Wow. I'm underwhelmed. Sorry, but to my ear this has nowhere near the power of the solo Thunder Road from '75, and makes me yearn to hear the full band version. A nice novelty, and thanks for posting it, but ... hmmm, where's my Born To Run CD ....
"Dan" <tsangdaniel@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123595007.062626.18220@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...> Amazing... simply amazing.>
I just finished listening to the performance and wanted to write down> my initial thoughts before I forget them all.>
A few observations: no twang, no rearrangement, all good. One of the> things I feared was that he would "butcher" the solo/all-piano version,> like he'd done to my other favorite track off BTR, Thunder Road (yes,> I'm one of those traditionalists). So, who do we have to thank for> this "almost like the original, he could have played it at the Bottom> Line in August 1975" version? Perhaps, unlike his other re-workings,> he didn't have enough time to re-arrange and rehearse it (rumor has it,> he only did the song once during soundcheck). Or, perhaps, he just> wanted to play the basic version since this is the first time he'd ever> done it (like what he did with Thunder Road during Aug-Dec 75 run of> the BTR tour).>
Although the band's studio performances of songs like> Backstreets/Promised Land/For You (even Thunder Road) are amazing> tracks, I always thought that the lyrics were even greater.... kinda> like the Mona Lisa: looking at the painting from a distance, it's> amazing. But, when you really get into the detail and review the> brushstrokes and all the other techniques used by DaVinci, it really> becomes otherworldly. That's the way I feel about these songs: if you> strip away the guitars, the wall-of-sound, and drums, you get to this> other level - just the man, his lyrics, and a light accompaniment gives> the song another meaning.>
If you doubt this statement, take the Thunder Road track off the BTR> album and compare it to the Bruce-piano (not Roy-piano) version at the> aforementioned Bottom Line performances. Backstreets was another one> of those songs I always wondered what it would be like stripped down> because, and you have to admit this, there was just too much going on> in the studio version: too much wall-of-sound, garbled lyrics, and> Bruce and the band were still working out the pace of the song, which> they would eventually nail on the Darkness tour. In fact, the closest> they ever got to the slow, stripped away version was the 1977> performance in Jacksonville, which to me, is still the greatest> performance of that song.>
Anyways, that's my long-winded response.>
Thanks for the track... wish I was there in person. (I've got tix to> his tour-ending show in Vancouver, though... hoping he pulls out all> the stops)>
Jumping Jack Flash 9 August 2005 18:15:10 [ permanent link ]
"Burton Busk" <burtonlmb@comcast.net> wrote in message news:laqdnVkss5ffKmXfRVn-rQ@comcast.com...> Wow. I'm underwhelmed. Sorry, but to my ear this has nowhere near the > power> of the solo Thunder Road from '75, and makes me yearn to hear the full > band> version. A nice novelty, and thanks for posting it, but ... hmmm, where's > my> Born To Run CD ....
I agree. It's one of my favorite songs, and a mediocre version of Backstreets is still better than most bands "nailing" most songs. That said, I think it was the tempo that I didn't care for. Then again, I don't like the Beatles, so take my opinion for what it's worth....
On Tue, 09 Aug 2005 14:15:10 GMT, "Jumping Jack Flash" <bar9773@hotmail.com> wrote:
"Burton Busk" <burtonlmb@comcast.net> wrote in message >news:laqdnVkss5ffKmXfRVn-rQ@comcast.com...>> Wow. I'm underwhelmed. Sorry, but to my ear this has nowhere near the >> power>> of the solo Thunder Road from '75, and makes me yearn to hear the full >> band>> version. A nice novelty, and thanks for posting it, but ... hmmm, where's >> my>> Born To Run CD ....>
I agree. It's one of my favorite songs, and a mediocre version of >Backstreets is still better than most bands "nailing" most songs. That said, >I think it was the tempo that I didn't care for. Then again, I don't like >the Beatles, so take my opinion for what it's worth.... >
Jumping Jack Flash 9 August 2005 18:50:22 [ permanent link ]
Then again, I don't like>>the Beatles, so take my opinion for what it's worth....>>
Oh boy.......may I ask why not?> Michael
Sure. I look at the Beatles like a good turf team. Vikings. Twins. Falcons. In the comforts of their home (studio), they are solid. Forced to play on the road (grass, arena, stadium), they just don't measure up. They just have nothing on the level of, say, "Get Your Ya-Yas out." They always struck me as bubble gum pop. Love Me Do? Hold Your Hand? Please. I also found when George Harrison died that everything of the Beatles that I liked was from him. Don't get me wrong- some of it isn't bad, and some is quite good. I've just never understood the whole "Greatest Band Ever" hype. They may have come over first, but the Stones, Who, Animals, Kinks and others did it better.
Of course, the great thing about music is that it is all purely subjective. One man's weed, as they say, is another's flower.
In article <1123595007.062626.18220@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>, "Dan" <tsangdaniel@gmail.com> wrote:
Amazing... simply amazing.>
I just finished listening to the performance and wanted to write down> my initial thoughts before I forget them all.>
A few observations: no twang, no rearrangement, all good.
It is nice but I wouldn't mind more of a re-imagining. I find it very interesting when a songwriter essentially rewrites, in his or her performance ,a song written long ago. --
In article <OT2Ke.50482$B52.25445@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>, "Jumping Jack Flash" <bar9773@hotmail.com> wrote: Then again, I don't like > the Beatles, so take my opinion for what it's worth....
I have been living with a Beatle Freak for 20 years now and I can safely say that I could happily live without hearing another Beatles tune for ever. --
"Burton Busk" <burtonlmb@comcast.net> wrote in message news:laqdnVkss5ffKmXfRVn-rQ@comcast.com...> Wow. I'm underwhelmed. Sorry, but to my ear this has nowhere near the > power> of the solo Thunder Road from '75, and makes me yearn to hear the full > band> version. A nice novelty, and thanks for posting it, but ... hmmm, where's > my> Born To Run CD ....
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance. No twang, very faithful to the original...and all the while pretty emotional. It's going to be a difficult song to recapture the full power that's found on the album... if only because the band on the album sounds like one GIANT instrument that propels the song along. That makes doing a solo version of this song a pretty brave move, I'd think. I'd read before that Springsteen had written much of the BORN TO RUN album on piano...and I've no doubt of it after hearing this performance. For a cat who didn't have much time to practice/rehearse this, he really did manage to capture much of how the song was done on the album.
"Dan" <tsangdaniel@gmail.com> wrote in message> news:1123595007.062626.18220@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...>> Amazing... simply amazing.>>
I just finished listening to the performance and wanted to write down>> my initial thoughts before I forget them all.>>
A few observations: no twang, no rearrangement, all good. One of the>> things I feared was that he would "butcher" the solo/all-piano version,>> like he'd done to my other favorite track off BTR, Thunder Road (yes,>> I'm one of those traditionalists). So, who do we have to thank for>> this "almost like the original, he could have played it at the Bottom>> Line in August 1975" version? Perhaps, unlike his other re-workings,>> he didn't have enough time to re-arrange and rehearse it (rumor has it,>> he only did the song once during soundcheck). Or, perhaps, he just>> wanted to play the basic version since this is the first time he'd ever>> done it (like what he did with Thunder Road during Aug-Dec 75 run of>> the BTR tour).>>
Although the band's studio performances of songs like>> Backstreets/Promised Land/For You (even Thunder Road) are amazing>> tracks, I always thought that the lyrics were even greater.... kinda>> like the Mona Lisa: looking at the painting from a distance, it's>> amazing. But, when you really get into the detail and review the>> brushstrokes and all the other techniques used by DaVinci, it really>> becomes otherworldly. That's the way I feel about these songs: if you>> strip away the guitars, the wall-of-sound, and drums, you get to this>> other level - just the man, his lyrics, and a light accompaniment gives>> the song another meaning.>>
If you doubt this statement, take the Thunder Road track off the BTR>> album and compare it to the Bruce-piano (not Roy-piano) version at the>> aforementioned Bottom Line performances. Backstreets was another one>> of those songs I always wondered what it would be like stripped down>> because, and you have to admit this, there was just too much going on>> in the studio version: too much wall-of-sound, garbled lyrics, and>> Bruce and the band were still working out the pace of the song, which>> they would eventually nail on the Darkness tour. In fact, the closest>> they ever got to the slow, stripped away version was the 1977>> performance in Jacksonville, which to me, is still the greatest>> performance of that song.>>
Anyways, that's my long-winded response.>>
Thanks for the track... wish I was there in person. (I've got tix to>> his tour-ending show in Vancouver, though... hoping he pulls out all>> the stops)>>
The Other Mike 9 August 2005 20:43:22 [ permanent link ]
I wasn't there...but after hearing the mp3 I agree completely. I also agree with the 'novelty' comment....I was at the Tower show and my mouth hit the floor when he played The Iceman...but once I got the mp3 of it, I listened to it once and I realized it was more of a "moment" thing then a great performance...haven't listened to it since. I've played this Backstreets at least 10 times this morning.
On 9 Aug 2005 09:14:11 -0700, "jnjmitch" <jnjmitch@swbell.net> wrote:
Regarding the solo Backstreets- part of the thrill may have been the>novelty that always goes along with being the first to hear something>new. But beyond that, I really do think that there was an element of>greatness to it.
It was a brave move, for Bruce. Anyone else notice Bruce sometimes has a bit of trouble keeping time on the piano? Anyway, hard to equal the full-band versions, but it was fun to hear this.
"William Innes" <billyinnes@prodigy.net> wrote in message news:bX4Ke.413$fk6.258@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...>
"Burton Busk" <burtonlmb@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:laqdnVkss5ffKmXfRVn-rQ@comcast.com...>> Wow. I'm underwhelmed. Sorry, but to my ear this has nowhere near the >> power>> of the solo Thunder Road from '75, and makes me yearn to hear the full >> band>> version. A nice novelty, and thanks for posting it, but ... hmmm, where's >> my>> Born To Run CD ....>
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance. No twang, very faithful to > the original...and all the while pretty emotional.> It's going to be a difficult song to recapture the full power that's found > on the album...> if only because the band on the album sounds like one GIANT instrument > that propels the song along.> That makes doing a solo version of this song a pretty brave move, I'd > think.> I'd read before that Springsteen had written much of the BORN TO RUN album > on piano...and I've no doubt of it after hearing this performance.> For a cat who didn't have much time to practice/rehearse this, he really > did manage to capture much of how the song was done on the album.>
"Dan" <tsangdaniel@gmail.com> wrote in message>> news:1123595007.062626.18220@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...>>> Amazing... simply amazing.>>>
I just finished listening to the performance and wanted to write down>>> my initial thoughts before I forget them all.>>>
A few observations: no twang, no rearrangement, all good. One of the>>> things I feared was that he would "butcher" the solo/all-piano version,>>> like he'd done to my other favorite track off BTR, Thunder Road (yes,>>> I'm one of those traditionalists). So, who do we have to thank for>>> this "almost like the original, he could have played it at the Bottom>>> Line in August 1975" version? Perhaps, unlike his other re-workings,>>> he didn't have enough time to re-arrange and rehearse it (rumor has it,>>> he only did the song once during soundcheck). Or, perhaps, he just>>> wanted to play the basic version since this is the first time he'd ever>>> done it (like what he did with Thunder Road during Aug-Dec 75 run of>>> the BTR tour).>>>
Although the band's studio performances of songs like>>> Backstreets/Promised Land/For You (even Thunder Road) are amazing>>> tracks, I always thought that the lyrics were even greater.... kinda>>> like the Mona Lisa: looking at the painting from a distance, it's>>> amazing. But, when you really get into the detail and review the>>> brushstrokes and all the other techniques used by DaVinci, it really>>> becomes otherworldly. That's the way I feel about these songs: if you>>> strip away the guitars, the wall-of-sound, and drums, you get to this>>> other level - just the man, his lyrics, and a light accompaniment gives>>> the song another meaning.>>>
If you doubt this statement, take the Thunder Road track off the BTR>>> album and compare it to the Bruce-piano (not Roy-piano) version at the>>> aforementioned Bottom Line performances. Backstreets was another one>>> of those songs I always wondered what it would be like stripped down>>> because, and you have to admit this, there was just too much going on>>> in the studio version: too much wall-of-sound, garbled lyrics, and>>> Bruce and the band were still working out the pace of the song, which>>> they would eventually nail on the Darkness tour. In fact, the closest>>> they ever got to the slow, stripped away version was the 1977>>> performance in Jacksonville, which to me, is still the greatest>>> performance of that song.>>>
Anyways, that's my long-winded response.>>>
Thanks for the track... wish I was there in person. (I've got tix to>>> his tour-ending show in Vancouver, though... hoping he pulls out all>>> the stops)>>>
In article <XP8Ke.549$Zh2.195@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>, "William Innes" <billyinnes@prodigy.net> wrote:
Yeah, there are times when I love it when a songwriter tweaks a song (for > instance, much as I love "Shelter from the Storm" on Dylan's BLOOD ON THE > TRACKS album, I absolutely love the carnage that he transforms that song > into on his live HARD RAIN album).
Ah. Nice to hear someone speak up in defense of that album. I also adore what he does to Idiot Wind on Hard Rain. It gives me chills and makes me very scared. --
I just listened to it a few moments ago and had a similar reaction to yours. Then I read some of the posts in this thread and listened to it again, just to confirm my original assessment. Great song, great performance and I wish I was there. I have most of the great recordings from this tour, but I only play a few songs more than once. Janey Don't You Lose Heart has been in heavy rotation for a while and I Wish I Were Blind has been played several times just since yesterday. Backstreets will be on the IPOD and I will be listening to it when I run at night. "Dan" <tsangdaniel@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1123595007.062626.18220@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...> Amazing... simply amazing.>
I just finished listening to the performance and wanted to write down> my initial thoughts before I forget them all.>
A few observations: no twang, no rearrangement, all good. One of the> things I feared was that he would "butcher" the solo/all-piano version,> like he'd done to my other favorite track off BTR, Thunder Road (yes,> I'm one of those traditionalists). So, who do we have to thank for> this "almost like the original, he could have played it at the Bottom> Line in August 1975" version? Perhaps, unlike his other re-workings,> he didn't have enough time to re-arrange and rehearse it (rumor has it,> he only did the song once during soundcheck). Or, perhaps, he just> wanted to play the basic version since this is the first time he'd ever> done it (like what he did with Thunder Road during Aug-Dec 75 run of> the BTR tour).>
Although the band's studio performances of songs like> Backstreets/Promised Land/For You (even Thunder Road) are amazing> tracks, I always thought that the lyrics were even greater.... kinda> like the Mona Lisa: looking at the painting from a distance, it's> amazing. But, when you really get into the detail and review the> brushstrokes and all the other techniques used by DaVinci, it really> becomes otherworldly. That's the way I feel about these songs: if you> strip away the guitars, the wall-of-sound, and drums, you get to this> other level - just the man, his lyrics, and a light accompaniment gives> the song another meaning.>
If you doubt this statement, take the Thunder Road track off the BTR> album and compare it to the Bruce-piano (not Roy-piano) version at the> aforementioned Bottom Line performances. Backstreets was another one> of those songs I always wondered what it would be like stripped down> because, and you have to admit this, there was just too much going on> in the studio version: too much wall-of-sound, garbled lyrics, and> Bruce and the band were still working out the pace of the song, which> they would eventually nail on the Darkness tour. In fact, the closest> they ever got to the slow, stripped away version was the 1977> performance in Jacksonville, which to me, is still the greatest> performance of that song.>
Anyways, that's my long-winded response.>
Thanks for the track... wish I was there in person. (I've got tix to> his tour-ending show in Vancouver, though... hoping he pulls out all> the stops)>
William Innes 10 August 2005 01:52:11 [ permanent link ]
"ruth" <Yogi@somewhereonterra.net> wrote in message news:Yogi-22D868.17185909082005@news1.east.earthlink.net...> In article <XP8Ke.549$Zh2.195@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>,> "William Innes" <billyinnes@prodigy.net> wrote:>
Yeah, there are times when I love it when a songwriter tweaks a song (for>> instance, much as I love "Shelter from the Storm" on Dylan's BLOOD ON THE>> TRACKS album, I absolutely love the carnage that he transforms that song>> into on his live HARD RAIN album).>
Ah. Nice to hear someone speak up in defense of that album. I also> adore what he does to Idiot Wind on Hard Rain. It gives me chills and> makes me very scared.> --
I agree with you completely about what he does with "Idiot Wind" on that album. That's another case where the live rendition surpasses the studio release (or, at the very least, gives it a good run for its money). Odd one, though, that song is. The original versions (one of which can be heard on THE BOOTLEG SERIES) are so subdued, that they almost sound like tomes of resignation and defeat. Even if the BLOOD ON THE TRACKS version...and especially the HARD RAIN version...sound as though they are filled a sense of resignation and defeat, they at least sound as though he's putting up a battle before surrendering... In the case of HARD RAIN's version of "Idiot Wind", Dylan sounds as though he's waging a full-fledged war.... That is one angry sounding album....
I still remember seeing the televised special that was aired on Network TV back in 1976 (I think it was).....Dylan looked as though he was a refugee from a ragged army. My parents being appalled by the entire thing...and I had to spend half the time asking my dad to keep quiet with his rants as we were watching it. Not even the presence of Joan Baez was enough to appease their sensibilities.
In article <fA9Ke.557$Zh2.411@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>, "William Innes" <billyinnes@prodigy.net> wrote:
I still remember seeing the televised special that was aired on Network TV > back in 1976 (I think it was).....Dylan looked as though he was a refugee > from a ragged army.> My parents being appalled by the entire thing...and I had to spend half the > time asking my dad to keep quiet with his rants as we were watching it.> Not even the presence of Joan Baez was enough to appease their > sensibilities.
I remember that show vividly. I was living in an apartment on 7th avenue and Irving street. I had just gotten off work. My roomie had a lovely ..um...herbal substance and some lemon cookies waiting. We partook of both and watched that broadcast. I was amazed and stunned. Somewhere I still have the long journal entry that I wrote in reaction to that show. That night rekindled my lost teenaged passion for Dylan which ended again, I think, after seeing the unedited version of Renaldo and Clara four times at the Castro theater.
Ah yes.
I can barely listen to Dylan now. I am not sure why except that things change. --
In article <Lz9Ke.556$Zh2.348@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>, "PaulieV" <catlong_sighs@hotmail.com> wrote:
I just listened to it a few moments ago and had a similar reaction to yours. > Then I read some of the posts in this thread and listened to it again, just > to confirm my original assessment. Great song, great performance and I wish > I was there. I have most of the great recordings from this tour, but I only > play a few songs more than once. Janey Don't You Lose Heart has been in > heavy rotation for a while and I Wish I Were Blind has been played several > times just since yesterday. Backstreets will be on the IPOD and I will be > listening to it when I run at night.
I could never run to Backstreets. Back when I ran the only Bruce album I could listen to whilst running was The River ( and only the faster sides). Darkness was way too depressing. Actually BTR ( except for Backstreets) is a pretty good running album, now that think of it. I listened to the GD while running. They would make a five mile run seem like a five mile dance. That is who I am putting on my new shuffle. I have started walking about an hour a day. I want to feel like I am dancing . --
I've finally gotten to listen to the mp3 on my computer, and all I can say is that this is Bruce at his emotional and dramatic best. Not overwrought, but not meandering and passive like some of his less impressive reworkings with the lazy twang.
I used to run only to pure running songs, if that makes any sense. Now, I run to all kinds of music, fast and slow. My pace doesn't change, but if I love the song, then it makes the run that much easier. One of my favorite sequences is Prove It (Live in NYC), Two Hearts (LINYC), LOHAD (LINYC), into Ramrod (Live from this tour - not sure which show). Great songs, and by the time I get through this set, I have already run between three and four miles. "ruth" <Yogi@somewhereonterra.net> wrote in message news:Yogi-21C00D.17571809082005@news1.east.earthlink.net...> In article <Lz9Ke.556$Zh2.348@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>,> "PaulieV" <catlong_sighs@hotmail.com> wrote:>
I just listened to it a few moments ago and had a similar reaction to >> yours.>> Then I read some of the posts in this thread and listened to it again, >> just>> to confirm my original assessment. Great song, great performance and I >> wish>> I was there. I have most of the great recordings from this tour, but I >> only>> play a few songs more than once. Janey Don't You Lose Heart has been in>> heavy rotation for a while and I Wish I Were Blind has been played >> several>> times just since yesterday. Backstreets will be on the IPOD and I will >> be>> listening to it when I run at night.>
I could never run to Backstreets. Back when I ran the only Bruce album I> could listen to whilst running was The River ( and only the faster> sides). Darkness was way too depressing. Actually BTR ( except for> Backstreets) is a pretty good running album, now that think of it. I> listened to the GD while running. They would make a five mile run seem> like a five mile dance. That is who I am putting on my new shuffle. I> have started walking about an hour a day. I want to feel like I am> dancing .> -- >
