Wings For Wheels
This look at the making of Born To Run illustrates just how much pressure Bruce put on himself (and those around him) to be great. Aside from the pure fan voyeurism of witnessing things like Bruce conducting a Spanish-influenced alternate introduction to "Jungleland" or seeing Miami Steve smirk at the problem of spending six months on one song ("Born To Run", the single), what becomes apparent is this: everyone involved with this project began to get the idea that something very special was going on. Looking back at it now, Bruce confirms that the record is about friendship. To this day he appears to be grateful for the effort and dedication that his friends brought to bear.
What with all of the cynicism attached to the music industry these days, it was incredibly refreshing to watch so many people give their all for the sake of friendship and music.
Hats off to producer, director and editor Thom Zimmy. Fantastic stuff.
One more goodie: the documentary DVD contains three live tunes from a show played at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, 1973. A full band "Spirit In The Night", Bruce at the piano. An acoustic "Wild Billy's Circus Story". And last but certainly not least, a rockin' "Thundercrack". I wonder if back in 1973, Springsteen had any idea of what awaited him just a few years down the road.
DJ Radiohead
It was a lot of fun reading Mark and Lisa's thoughts on Born to Run. I think one of the things I enjoyed the most is realizing how similar and yet how different our response and experience with this amazing album is.
I am probably going to get booed down by the two of them but I am apparently the baby of this discussion. I was not in college or grad school when Born to Run was released in 1975. I was in diapers. I was 2-years old (I am ducking as I type that). The Springsteen I grew up with was the Springsteen of Born in the U.S.A..
I discovered Born to Run at about the same age as Mark and Lisa did...college. I think that is no small part of the reason the responses of the three of us were so similar. The universal themes we discussed in Part 1 of this review are timeless and so is the album. The reason Bruce Springsteen still packs auditoriums and sells albums today is not nostalgia. He was thinking long haul from the word go. He wrote about important things at an early age and he never stopped. Incidentally, Born in the U.S.A. is now more than 20 years old. I listened to it today and while there are some very good songs on that album I am convinced it does not have the same life as Born to Run.
Article comments
1 - Lisa McKay
Thank you, Mark, for inviting us onto your Friday Morning turf for a visit - it's been fun!
2 - Mark Saleski
you're more than welcome lisa.
dang, i thought for sure that me & the dj could make you break your christmas rule!
3 - Lisa McKay
I was tempted, but you have to understand that I'm married to a man who generally has his Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving ;-)
4 - Mark Saleski
wow! i didn't know guys like that existed.
it's true, i don't see your husband at the procrastinators club meetings.
5 - Paul J. Marasa
Well, gang, as one of the Old Guard--I saw Springsteen in concert at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia in '74--and listened to him prove it all night as he did a benefit for the legendary Main Point north of Philly--and OK I'm from NJ, too, and I was listening to "Mary Queen of Arkansas" when I ran into your discussion here--this is some sort of trifecta--I feel I can add my voice to the Faithful. I think you're right: Springsteen will never be a nostalgia act--just check out the dead-on consistency and completeness of the "Devils and Dust" package--so those Glory Days will never be borin' stories, but just more good songs. There are no oldies, just tunes you haven't heard yet--or in a long time. Thanks for spreading the news.
6 - DJRadiohead
When did they start having meeting for procrastinators?
I guess I just haven't gotten around to checking them out.Fucking awful pun, that was going to be.Saleski, it was fun getting agree with you on something for a change. Lisa... it was a lot of fun to have you in on this as well. Maybe we can do this agin if we get the live package I pray for from this run of solo acoustic shows Springsteen is currently doing. Did you hear about him and Hornsby teaming up on Hymn #251 "Across the Border?"
And Mark, have you checked out "Missing" yet?
7 - ClubhouseCancer
There will be a live DVD of this run -- the shows in Boston were taped for this purpose. The show I saw last Thursday was a huge disppointment, though. It was the only time I've ever seen Bruce (out of too, too many shows since 1980) when I wasn't completely engrossed and transfixed by the performance. I still swear I'm gonna write a real review.
8 - Connie Phillips
Thank you, guys. Again with part two, I really enjoyed the differnt perspectives to the same product, and oh what a product! I feel like the only person who hasn't already purchased this set.
9 - Mary K. Williams
"I feel like the only person who hasn't already purchased this set."
No, Connie, not the only one. Mark thinks he can tempt me into getting this before Christmas, but I'm going to hold out. Then you and me and Lisa can get together and have a Bruce party.
Speaking of party, for me too, it was college when I first heard Born to Run. *sigh*. Just love it!
10 - DJRadiohead
I just don't see how you can let one more day of your life pass without buying this set.
It has been so great!
11 - Mary K. Williams
"I just don't see how you can let one more day of your life pass without buying this set."
Yeah, regarding the set, I'd been meaning to ask those 'in the know' -- Can you get the remastered CD w/o the DVD extras? Because, as much as I like Bruce and the E-streeters, I'm not a huge fan of watching concerts on video.
Not that it'd be horrible to own the whole thing. I"m sure I would enjoy it, just wondering..
12 - DJRadiohead
Unfortunately, to my knowledge, this box set is the only way to get the re-mastered CD.
The Hammersmith-Odeon show is gold, though! Look at young little Max Weinberg and Little Steve! It's hilarious and the performance is amazing!
13 - Mary K. Williams
ok ok I'll put it on my list. : )
14 - Mark Saleski
plus, if you know what you'r doing (and i don't really count myself in that category) you can burn an audio copy of the concert.
15 - DJRadiohead
Yes, well said. I actually have the Hammersmith Odeon DVD's audio content on my iPod. I have actually listened to the show many more times than I have watched it. It's wonderful and transcendant and... well, I am preaching to the choir here.
16 - Connie Phillips
Mary, sounds like a plan to me! It is officially added to my "must have" list so I can be a part of the masses.
17 - DJRadiohead
It's more than being part of the masses. It is baptism and religion and salvation. You will be a better person.
18 - Mary K. Williams
plus, if you know what you'r doing (and i don't really count myself in that category)
Yeah Mark, especially after that debacle in the Berkshires. ::Snickering::