Author: Ken Rosen (2080)
Roll of the Dice: For Never Asking
Bruce grappled with depression through song as early as 1968, as this unreleased entry from his notebook demonstrates.
Where the Band Was: East Rutherford, August 23, 2016
The River Tour begins its morph into the “Autobiography Tour” as the ten-show victory lap kicks off in East Rutherford.
Where the Band Was: St. Louis, August 23, 2008
Yes, it was *that* good. On a night when no one expected it, Bruce played his best 21st century show with a scorching performance and a die-hard’s dream setlist.
Cover Me, Kenny Chesney: One Step Up
Kenny Chesney covered “One Step Up” on disc and on stage, but it’s his live performance that shines as brightly as Bruce’s original.
Where the Band Was: Tacoma, August 21, 2002
The early shows of the Rising Tour were largely unsurprising… until the encores in Tacoma, where Bruce debuted his reinvented greatest hit. It’s been with us ever since.
Meeting Across the River: Soozie Tyrell, Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa, Ste. Genevieve
Bruce and Patti made a guest appearance on this standout track on Soozie Tyrell’s debut solo album.
Roll of the Dice: The Brokenhearted
“The Brokenhearted” is Roy Orbison meets The Drifters, and 1977 Bruce meets 2010 Bruce. The style mash-up works, the vocal graft not so much.
Cover Me, Helen Schneider: Hearts of Stone
Yes, that’s the actress who played Joann Carlino in Eddie and the Cruisers, taking a turn on Bruce’s torch song.
Meeting Across the River: Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven, Bye Bye Johnny
Chuck Berry’s “Bye Bye Johnny” inspired one of Bruce’s own songs, but strangely he’s only covered it a few times. Here’s his most recent performance, with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.
Where the Band Was: San Francisco, August 16, 2003
Sometimes the journey is better than the destination, and sometimes the wait is even better than the show.