Undeservedly obscure, “Trouble River” is a fun Human Touch-era soul rocker with deceptively dark lyrics and a long, terrific guitar solo from Bruce–this one needs more attention.
Category: Roll of the Dice
Trace the throughline from an obscure 1909 Broadway musical to Bruce’s lullaby for his newborn son.
“Talk to Me” took a strange and winding path from the studio to vinyl to the E Street stage, but it’s guaranteed to make us laugh anytime Bruce pulls it out. But let’s not think too hard about the lyrics.
Recycled melange or original organ donor? Either way, “American Beauty” ranks among the best songs of Bruce’s Magic period.
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.
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.
“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 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.
“Countin’ on a Miracle” is a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, one of the most powerful songs on The Rising–but even more powerful still in its alternate post-concert arrangement. Listen to both inside, along with insights and great performances.
“She’s Leaving” is a lovely outcast from Bruce’s pre-Greetings recording sessions, a rare survivor from the Bruce Springsteen Band era for which we have both a studio recording and a live performance.