Archive Series pro-tip: Listen to "Racing in the Street" from Wembley 1981 and "Drift Away" from Meadowlands 1984 back-to-back. Bruce's bridging comment about Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "It Takes Two" ties it all together magically.
It's ran by the moderators of the Springsteen Reddit, and though it's a very young crowd on there (I mean, I'm one of the older fans who posts!) it's very active and it's filled with enthusiasm.
I need a link to your site!!! I need more insight into this historic release...My mind needs to wrap itself around this in some way. I love it so much, possibly my favorite archive release....I am currently re-reading the Clinton Heylin book called "E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Springsteen and the E Street band". He had access to the studio logs when he wrote the book, but what is more interesting is very critical of Bruce's mercurial approach to everything in regard to his creativity. I have a habit of looking at Bruce like he is some sort of God and it is interesting to look at a writer who sees him as human. Very interesting read this week while I listen to this......
What I can now say, after waiting since 2018 for this recording is that it is the most essential archive release so far for many reasons. It's obviously sad that the Vietnam veterans show will never be released like this. I am certain that they regret choosing not to record more of the River tour. But what makes this immense in my mind is that after the River tour began it evolved from the massive shows with so many songs to this more focused performance. It's like in the early part of the tour, he wanted to say so much, so all those songs had to be let in, and they played so fast. Later in the tour, when he arrived in Europe he had MORE to say, or more specifically, the River allowed him to look at larger systemic things that affected his family and those people around him. The miracle moment was when he decided to read the History of the United States and the psychic connection that happens to all future activists happened to him. We are connected to our past, and what happens in our country belongs to us. The idea that certain people's lives are expendable is an awful truth to understand, how many people do not get a fair shot. Understanding the history of the place you grew up helps make sense of what happened to him. After all most artists have a sense that what is happening isn't fair. One of the coolest things I know about Bruce is, that he would say What are you gonna do about it?? He wrote those songs and let in all the light and dark.
@Buddhabone I'm also finding myself wanting to read more comments about this show and tour hahaha. I get a little excited every time I see there's a new post on here, Greasy Lake, the Bruce Discord... and yes even BTX!
One of my favourite things about this release (And there's a bunch of 'em) has been the ongoing "Imagine if" thought of CW Post '75, Berkeley '78, this June 4th '81 show and Giants Stadium '85 being released after their respective tours ended.
Would have probably meant Live 75-85 wasn't released, but I reckon those four would've made for fans not needing another live concert release ever. From anyone.
I would be very, very happy with many more from this entire tour, but if I had to pick just one that really drove home to me how amazing this tour was, it'd be Los Angeles 1999. That Prodigal Son release, man...honestly better than some of the official Archive releases.
Yes, that same LA 99 bootleg was a personal favourite for a long time and it remained a favourite show within the Archive series also after the official release. However, while it could well be recency bias speaking, that Anaheim show has really thrown down the gauntlet to LA for me and it is currently my go to Reunion tour show.
I think Bruce is still very observant of the things around him so it might be connected... I believe he likes to chip in and add his bit of the story when he can, he loves to be up to date.
In my imagination, he was watching Top Gun 2 with Patti, saw the trailer for the Elvis biopic, grabbed his phone, and texted someone... 😊
Pondering as I do the minutiae of all things Bruce, the timing of this show's release really has me intrigued.
For The River tour to come around again so quickly in the rotation (six months since the last) is strange. Given they had fallen into an almost predictable pattern with releasing these shows tour wise, I would've expected a show from any and all of Darkness, D&D, Wrecking Ball and BITUSA tours at least to appear before we went down to The River again.
So the question becomes why? And the only thing I keep coming back to is the intriguing coincidence that this show has an Elvis themed 'sequence' in Follow That Dream / Elvis Story / Johnny Bye Bye while the big Elvis biopic is due for release this month.
Like I said, it could be coincidence. But if not, that's an interesting development for this series as I can't recall any previous attempt to link the release of a show in this series to something going on in the wider zeitgeist.
I think there is a strong presumption amongst many fans the third Passiac show was also recorded. (And that would be a good one, at least setlist wise, as it shakes things up a bit). Less certain but speculated on is the second non broadcast Atlanta Fox Theatre show may have been recorded. And finally, there are many fans I've read on BTX who just assume that Phoenix was recorded, based on the five live film clips that have been released. I'll believe it when I see it on that one... given that some of the footage in those clips is from sound check rather than the show itself, I don't think the existence of those clips necessarily implies at all the whole show audio was multi tracked.
The cover is very cool, but I can't be the only one looking at it and hearing Joe Cocker at Woodstock going Whaaaaaaat would you do if I sang outta tuuuunne....
This show crystalizes my unpopular belief that the Darkness tour was not Springsteen's greatest tour, but a warm-up for the widescreen performances to come in 1980/81.
With the caveat that I love pretty much all the tours with pretty much all my heart, including the pre-Born to Run stuff, I have to say that not only do I agree, but I actually take it a step further: I sometimes think the Born in the USA tour was even stronger, the Tunnel of Love tour even more challenging, and the Reunion tour maybe my favorite. And the reason is fairly simple, I think: each subsequent tour has more truly great songs to draw from, which means each subsequent tour is in many ways starting from a stronger position. And if the band never again played with so much reckless abandon and youthful energy as they did after 1981, well, on the other hand, they continued to improve as players.
So each side—Sometimes Sloppy Piss & Vinger v Less Punkish Mature Power—has its pros and cons. But for me, in general, the expanded setlist potential wins out.
@Scott Peterson The TOL and Reunion tours have been absolute revelations to me via the Archive series. Especially Reunion... the patchy compilation nature of LINYC (both album and dvd) just didn't even come close to doing this tour justice IMO.
The River tour is everything we would ever need from a E Street show.
The brooding roiling of the first set.
The party that is the 2nd set.
The Encore!!! Jungleland, BTR, and the medley.
I will never forget the conversation with my Mom at 2am as we drover home from the Sports Arena on the morning of November 2, 1980. She said to me then, and I still belive it now, there was nothing better then.
I mean... what an unbelievable performance. So many highlights, the energy is off the roof. 'Racing In The Street' is stunning, 'Sherry Darling' is so fun! This 'Jackson Cage' may as well be the best performance of the song ever. Amazing show!
I haven't finished the show and I'm convinced this is the best Springsteen and the E Street Band show I've ever heard. A little surprisingly, it's "Caddy" and "Sherry" that have blown me away most.
Oh, I guess should say I haven't listened to "Racing" yet.
I still can't hear the request for Jackson Cage, but damn I am glad it's there.
Archive Series pro-tip: Listen to "Racing in the Street" from Wembley 1981 and "Drift Away" from Meadowlands 1984 back-to-back. Bruce's bridging comment about Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "It Takes Two" ties it all together magically.
where is the Bruce discord?????
I need a link to your site!!! I need more insight into this historic release...My mind needs to wrap itself around this in some way. I love it so much, possibly my favorite archive release....I am currently re-reading the Clinton Heylin book called "E Street Shuffle: The Glory Days of Springsteen and the E Street band". He had access to the studio logs when he wrote the book, but what is more interesting is very critical of Bruce's mercurial approach to everything in regard to his creativity. I have a habit of looking at Bruce like he is some sort of God and it is interesting to look at a writer who sees him as human. Very interesting read this week while I listen to this......
What I can now say, after waiting since 2018 for this recording is that it is the most essential archive release so far for many reasons. It's obviously sad that the Vietnam veterans show will never be released like this. I am certain that they regret choosing not to record more of the River tour. But what makes this immense in my mind is that after the River tour began it evolved from the massive shows with so many songs to this more focused performance. It's like in the early part of the tour, he wanted to say so much, so all those songs had to be let in, and they played so fast. Later in the tour, when he arrived in Europe he had MORE to say, or more specifically, the River allowed him to look at larger systemic things that affected his family and those people around him. The miracle moment was when he decided to read the History of the United States and the psychic connection that happens to all future activists happened to him. We are connected to our past, and what happens in our country belongs to us. The idea that certain people's lives are expendable is an awful truth to understand, how many people do not get a fair shot. Understanding the history of the place you grew up helps make sense of what happened to him. After all most artists have a sense that what is happening isn't fair. One of the coolest things I know about Bruce is, that he would say What are you gonna do about it?? He wrote those songs and let in all the light and dark.
This music is incredible.
One of my favourite things about this release (And there's a bunch of 'em) has been the ongoing "Imagine if" thought of CW Post '75, Berkeley '78, this June 4th '81 show and Giants Stadium '85 being released after their respective tours ended.
Would have probably meant Live 75-85 wasn't released, but I reckon those four would've made for fans not needing another live concert release ever. From anyone.
I think Bruce is still very observant of the things around him so it might be connected... I believe he likes to chip in and add his bit of the story when he can, he loves to be up to date.
In my imagination, he was watching Top Gun 2 with Patti, saw the trailer for the Elvis biopic, grabbed his phone, and texted someone... 😊
It can't be overstated the influence Elvis had on Springsteen.
I think it is connected.
Pondering as I do the minutiae of all things Bruce, the timing of this show's release really has me intrigued.
For The River tour to come around again so quickly in the rotation (six months since the last) is strange. Given they had fallen into an almost predictable pattern with releasing these shows tour wise, I would've expected a show from any and all of Darkness, D&D, Wrecking Ball and BITUSA tours at least to appear before we went down to The River again.
So the question becomes why? And the only thing I keep coming back to is the intriguing coincidence that this show has an Elvis themed 'sequence' in Follow That Dream / Elvis Story / Johnny Bye Bye while the big Elvis biopic is due for release this month.
Like I said, it could be coincidence. But if not, that's an interesting development for this series as I can't recall any previous attempt to link the release of a show in this series to something going on in the wider zeitgeist.
Tha moment in Racing in the Street before the coda takes off.....my god. His voice. Only us die hards get it.
This is so good. I love the 81 shows.
I only downloaded this today... Loving it.
Jackson Cage into Trapped is a great sequence. Those two songs kind of belong together, yet I don't remember them being performed together...
So,my memory is clearly shot.
Not only is it the 5th June show that I have, it's an official release, not a boot as I thought.
I need to organise my digital music much better.........
Just plain amazing....and I even love the cover.
This show crystalizes my unpopular belief that the Darkness tour was not Springsteen's greatest tour, but a warm-up for the widescreen performances to come in 1980/81.
Here to agree with everyone above me. Something very special about this performance. Kicked the previous Wembley 81 show out of my top spot.
I mean... what an unbelievable performance. So many highlights, the energy is off the roof. 'Racing In The Street' is stunning, 'Sherry Darling' is so fun! This 'Jackson Cage' may as well be the best performance of the song ever. Amazing show!
2nd set is an absolute blast of a listen!
A great release.
Incredible. Just incredible. BEST ARCHIVE RELEASE EVER!!!!!
I haven't finished the show and I'm convinced this is the best Springsteen and the E Street Band show I've ever heard. A little surprisingly, it's "Caddy" and "Sherry" that have blown me away most.
Oh, I guess should say I haven't listened to "Racing" yet.
Racing, Jackson Cage, Roy's Morricone intro to Badlands...these are reason enough to love this release.
I'm always ready to go down to the river.