In 1986, Bruce Springsteen was still surfing a wave of super-stardom on the heels of the massive success that was Born in the U.S.A.
One might think that eighteen months after the release of the album and a few months after the end of his record-breaking tour, popular attention might have been ready to move on. Yet, Bruce still managed to score two Top Ten singles in 1986: “My Hometown,” which peaked at #6 in the early weeks of the year, and “War,” which notched a #9 berth at the tail end of it.
Escaping most of his fans’ notice at the time, however, was a third hit single in 1986 with a Springsteen credit.
In the waning days of summer, the late country star Mel McDaniel released a cover of Bruce’s obscure B-side “Stand On It” as the lead single for his upcoming album, Just Can’t Sit Down Music.
McDaniel tended to go against the grain of country music tropes, eschewing tales of broken hearts and sorrows in favor of upbeat happy songs. “Stand On It” fit the bill nicely.
That may be why Bruce reportedly sent McDaniel the song to record. “I’ve never met Bruce Springsteen,” McDaniel said in a 1987 interview. “I guess they heard ‘Stand Up’ [McDaniel’s previous hit] and sent us ‘Stand On It.'”
Already a rockabilly song in its original arrangement, it was easy for McDaniel to adapt, and he took it all the way to #12 on the Hot Country Singles chart in the U.S. and to #5 in Canada.
The song’s popularity earned McDaniel an array of television performances, including this live appearance on Nashville Now.
“Stand On It” remained a fan favorite for the rest of McDaniel’s career, which unfortunately ended abruptly, tragically, and prematurely in 1996 when he fell into the pit while performing and nearly died. McDaniel played “Stand On It” as a reliable encore right up until the end.
