Well, this is a delightful surprise.
Springsteen's first European tour culminates in a breathtaking return to London's Hammersmith Odeon for a 22-song set that is one of the standout shows on the Born To Run tour. London 11/24/75 features eight changes from opening night at Hammersmith six days prior, "Growin' Up" plus seven covers: "Pretty Flamingo," "Sha-La-La," "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck," "When You Walk In The Room," "Twist And Shout," "Carol" and "Little Queenie." Outstanding versions of "Thunder Road," "Lost In The Flood," "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City, "For You" and "Quarter To Three" round out this triumphant performance.
I am listening to this show since Friday and am really loving it, and I am also thinking about what makes 1975 shows such a different experience. There's something transient about Bruce, something naughty in his voice and there's the eager attitude... Maybe it is just his youth or the strong Jersey/NY accent that makes Bruce sound more like a character playing a role on stage than the actual Bruce person being present there at the time?
I feel like this process continued throughout the Darkness tour, and he finally formed the stage Bruce we know during the River tour? I feel like listening to one of his sub-characters and am I'm having such fun getting to know this young fella.
The Pretty Flamingo intro - when he is explaining what had happened after the two years - I start laughing every time.
Also, I'm not clever enough to point out what exactly produces that distinctive 70's sound, but it's there, so splendid.
I don't usually bother with these archive shows, I know it's an unpopular opinion round here but, generally speaking, I am happier listening to the studio albums, the exception being for shows I was at - I love reliving those moments. However, having seen the set list, read your comments and read @Mario Brega's review, I decided to go for this one.
It is just wonderful, can't think of anything else to add.
I like the one guy who recognises Pretty Flamingo from the opening organ riff.
This release is fantastic. Everything about it. Setlist, performance, he's on and so is the band. This one is now in the top 5 of all time for me. Just unreal.
Then you add Sandy and For You. two songs from '75 that never really connected for me. But now. OMG so good.
The first Hammersmith concert is my go to '75 live release. I prefer that focused "down to business" approach over the "loose" US leg performances where he "fools around" and more or less preach to the choir. For that reason I am a little on the fence about buying this archive release.
Just finished listening to it for the first time all the way through. I mean, this is insanely good. 'For You' is stunning, the encores are wild (this 'Quarter To Three' just made me get up and dance for a bit alone in my room... how sad is this? 😂) and the performances are so, so good. They're so loose and focused, it's wild!
Well, he did claim that someday we'd look back at it and it would all seem funny.
I'm laughing at how good this one is.