The backstory is odd, but the performance is terrific: watch Bruce and Wolfgang Niedecken deliver a bilingual cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” in a German cafe in 1995.
Month: February 2019
It won Bruce a Grammy he didn’t even know he was nominated for. It’s full of hidden callbacks to “Thunder Road” and echoes of “Born to Run.” It’s my favorite 21st-century Springsteen song, and it mystifies Bono with its relative obscurity. Listen to “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” like you’ve never heard it before inside.
One of the best performances from Elvis Costello’s Springsteen episode of Spectacle was never aired–but you can listen to that intense performance of “Point Blank” inside.
Shortly after Link Wray’s death in 2005, Bruce paid homage by opening the final two shows of the Devils & Dust Tour with a bristling, menacing cover of Wray’s signature song, “Rumble.”
The E Street Band may have been on hiatus, but relationships endured. From 1991, here’s Nils and Bruce together again on Nils’ sweet love song, “Valentine.”
Listen to the tale of Betty Jean, Bobby’s younger sister. She never made it out of town, but she had her share of adventures just the same.
Indie-folk band Hem gave us a wonderful adaptation of “Valentine’s Day” on their 2002 EP of cover songs. Take a listen inside.
“Why’s It So Hard” is a Springsteen original, but he takes a backseat in his only live performance of it. Southside Johnny takes the lead vocals, and Dave Sancious is absolutely on fire on the organ. Take a listen inside.
Bruce follows in the footsteps of Woody Guthrie, recasting “I Ain’t Got No Home” for modern times. Listen to Bruce’s studio recording and watch the official video inside.
Bruce has written songs about some colorful characters, but none so much as the true ones in “Sell It and They Will Come,” an ode to The Stimulator, Flowbee, America’s Personal Trainer, and the Psychic Friends Network.