Bruce earliest song about the California border may hold deeper meaning than a casual listen might reveal.
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Roll of the Dice (590)
“Baby Doll” was one of the first songs Bruce played for Mike Appel at their very first meeting, and it almost kept him from getting a second chance. But the song had promise–listen to the unearthed demo and judge for yourself inside.
One of the last songs to be cut from Bruce’s debut album, “Arabian Nights” is a glimpse at the surreal inner world of an introverted musician.
“It’s Hard to Be Saint in the City” played an important role in Bruce’s rise to stardom, but the lesser-known acoustic version is the definitive take.
Bearing influences both local and literary, “Spirit in the Night” immediately established itself as one of Bruce’s signature songs.
Often derided if it’s remembered at all, “The Angel” deserves greater appreciation for its craft and early, tentative steps towards Bruce’s signature song.
Ferocious in concert, limp on vinyl, “Lost in the Flood” is nevertheless a lyrically brilliant piece of work.
Lyrically slight and melodically malleable, “Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street” is an early songwriting exercise that improbably became a fan favorite.
Widely considered to be Bruce’s worst song, “Mary Queen of Arkansas” shows flashes of brilliance and unappreciated layers of depth.