To prepare you for the tour...

The best television performance of the last 15 years:



Bruce & the E Street Band on Conan O'Brien in 2002 playing "Kitty's Back," a song off of one of Bruce's first studio albums that definitely doesn't get enough air time. Bruce has at least 3 outstanding guitar solos in the video (one in the first 30 seconds) and the band sounds amazing with the horns from the Max Weinberg 7 backing them up.

Definitely legendary.

Springsteen Update for 9/4/07

The video for the first single off of "Magic" was released through amazon.com. It's awesome to see the E Street Band back together, and the video just gets me even more excited for the album and reunion tour.

Watch the video here.

Springsteen Update 8/22

Yesterday, Bruce Springsteen announced the release of his latest album titled "Magic".

"Magic" is a return to the more traditional "rocking" style of Springsteen music, according to Jon Landau. With this return, Springsteen also welcomes back the E Street Band as his band. Rumors previously claimed that this could be the Full E Street Band album and tour, due to Clarence Clemons' declining health. Fans have waited five years since "The Rising," the multi-platinum and grammy winning album that last featured the E Street Band.

If you want to hear what could be the last hoorah with "The Big Man" on sax, I would advise you to buy this album and fight to get some tickets to the inevitable tour with the E Street Band.

The album comes out October 2nd, and more information can be found at www.brucespringsteen.net

Thursday Thirteen #20: Bruce Springsteen

The Thirteen Best Bruce Springsteen Songs

In case you didn't know, the name "Cosmic Kid" comes from a song by Bruce Springsteen, who is one of the most influential musicians in my life. In honor of him, here's my 13 favorite Springsteen Songs

1. Racing in the Street
There's too many amazing lyrics to choose from in this song, but here's one I love:
Some guys they just give up living/And start dying little by little, piece by piece/Some guys come home from work and wash up/And go racin' in the street

2. Jungleland
For me, this song is 10 minutes in heaven...
the poets down here don't write nothing at all/they just stand back and let it all be/And in the quick of the night they reach for their moment/And try to make an honest stand but they wind up wounded, not even dead/Tonight in Jungleland

3. It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
The acoustic version on the Tracks box set is my favorite
The devil appeared like Jesus through the steam in the street/Showin' me a hand I knew even the cops couldn't beat/I felt his hot breath on my neck as I dove into the heat/It's so hard to be a saint when you're just a boy out on the street

4. Dancing in the Dark
Sure, it's got a terrible video, but it's a great dance song!
Message keeps getting clearer/radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place/I check my look in the mirror/I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
5. She's the One
A great live song...
And no matter where you sleep tonight or how far you run/Oh-o she's the one, she's the one

6. Thunder Road
One of the most beautiful songs ever written, possibly.
so Mary climb in/It's a town full of losers/And I'm pulling out of here to win.

7. Growin' Up
My namesake!
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to hold your breath./I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress

8. Born to Run
It's the song that most people identify Bruce with, and it's an incredibly layered song musically and lyrically
Baby this town rips the bones from your back/It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap/We gotta get out while we're young/'Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run

9. If I Should Fall Behind
This song closed out the entire 2001 Reunion tour, and the version off the Live in NYC record, is gorgeous...
We said we'd walk together baby come what may/That come the twilight should we lose our way/If as we're walkin a hand should slip free/I'll wait for you/And should I fall behind/Wait for me

10. Born in the USA
This is not a triumphant american anthem, and if you think it is, go take another listen and you'll see why Ronald Reagan was stupid to try and use it as a campaign anthem.
Come back home to the refinery/Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"/Went down to see my V.A. man/He said "Son, don't you understand"

11. Stolen Car
I discovered this one when Patty Griffin covered it, and it's a really raw, heart wrenching story
And I'm driving a stolen car/On a pitch black night/And I'm telling myself I'm gonna be alright/But I ride by night and I travel in fear/That in this darkness I will disappear

12. Land of Hope and Dreams
Now this is an American Anthem!
(This train) Carries saints and sinners/(This train) Carries losers and winners/(This Train) Carries whores and gamblers/(This Train) Carries lost souls/(This Train) Dreams will not be thwarted/(This Train) Faith will be rewarded/(This Train) Hear the steel wheels singin'/(This Train) Bells of freedom ringin'


13. One Step Up
The Tunnel of Love album has a few gems on it, and this is the best.
There's a girl across the bar/I get the message she's sendin'/Mmm she ain't lookin' to married/And me well honey I'm pretending

Honorable Meantions: Rosalita (I named my dog after that one), You're Missing, Jesus Was an Only Son.

You can stream all of these tracks at www.brucespringsteen.net under the SONGS section