Guest-blogger Marietta Phillips shares her ten-years-ago-tonight story, from the night she helped make the back pit riser an even better place to be near.


James Gooch’s acoustic cover of “Moonlight Motel” is the first Western Stars cover I’ve featured on this blog, and it’s bound to be a controversial one. You’ll understand why when you listen to it.

“Wrong Side of the Street” is a lyrical lightweight, but it features a great E Street Band backing track that went unreleased for more than 30 years after it was recorded.

One time only (that we know of, at least): The Bruce Springsteen Band covers Dave Mason’s first hit, “Only You Know and I Know.”

One time only, in the studio and on stage: Bruce joins Alejandro Escovedo on a hard-rocking Escovedo anthem.

Swedish band Jeniferever turns in a terrific cover of “One Step Up,” preserving its tender core in a lushly arranged wrapper.

“Erie Canal” is a nostalgic callback to a slower-paced world. Bruce’s version captures the wistfulness, pride, and celebration of two workers (one human and one equine) at the sunset of their careers.

Hold on tight: Bruce Springsteen’s “Night” is three minutes of pure rock and roll adrenaline, but I’ll try to break it down inside.

An obscure Springsteen song, a beautiful acoustic arrangement, and toddlers on a slide. That’s a pretty tough combo to beat.

One time only (thankfully): Bruce and The E Street Band re-imagine “Monster Mash” as a reggae song. It works about as well as you’d expect it to.