I was tired. Very tired. Every so often I'll get to Friday with the feeling that I'm falling into the weekend, limping home in a state of muffled exhaustion.
Except that this was Tuesday.
There's nothing like starting your "living for the weekend" phase that early in the week. It can make those last three days pass in a long, gray and disorienting fog.
Well, there was one very good thing to look forward to this past Tuesday evening, the fresh and minty copy of Bruce Springsteen's Hammersmith Odeon, London '75. I knew it would be waiting for me on the kitchen table because Mom and Dad, members #1 and #2 of the Saleski family extended, were nice enough to go on the hunt earlier in the day.
Yessir, me and the DJ and Lisa went on and on about the 30th Anniversary Edition of Born To Run. Still and all, the idea of having that delicious Hammersmith concert on CD did put a little spring in my step (emphasis on 'little').
Now, given my past history with computers, you would think that I wouldn't be screwing around with such technology at eleven o'clock at night...but I really, really, really, really wanted to give this thing a proper listen. The one saving grace here is that my computer runs the beautifully Bill Gates-free Suse Linux. So fearlessly I popped in the CDs, ripped 'em, plugged in the iPod, synced up and headed off to the couch to enjoy the music sitting beside the WorldsBestCockerSpaniel™.
For whatever reason (probably tired, fumbling fingers) I ended up starting with "She's The One". The variation of this version is the bluesy harmonica introduction. After a bit the guitar chords fill in the space before that familiar keyboard line shows up and Bruce begins to sing "With her killer graces and her secret places..."
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Hah! I knew this would show up on the Friday Morning Listen this week! You do not disappoint, Mark. I am looking forward to cranking this one up in the car when the weather's warmer and the windows are rolled down...
2 - Mark Saleski
i'll admit that this wasn't a tough call. ;-)
3 - Mary K. Williams
I am looking forward to cranking this one up in the car when the weather's warmer and the windows are rolled down..
Thanks Lisa - you reminded me I've GOT to get my CD player fixed in my car..and SOON!
Good write up Mark - makes me glad I got the 30th Anniv. package for Christmas.
4 - DJRadiohead
Well done, Saleski. I was working on one of these myself and might fling it onward at some point.
Completely agree with the version of "She's the One" being stellar. "Rosalita" is the one that got me dancing in my chair. I am sure there are scads of live versions of it out there in the cosmos but for right now, today, the Hammersmith version is the definitive version of that song.
One of THE best live albums I have ever heard.
5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Glorious, Sir Saleski.
Being in possession of the Born To Run set, i doubt i'll pick this up, i'm content with the DVD. MORE than content. i loved hearin you yack about it, mind.
6 - Lawrence
We are looking for photos of the Marquee of the Hammersmith Odeon for Bruce's two concerts.
Can anyone help? cheers.