Now here’s a true rarity: Bruce Springsteen backing Patti Smith on piano, gamely trying to keep up with her as she improvs her way through one of her earliest poems.
Category: Meeting Across the River
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.
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.”
One time only: Bruce and The Wallflowers cover Vince Taylor’s 1959 rockabilly classic, “Brand New Cadillac.”
Tramps like us, we were born to pay. So says an uncredited Bruce Springsteen in his 1978 spoken-word monologue buried deep within Lou Reed’s epic “Street Hassle.”
Thirty-three years after he first covered it in concert, Bruce joins Darlene Love on stage for one of her greatest hits. Listen to both performances inside.
A castoff from the Ghost of Tom Joad recording sessions, “Tiger Rose” made its way to an official release and stage performance via the late, great Sonny Burgess. Watch Bruce and Sonny perform it together inside.
One time only: Bruce covers Solomon Burke’s country soul classic with Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes in 1977.
One time only: Bruce covers Larry Williams’ influential “Slow Down” with a cover band at the Classics Cafe in Westwood, New Jersey.
Here’s a lovely under-the-radar duet featuring one of Bruce’s best 90s vocals and a verse he couldn’t resist.