The E Street Band's performance at London's Hammersmith Odeon in November of 1975 has been well-documented. But like so much of the music I love, I think it's taken for granted.
You might know it and love it, of course, but when was the last time you actually listened to it?
Like Dead fans and Zeppelin fans, Bruce fans can call out dates and performances, even specific songs and venues that stand out in these artists' live history. Want to hear LZ's best live version of "Trampled Underfoot?" 2/12/75. "Celebration Day?" 9/3/71. My fave "Cumberland Blues?" Harpur College, 5/2/70. Best "She's The One" into "Born To Run?" Well, for the purpose of this post, I will say Hammersmith '75. It's a one-two punch for the ages.
I can tell you almost exactly when I listened to The E Street Band at Hammersmith last. Record Store Day of 2017, when it was finally released on vinyl. Before that? 2006, when it was finally released officially on CD.
I listened to most of it again yesterday. I got a phone call right at the end of "Kitty's Back" and I was rudely awakened from my live concert reverie.
This was the band's first trip to London and "Born To Run" had only been released three months prior. That said, they tore the roof of the sucker!
I was hoping to find a YouTube video that had both of these songs as one play, but no luck. I suggest playing "Born To Run" immediately following "She's The One" for full effect. It is literally breathtaking. The tempos are off the rails, almost punk like. I was ready for Roy Bittan's wrists to snap. This is the well-oiled machine that we have all come to expect from these guys, and it was only 1975.
It's a cliche, and apologies for not having my fingers on the pulse of the new oOoOO or Dess Dior singles, but this is rock and roll. This is why I never get tired of going back. I am rarely disapppointed.
10 comments:
bought 2 tickets for KC show in February. they still have it. saw The Who last Friday & if those 2 can do it E Street Band will kick ass. \year of Hammersmith Quadrophenia was 2!
The Hammersmith show was released in its entirety (maybe) on the 1CD/2DVD deluxe Born To Run Reissue. It also contains (of course) a killer rendition of Jungleland! Miami Steve in a pimp suit!
My wife couldn't believe the tempos when I played it for her. I enjoy it a lot, but like you, I probably don't go back to it enough. My go-to for live Bruce is the Winterland show in 78.
I still need to get a listen of the recently released Atlanta/Fox Theater show from 78. Buddy of mine says it is mind-blowingly good.
Thanks for the double shot of awesomeness today, Sal.
For me the go to on this one is the version of It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City. Like Lost in the Flood, the version deviates tremendously from the Greeting version and shows how the E Street Band can seemingly make any song epic.
I love the liner notes where Bruce admits to hating the performance at the time, but with hindsight, analysis and ego, states that the band at the time would kick any band's ass out there. Probably right!
paulinca
My favorite moment is when Bruce disappears under the stage floorboards.
Captain Al
Saw Bruce for the 1st time when they played in NO on that same tour. It was before Born to Run was actually released. friend of mine insisted we go (she was from the East Coast). It was held at the then seldom used Theatre of the performing Arts (about 2200 capacity). Played for over 3 hours non-stop and Boz Scaggs joined in a couple of encore numbers. To this day, the most overwhelmed I have ever been at a live show.
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce. I'm not sure how I feel about seeing Bruce suited up and doing hand gestures in that video for "Nightshift" from his new album, but I'm excited to listen to it.
Bruce is going to be on Howard Stern Oct 31st
Agreed the whole event is outstanding. Funny though, back in early ‚80 Paul Gambacini did a radio appreciation od BS and stated that ‚the world‘S greatest rock ‚n‘ roll band was not on display that night - I still have the tape, but no player :-)
Of course decades later the superb Born To Run box set with a DVD of the evening in question shows otherwise. Thankfully the concert (s)? is also available in the Bruce Live series Archive. 6 Years later BS was back again in London at Wembley Arena and this time there was no discussion as these concerts have been described as ‘rock ‘n’ roll Masterclasses!
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