Happy Birthday Born To Run

Records can be like old friends who you haven't seen in a while but immediately get you right back to where you left off.

So it is with Born To Run.  I left this record off my top 50 and went with Darkness which I slightly prefer.

I hadn't listened to Born To Run much lately, but Bruce's rendition of Backstreets plus the 30th birthday celebration have gotten me right back where I left off.

So in the past several days, I've listened to the record a bunch. The piano intros to these songs are so great. 30 years ago these were teenage anthems. Today, they are works of art.  A masterpiece actually.

I've also listeed to all seven Born To Run podcasts, which come from the Wings For Wheels DVD about the making of Born To Run. If you are a fan of the Boss, I strongly suggest giving these podcasts a listen.

And in the grand finale of my personal celebration, I am watching the DVD of the 1975 Born To Run tour show from London's Hammersteinsmith Odeon. Bruce and the E Street Band were sure something special to behold in the winter of 1975. 

Jersey street punk soul.  So good.

Comments

[John McCarthy]

This is the coolest. At first I had some doubts about buying this 30th anniversary set as I have paid for this music numerous times (repeat purchases of vinyl, 8-track(!), cassette, CD) and have numerous versions of all of these songs on my iPod but I've been listening to it all day and watching the London concert and Making of BTR DVDs and I am really happy. Great memories of the music. Some neat parts in the Making Of DVD which shows Bruce's reaction in 2005 while listening to alternative takes from the recording session.

I got a really big smile when I opened the CD and saw that they had made the disk to look like the orignal vinyl album: black with red label and simulated grooves.

Will this now make your top 50?

[Saffron Rainey]

Small point but it is the Hammersmith Odeon but saying that your spelling it is a funny variation. I like your latest blog on ROOT markets.

[Dave Carpe]

thanks for the good feedback...when i bought devils and dust i must have watched that dvd over 100 times...and if it makes you jealous, i was in the infield (by second base) at fenway on his first night playing in boston...oh, and i'm sure if i looked hard enough i'd find him in my fourth degree...

[Charles Smith]

You may also want to give the Prodigal Son at the Main Point recording a listen to hear a great recording of Bruce with the following setlist (2/5/75):
Incident On 57th St / Mountain Of Love / Born To Run / E St Shuffle / Wings for Wheels (now Thunder Road) / I Want You / Spirit In The Night / She's The One / Growin' Up / Saint In The City / Jungleland / Kitty's Back / New York City Serenade / Rosalita / 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy) / A Love So Fine / For You / Back In The USA