Broadway show, though - heard that was amazing.
RE: I'm not as big a fan as some - Bruce has some seriously
Wish I could have seen his Broadway show, though - heard that was amazing.
You can on Netflix if you have it, that’s how I saw it. Obviously not the same as being there but it was really, really good.
I’m in the same boat as you, I’m not that big of a fan of his but I do like most of his music and really like how he represents NJ. I’ve seen him play three times but only as a pop-in appearance at a different band’s concert I was at - Gaslight Anthem and twice with Social Distortion. All three in Asbury Park.
Below is a link to his new song release, "Ghosts."
grew up in the house directly next door to Paul Popkin (singer for the Castiles) who tragically passed away at 21. Saw Bruce Springsteen go into their house to practice in the basement 100's of times. He has no idea who I am as I'm nine years younger, but he was always very nice to my older brother. He even came to our house for trick or treat one year. By all accounts, a very nice, extremely talented man.
“It was really like the old days,” says drummer Max Weinberg. “Just pure musical energy, with the hard-earned musical and professional wisdom of guys in their 70s, or close to 70.” It also happens to be the most classically, unabashedly E Street-sounding album since at least The River. It’s a late-period rebirth of sorts, and it started with thoughts of death.
RollingStoneMag - ( New Window )
He's the best. The Boss.
And if you haven't seen Blinded by the Light, I recommend it highly.
"Tomorrow, I want your hands to hurt from clappin', your feet to hurt from dancing' and your voice to hurt from singin' along !!"
You got that right Bruce.
Now maybe Bruce is a bit of an anomaly, I saw him a Gillette when he was 67 or so running around like a marathon runner for 3+ hours, but he has helped me to reshape my opinion of age.
I'm not a fan of most of his music after Born in the USA, other than a handful of songs, but I have seen him 20+ times live since then just for all his work before then. It's a testament how strongly that body of work has held up that he's still relevant and not just relevant but at or near the top of his craft.
Disorder in the House. - ( New Window )
Wish I could have seen his Broadway show, though - heard that was amazing.
You can on Netflix if you have it, that’s how I saw it. Obviously not the same as being there but it was really, really good.
I’m in the same boat as you, I’m not that big of a fan of his but I do like most of his music and really like how he represents NJ. I’ve seen him play three times but only as a pop-in appearance at a different band’s concert I was at - Gaslight Anthem and twice with Social Distortion. All three in Asbury Park.
Ghosts - ( New Window )