2020 Album Draft- Round 14 Pick 5- Box Sets- Cincinnati Babyhead selects Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band- Live 1975-85
A have a few boxsets, not many. I just about pulled the trigger on a Monk set I love but I just did the jazz thing. This Boss set won the day.
Being a Bruce junkie back when this set (5 LPs) was released, I was in hog heaven. At the time his live music wasnt easy to come by. Video of ‘Rosalita’, a ‘No Nukes’ performance of a couple songs, a Xmas song on a kids record. There were a few bootlegs kicking around but Springsteen wasnt happy about that for a lot of reasons, sound quality being one but I think mainly that someone was messing with his music. I stayed away from the bootlegs on principle. He wasnt making any money on his creations. So he released this set. It was time.
People just wanted to have some “Live Bruce”, a snapshot of his performances where he really did his best work. His live shows were an experience and people wanted a chronicle of that. CB being one of them. Not only did I get all the songs I dug but also some that were never released, ‘Because The Night’ (An absolute killer), ‘Fire’, ‘War’, ‘Paradise By the “C”, ‘Raise Your Hand’, ‘This Land Is Your Land’, ‘Seeds’, ‘Jersey Girl’. From the opening cut, Bruce on solo piano doing ‘Thunder Road’ right into a nasty version of ‘Adam Raised a Cain’ (One of the loudest songs I had ever heard live . I love when he wails on guitar and vocals) and down the line it’s a “Bruce and E Street Band Fest”. The record put me back at his shows. Needless to say. I dug it big time. The only way you could hear this music when it was released was buying the boxset (I dont remember it being outrageously priced) or catching some on the radio. Like the title says, it’s performances from a ten year period from 75 – 85. Covering ‘Greetings’ up to ‘Born In The USA’. It’s filled with an abundance of goodness. You also get to hear some of Bruce’s early raps. There’s a booklet with lyrics and a few notes but it is about the music for me.
So now I’m going to turn the controls over to our friend, Hans and let him choose a couple cuts off this record. I’ll be happy with whatever he decides. Thank all of you for making this “Island” thing so much fun. Later, CB.
slicethelife 
I have so much love for this box set. So much love. Every track on all tens sides. Amazing stuff. Great write up too. You really got the energy of the endeavour.
Good to hear from you Steve. I kinda forgot about it. Bruce has so much out there now. From feast to famine. I agree about all the tracks. Thanks again for chiming in.
I can remember getting that the day it came out- I wasn’t disappointed a great live box set!
Funny I dont remember the day but I sure remember the anticipation. And yeah “not a disappointment
PS Great song choices by the way (‘Because’ just grabs me every time). Photos also. You caught it.
Thanks. Love the pick.. is there a better live performer than The Boss? Or anyone out there who you are guaranteed a great show if you are going to see?
While this was great at the time, I much would have preferred a complete live show rather than a compilation.
I picked up his early Hammersmith concert a few years ago. I like that. I dont keep up but from what I gather there are lots of his shows available now. I’m sure it’s all good stuff.
All I listen to in the car these days are live Bruce CDs that he has released through his website courtesy of Nugs. I never tire of them.
That’s dangerous ground for me. I might never get off that loop. Actually I’ll probably take that leap sooner than later. Thanks.
CB I bought this one when it was released. His stories before the songs are just as important to me as the songs. The one before War always got to me being a 20 year old at the time.
This box shows how Bruce built his reputation. No one puts in what he does in a live show. Awesome review CB.
I always liked his raps before some of his tunes. Funny and serious both. Your comment building his rep is so true.
Now when I listen to the studio versions of some of those songs…I automatically miss the story not being there.
When I first saw him he went into a big rap about ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits. My buddy and I were big drag race guys at the time. It was kinda cool that this Bruce guy liked him too.
Dean when you mentioned that name I knew I knew it from somewhere. When I was a kid my father would take me to a place in Kentucky called Beach Bend and they would have drag racing. I haven’t thought of it in years man. I’m almost positive I saw him in the 70’s as a kid
If you’re in that country Max, for sure. Those guys like Garlits were the bog boys. Man those are such cool memories. You probably seen ‘The Snake’ and ‘The Mongoose’ also. Prudhomme and McEwen. I dont know id Bruce was bullshitting about being a car guy but he knew those guys.
The Snake and Mongoose…yes…bringing back a lot of memories I forgot about…they had a carnival there also year round and we would go over to the track and back to the rides. Now I’ll be looking them up again…I’ve read where Bruce was a big car guy.
I saw him back in the 80s when Clarence was blowing the sax like a madman. Best live show band ever.
Phil I’m a sax nut and Clarence’s sax was one of the big reasons I was originally drawn to the music. Man did he take some great solo’s.
I got it been to E Street and all over Asbury Park ,was just down from me in the Jersey shore!!! thanks for the memories
Happy to oblige.
This is a great selection, CB. In fact, I got this box set when it came out. It was my deeper entry to Bruce Springsteen following the “Born in the U.S.A.” album. What a great document of the Boss’s live magic!
Yeah it is a “deeper entry” into what he’s about.
I’ve been living with the new album for a while. Digging it especially the 3 older cuts he has redone.
One of my favorite moments is Bruce’s spoken intro to “The River.” While it’s a bit long-winded, it’s classic story-telling by The Boss. Nobody does it like Springsteen! You can’t teach that. You either got it, or you don’t.
Hey Christian, Bruce is a lot of things but he is a great story teller. He has a way to make you listen. Honesty plays a part.
Absolutely. I just listened to that intro again. It’s amazing how he draws you in! You can literally picture it like in a movie.
I think I’m the one person here who didn’t know anything about this set. It’s one I’ll enjoy looking into more. Your description makes that clear. These are the best of Bruce’s years, imo.
Good listening. I think you’ll enjoy it. It is the core years but you cant lose with the guy at anytime.
A lot of Bruce but he delivered a lot in concert & is one of not so many artists who could pull off a 5 cd set like that without seeming redundant or self-absorbed. A good box & good review!
Well said Dave. I agree.
This was my “Learn Bruce by Immersion” experience. From the opening solo piano Thunder Road I was hooked. Still am. I’ve enjoyed your draft posts, Cinci.
Sounds like you got nailed from the opening cut like I did.
Same to you Intro. I’ll be able to get over to your station more regular now. Look forward to it.
I confess I’ve never heard this – guess I should at least listen to it on Spotify sometime. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a CD copy of it when I hounded record stores.
I sent my reply to you to msjadeli
Wonderful addition to the line-up, CB. You can’t go wrong with anything by The Boss.
Aph it might be hard to find a hard copy but other online places should have it (They have everything else). Few years ago I was at a book sale and there was a vinyl copy (real cheap) I didnt pick it up because I had it already. Shows you where my head was at.
I have it on DVD- and this summer saw it in great condition in vinyl and picked it up at a used record store.
That first reply was for Aph. You’re right about not going wrong.