Look past the dated lyrics (and the limp studio version), and “Fire” goes the distance as a fan-favorite rarity. The secret? It’s…
Category: Roll of the Dice
The tale of “Johnny 99” is an ironic one: on vinyl, it’s one of Bruce’s finest songwriting achievements, but on stage it loses power as it gains relevance.
Mining similar earth as some of his earlier classics without offering anything new, “Over the Rise” still manages to position itself as one of Bruce’s more revealing songs.
“He’s Guilty” bears the distinction of being the only officially released Steel Mill studio recording, but it was also a reliable nightly crowd pleaser in the band’s live shows.
“Summer Night” is one for the completists–a Nebraska-era home demo with a lovely melody but mostly bluffed lyrics.
Only six weeks after the tragic Kent State shootings, Bruce voiced his anguish in song.
One of the strongest tracks on The Rising, “The Fuse” focuses on the one sure antidote for existential dread.
“Two For the Road” is short, sweet, and offers a few intriguing callback, but ultimately it falls short in both style and substance.
Boasting a hypnotic backing track and skillful editing, “City of Night” closes out The Promise with a lost gem.
Only Bruce Springsteen could write such a perfect pop song and have no recollection of it. Thank goodness he remembered, because “Give the Girl a Kiss” is a gem both on record and in concert.