I didn't like the Touch/Town-albums and didn't like the two concerts I went to - the world premiere in Stockholm and then the one filmed for " The Lost Television Show". I did my best to tell myself that the glass was half full but then came the Blood Brothers documentary, the greatest hits and the Secret Garden single and that put the last nail in the coffin. I decided he had lost it and that it was over for me. I didn't plan to buy the GOTJ album. Then one day my local record store played Youngstown over the speakers and I was dragged back in again.
Then one day my local record store played Youngstown over the speakers and I was dragged back in again.
I think Parke Puterbaugh was a little psychic at the end of his review of Greatest Hits.
“This Hard Land” repeats some of Springsteen’s most pronounced tics — the use of rivers, seeds and rides as metaphors, the contrived device of addressing his words to some fictional “sir.” Musically it begs comparison with Woody Guthrie’s populist folk songs. This may, in fact, be where Springsteen is headed. It wouldn’t be surprising if, on his next travels, he walked alone with a guitar and harmonica for companions.
Has anyone ever questioned how history would have turned differently if the 1992 tour had been a solo tour? Maybe not like Joad, but a tour similar to the Christic shows. Would people be more satisfied in that case? Less hurt maybe, for not having to watch other musicians on stage?
@Bosstralian It was my dream in the early 90s for him to do kinda what Neil Young did with Pearl Jam and tour with Sonic Youth or Nirvana as his backing band. Green Day? I mean...they're probably getting AARP mailings by now...
@Scott Peterson That's an interesting idea, although I'd think that would be a much bigger leap for Bruce (and his audience) than what PJ with Neil was for both Neil artistically and his audience. If anything, in that sort of scenario PJ with Bruce while Neil used one of the other two might make more sense.
Actually, this could make an interesting completely separate thread / topic. Bands Bruce could've used and what it would've sounded like. Another example, albeit slightly different contextually, is Warren Zevon with REM (minus Michael Stipe) as Hindu Love Gods.
In the spirit of recent late night show April 1st shenanigans which even made the news here... imagine if in, say, 1985 for one night Bruce came on stage with The Revolution and Prince took the stage backed by the E Street Band.
It's interesting to me that Bruce took the things that worked best about this band - Crystal Taliefero's percussion and the backup singers - and added those elements to the E Street Band in 2012. I don't know if we'd have ever experienced that version of E Street if we hadn't had this tour.
@Jerseyfornia two different songs, if you ask me... BD, the original, and the sequel. It's fascinating how different emotions can change a song almost diametrically.
I didn't like the Touch/Town-albums and didn't like the two concerts I went to - the world premiere in Stockholm and then the one filmed for " The Lost Television Show". I did my best to tell myself that the glass was half full but then came the Blood Brothers documentary, the greatest hits and the Secret Garden single and that put the last nail in the coffin. I decided he had lost it and that it was over for me. I didn't plan to buy the GOTJ album. Then one day my local record store played Youngstown over the speakers and I was dragged back in again.
Has anyone ever questioned how history would have turned differently if the 1992 tour had been a solo tour? Maybe not like Joad, but a tour similar to the Christic shows. Would people be more satisfied in that case? Less hurt maybe, for not having to watch other musicians on stage?
It's interesting to me that Bruce took the things that worked best about this band - Crystal Taliefero's percussion and the backup singers - and added those elements to the E Street Band in 2012. I don't know if we'd have ever experienced that version of E Street if we hadn't had this tour.
I still think Brilliant Disguise is played better on this tour than it was on the Tunnel tour.