What is it about Wendy?
Bruce Springsteen introduced her in 1975, and I was so smitten that I’ve been a fan for life. Then Jesse Malin re-introduced her to me more than a quarter-century later, and I fell in love all over again.
At the tail end of 2002, former D Generation lead singer Jesse Malin released his debut solo album, The Fine Art of Self Destruction. With first-time producer Ryan Adams, Jesse recorded the album in a mere six days, but you’d never know it from the final product.
The Fine Art of Self Destruction easily ranks among the best albums released that year (a year that also brought us The Rising). As Bruce himself put it, “Jesse’s got one of those rare albums out these days that’s really an album–it’s got all good songs on it.”
Bruce was right: there’s not a single song on Jesse’s debut album that’s anything less than great, but if I had to vote for a standout track, it would have to be “Wendy.”
A perfect blend of punk and power pop, “Wendy” immediately became one of my all-time favorite rockers (by anyone) when I first heard Jesse perform it on a bootleg from Bruce’s 2003 holiday shows. How could you not fall in love with a girl with “country lips and Bacall style,” who “likes Tom Waits, the poet’s hat, sixties Kinks, and Kerouac?”
I’ve been a Jesse Malin fan ever since.
Oh, and that holiday show performance–that’s a must watch. It’s got just as much energy as the studio track (not surprising since the studio version was essentially recorded live), but with bonus Bruce backing vocals. Can’t beat that.
Wendy’s become a reliable crowd-pleaser since her debut, so if you’re fortunate enough to catch Jesse in concert post-pandemic, you’ll get a chance to meet her yourself.
Wendy
First performed: December 5, 2003 (Asbury Park, NJ)
Last performed: December 8 ,2003 (Asbury Park, NJ)
Ken, happy, you too, have met Wendy. I met her in 1964 when the great Beach Boys had a hit single with their “Wendy” which is included on their 1964 All Summer Long L.P. (No way Bruce missed this, along with Peter Pan’s “Wendy”.) (Brian’s falsetto is heart-breaking and fantastic.) (My brother Jay is married to a real-life “Wendy”.) Enjoyed the Bruce and Jessie video you included that rocked hard with Nils and Max.