Happy New Year! Let's hope 2021 is a good'un, because 2020 sure as hell wasn't.
Anyway, I know there's too many Archive Series based threads on here, and yeah I know I started most of them, but I think this was built up a little bit and it might be worthy of a thread.
Here's an excerpt too, just because!
The Winterland double of December 2019 meant we had to wait a little longer for the Archive Series to get started in 2020, and while we spent the month of January justifying our greediness for more, our patience was well rewarded with twelve banger releases from February onwards. 2020 brought long awaited, all timer releases from Atlanta, New Jersey, Londonand New York; amazing nights from Detroit, Philadelphia, Gothenburg and (again) New Jersey; fine examples of Bruce and The E Street Band playing at the top of their game in the 21st century in 2008 and 2009; and additionally good examples of Bruce mixing it up, either by himself or with a completely different band.
The most incredible thing about all of these releases, though, had to be the amount of fantastic songs featured within. We had the makings of a top ten by July, and by the time December rolled around we could have had at least three sets of them. After much mulling over whether this could be dragged out to be a top twenty or whether fifteen Honourable Mentions would be acceptable, in the end, I believe the top ten and six Honourable’s chosen will do justice to the stellar year we’ve had. Of course, it’s highly likely (for this year more than any other) that I’ll have left out one of your absolute favourites. If that’s the case, don’t stew on your disappointment and, please, let me know in the comments!
That good, @Louisa? 😂
I wish they could sort out the technical issues with The Rising tour shows... lot of gold in that vault, if they can only crack it.
This show really isn't a possibility, but I'm gonna post this link in here because I'm not too sure what other thread it would fit in on this forum?
I personally wouldn't lose sleep over a less regular release schedule, I can't do justice listening wise to what has been released in the last year... to the point that, as I posted elsewhere recently, I forgot completely we had a 1984 show last year. (And, having just revisited it, what a cracker it is).
Infact, the only show from last year I've listened to several times is the 2012 one. That had some amazing performances.... Frankie and Where The Bands Are were incredible new additions to the catalogue of Archive songs. The Because The Night from this show is the best Reunion era version I think I've heard, and for mine stands up well against 78 or 80/81 versions which are generally considered to be the peak for this song.
I don't have any predictions for this year, but first things first, I think it's time for a Joad show.
I do have an easy formula, though. 🙂
One HTLT, SS, Joad, and D&D show, something extraordinary, and 7 or 8 E Street shows per year.
Making this list, I realized that I appreciate the songs which are either seldomly performed or are rearranged more. Saying this, I also understand that so many excellent versions of his well-known songs were released last year, but they sadly didn't make it on my list.
I'm probably the living opposite of Mario. I had to make a chronological list of all 2020 shows, there were only 5 or 6 shows I could name by heart straightaway. After I had written the list down, I checked all the shows, relistened to some songs, and only then I could do the list. It was hard intellectual work... 😋
In no particular order:
Part Man Part Monkey, Stockholm, 2005
Blinded by the Light, Wembley, 2006
The Wrestler, Uniondale, 2009
Walk Like A Man, Detroit, 1988
Reason To Believe, Detroit, 1988
Pretty Flamingo, Hammersmith, 1975
Streets Of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 1999
Gypsy Biker, Greensboro, 2008
Devils & Dust, Wembley, 2006
Human Touch, MSG, 2009
Honorable mentions: For You Hammersmith & For You Uniondale, Long Walk Home & Froggie Wembley, Johnny Bye Bye BBA 81, Trapped BBA 84, Factory Philly, Outlaw Pete...
If I may just say, I still dig the fact that I was at the very first show to be available as a download, maligned as it may be now. I still have the USB too... 😁
Thanks Mario, it was a lovely surprise to see your thread posted so punctually just after midnight.🥂
As you said, this year the releases helped us in more ways than just providing us with awesome music. I'm thankful for what we got, and very optimistic for the future. No matter how many shows we might already own, we will continue finding essence and magic in each released show. The devil is in the detail, no two performances are the same, so I'll keep buying them all, without hesitation. I'm just not sure whether I prefer a predictable schedule, or randomly dropped surprises.
As for 2020, Bruce was a big help. Not only with the monthly archive releases, and both the album and the documentary you have already mentioned. I think his radio shows were also a nice addition, a mixture of him trying to boost creativity during lockdown, and finding new & effective way of communication when he felt his soothing words were needed.
I saved my list of favorite songs of 2020 releases on my work PC and will post it on Monday. Don't tell my boss what he's paying me for...😋
BTW, which year of archive releases have we just entered?
Happy New Year to all!
Personally, Empire Pool, Wembley 2002 would be good. My bootleg is OK quality but a nice version would be favourite.
I've been begging for 10-22-92 since the series started, so nice to see it in your crystal ball.