Bruce Springsteen's new album, appropriately named, is out today. Just downloaded it, and listening at top volume, also appropriate. He's still got it! Good stuff.

Raven

I first saw Bruce at Tony Mart's bar in Summers Point NJ back in 1971 where you could see three bands for $2, get your hand stamped, and meet with Bruce and his band between sets in the parking lot to share some AHHHH refreshments. I've been a fan of his ever since then.

Al, you're going to like this new album.

To be honest with you Mark his first two albums were his best, but that does not mean that I have a closed mind about new music, I am adding new stuff to my ipod every day.

Al, I agree about his first two albums. Fantastic stuff that won't be outdone. However, I really enjoyed the Rising. And this one ranks up there with his better stuff.

I've never been a big fan of his. But the best concert I ever experienced was a Springsteen show: at the Cotton Bowl in 1985 or 86 during his Born in the USA tour. He played three hours and for an encore played an entire *fourth* hour of Rock and Roll standards from Chuck Berry to the Beatles. 80,000 people standing on their seats singing together. It was quite an experience. Bruce knew--I suppose he still knows--how to work a crowd.

I also very much respect his old time album, though I didn't buy it. Going to the roots that way...gotta love it.

Jeff

Jeff
I'm glad to see that if we don't necessarily agree on Julie Andrews, at least we agree on the Boss.

Someone on the magic grymoire posted a story about being a kid in the late 70s and spending the summer at a local amusement park doing magic and impressing the local mobsters.

At one point he's in a bar and several scruffy biker types come up. The scruffiest says; "I hear you do magic!" So the kid does a few things the guy says "cool" and the entire group leaves.

Several girls come up and say; "Do you know who that was? That was The Boss!"

Kid responds; "He owns the place?"

Bruce has been known to tend bar on Saturday night at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ.

Didn't he do the "Born in the USA" song?

'Cause he did the same song (Kinda) in Russia and it was "Born in the USSR". I think a guy should decide where he was born and stick with it, but I'm old fashioned.

Josh
That was Paul McCartney, and the song was "back in the USSR". Bruce is from north Jersey, and they don't even look alike.

I first got into Springsteen when Manfred Mann did covers and the lyrics were so interesting I tracked down Greetings from Ashbury Park (great album and a must have for rockers). I had great seats to see him in 79 in Jacksonville Florida and Oakland, Ca. in 84 of 85, but when I went and saw him at USC in LA I sat so far back you had to use binocs to see the jumbo screen image of him.

No, I'm pretty sure they look alike. Have you ever seen them in the same room?

Somebody else did the USSR thing, but it was directly aimed at Bruce's thing. So I'm not a complete idiot.

I am aware of the "McCartney" thing, isn't he a Knight?

All the Beatles were knighted. So yes, it is SIR Paul McCartney. For all his amazing musical triumphs, the Boss will never be knighted as he is not a Brit.

My wife (before she wised up and married me!) used to go out with a musician who's a big fish in this little pond called RI.

He started his band doing a lot of Springsteen covers. Meeting him at one point still early in Bruce's career, he (the boyfriend) appalled my wife (then his girlfriend) by walking up to Bruce and saying; "I'm the one selling your albums in New England!"


I believe they actually went on to become friends!

Josh, the problem with your entire "they look alike" theory is that Paul is dead. As in six feet under. As in having shed his mortal coil. He is an ex-Paul.

So he can't be a knight, and he can't have copied anything by Bruce. He's gone, finished, dead dead dead. Just like Johna and George. Only Ringo is left. He is the one...the one Ringo...the Ringo that rules them all...

Where was I?

I'll go away now. I shouldn't drink beer first thing in the morning.

Jeff

That's a lie and you know it.