Comments on: Working On A Dream Springsteen Playlist

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:16:29 +0000

First of all, Max is not playing with the band – his kid is on drums.
And while the Del Lords did indeed do a devastatingly great version of “How Can a Poor Man” on the criminally overlooked “Frontier Days,” the song was written by Blind Alfred Reed in the late 1920s (1927, I believe). The song was a reference to the first Depression. For a version closer to the original, check out Ry Cooder’s first solo album.
As for the Boss’ set list, one really has to wonder why The River and Tunnel of Love material do not make it into the rotation more often. The new album is a dud so limit the night to four new songs; remove all but two of “Magic’s” tunes; and dig deeper into the first two albums and “The River” more than ever before. Right?

By: WHAD1

WHAD1 — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:59:18 +0000

Once these tours get going there tends to be more than enough variety. In Portland last March they did “Night,” “For You,” “Lost in the Flood,” “Reason to Believe” and “Jungleland,” several of those by request. Didn’t go to Seattle the next night because I didn’t feel the need to see 75% of the same show twice, but then the other 25% included “Trapped,” “Because the Night,” “Darkness,” “Rosalita” and “Point Blank.”

Amused at the thought of him digging up the Del Lords cover though.

By: D.R. Mosby

D.R. Mosby — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:24:52 +0000

I’d like to hear the two songs that converted me from a casual Springsteen listener into a fan: “Something In The Night” and “Meeting Across The River”.

By: CaligulaHamSandwich

CaligulaHamSandwich — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:22:48 +0000

The ones I’d want that haven’t been mentioned are I’m On Fire (a really long drawn-out, creepy version), Hard to be a Saint in the City and She’s the One (with a crazy long intro on keyboards).

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:14:54 +0000

Remember those glory days ? I’d love to open with Max’s drums belting out the timing for my misunderstood anthem BORN IN THE USA. People don’t get it, but they do feel good when they hear it. Open it in darkness, then hot white spots on Max and me. We are in pain people. The economy is in the shitter. E Street grew up in the 70′s through desperate times, high interest rates. HELD UP WITHOUT A GUN refers to the gas prices at the pump. Recession rock ! We come through the hardness of THIS HARD LAND. JOHNNY 99 has “debts no honest man can pay” so he shoots a night clerk. Never mix Tanqueray and wine. Mixing in some fun “10th Ave Freeze Out” I don’t even know what the some means but it has aged like fine wine. Spotlight on Clarence “Jungleland” solo. Brings me to tears every time. Need Suzie to play that crying violin. AMERICAN LAND, BORN TO RUN, THUNDER ROAD, DARLINGTON COUNTY (i love to see Wayne handcuffed to the bumper of a State Trooper’s Ford). OUT ON THE STREET. HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY. DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82nd STREET ? LONG TIME COMING, SURPRISE, THIS LIFE, WHEN THE SAINTS COME MARCING IN, OPEN ALL NIGHT, MY LUCKY DAY, OUTLAW PETE and my personal favourite “THE QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET”….I turn back for a moment and catch smile, that blows this whole f**king place apart”…REASON TO BELIEVE (preacher style)…THE RISING solo and accoustic…BADLANDS fists a thumping… LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS, WORKING ON A DREAM…………….RFS

By: Adairdevil

Adairdevil — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:44:41 +0000

Ties That Bind!

By: Lucas Jensen

Lucas Jensen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:14:32 +0000

@Brad Nelson: Those songs really are great live. I think that album's overlooked, in general.

By: Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:47:31 +0000

Were that to happen, in fact, it would be the only time I'd actually hop on board this "play yr classic album live" nonsense. History has proven that all of those songs are improved in a live setting.

Well, okay, "Kitty's Back" had the tendency to stretch itself thin, but you'd do the same if you had written it.

By: Brad Nelson

Brad Nelson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:39:39 +0000

Just fucking play all of The Wild, the Innocent. '70s bootlegs attest to the power of "New York City Serenade" live.

By: KurticusMaximus

KurticusMaximus — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:24:14 +0000

This seems like one of those complaints only people who have seen a lot of Springsteen shows can make. Those of us who've only been to one or two (ok, just one) don't really mind that he's sticking to the good ole stand-bys.

That said, my perfect Springsteen setlist would contain (in no particular order): Thunder Road, Born To Run, Badlands, Backstreets, Jungleland, The River, Atlantic City, I'm Goin' Down, Hungry Heart, 10th Avenue Freeze-Out, Rosalita, and Dancing In The Dark. I'm sure plenty of Springsteen-show-veterans would find that list boring, but oh well.

Hopefully he keeps the audience requests, too. Those were awesome.

By: Lucas Jensen

Lucas Jensen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:26:33 +0000

@Al Shipley: @goldsounds: I'm glad to see it gaining a following. It's so structurally complex. I'm also one of those revisionist hipsters who think that's his best record.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:22:40 +0000

Part of the problem with "Mary's Place" is that he uses it as his band intro song (or at least he did during Vote for Change, which was the last time I saw an E Street Tour), where he used to use "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out." "Mary's Place" isn't a terrible song on its own terms, but I'd much rather hear "Freeze-Out" stretched to fifteen minutes.

Personally, I'd love to see more stuff from Tunnel of Love. He brought it out during the Devils and Dust Tour, but I'd kill to see E Street versions of the title track, "One Step Up," or "Tougher Than the Rest."

Oh, and "Kitty's Back."

By: goldsounds

goldsounds — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:18:54 +0000

@Al Shipley: Yes. His best song (right now).

By: mishaps

mishaps — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:15:43 +0000

“Girls in their Summer Clothes” one of Bruce’s best? Really? I swear to you, I heard it playing in a big box store and thought “Stephin Merritt?” before I realized that no, it was just that everyone who said it sounded like Merritt was right.

I’m all about “How Can A Poor Man…” though I’m guessing since his lyrics were all anti-Bush he might be just as happy to retire the sucker.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:10:27 +0000

10th ave freeze out, cover me, atlantic city, fire, thunder road, born to run, born in the USA.

By: Chris N.

Chris N. — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:00:11 +0000

Make a playlist LIKE A BOSS! Change key LIKE A BOSS!

By: The Notorious T

The Notorious T — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:50:50 +0000

Any alleged Springsteen playlist that omits “Badlands” is going to cause a riot. It’s just not done.

By: Al Shipley

Al Shipley — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:48:59 +0000

I wholly endorse any setlist that includes “Candy’s Room.”

By: SomeSound-MostlyFury

SomeSound-MostlyFury — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:44:11 +0000

Atlantic City please!

By: dog door

dog door — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:27:34 +0000

No The River? No Streets of Fire? how is that a dream setlist? I'm on board with Cover Me though.

Mine would have Dancing, Adam, and Brilliant Disguise.