{"id":4530,"date":"2018-09-27T05:00:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T12:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/?p=4530"},"modified":"2019-04-14T15:25:52","modified_gmt":"2019-04-14T22:25:52","slug":"roll-of-the-dice-mary-louise-watson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/27\/roll-of-the-dice-mary-louise-watson\/","title":{"rendered":"Roll of the Dice: Mary Louise Watson"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When I started this blog, I promised to make my way through Bruce&#8217;s entire catalog&#8211;released and unreleased&#8211;and give each song due consideration and analysis.<\/p>\n<p>But I&#8217;m sorry: I simply cannot make it through a single listen of &#8220;Mary Louise Watson&#8221; &#8212; a bluesy unreleased Springsteen original from his Steel Mill days &#8212; without recalling this classic (and probably NSFW, so be forewarned) scene from\u00a0<em>Weird Science:<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g9GBuciv20A?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;start=76&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>I mean, come on. Listen to Bruce&#8217;s early 1971 performance below, and especially when you get to the spoken-word mid-song break, tell me you aren&#8217;t picturing Anthony Michael Hall with Bruce&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7X_SqN0fmTQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>Often when I listen to one of Bruce&#8217;s 1971 recordings, I have to remind myself that he was only 21 years old at the time. Other times&#8211;like this one&#8211;it&#8217;s painfully obvious.<\/p>\n<p>So I&#8217;m gonna forgo the lyrical analysis this time. I&#8217;m pretty sure the song speaks for itself.<\/p>\n<p>To his credit, by the end of that same year, Bruce had dramatically reworked the song into more of a straightforward rocker, and he&#8217;d pared back and streamlined the lyrics, removing all references to &#8220;Heavy&#8221; Louise and comparing her instead to a black widow spider (this version is sometimes referred to by that title, in fact).<\/p>\n<p>The sound quality isn&#8217;t great, but here&#8217;s the only other known instance of &#8220;Mary Louise Watson\/Black Widow Spider&#8221; from mid-December 1971, this time performed by The Bruce Springsteen Band.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"758\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SwkzkLI5Cek?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>While the earlier version might play to ears today as a novelty song, from a historical perspective it offers us insight into a very young Bruce still developing his stage presence and patter.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mary Louise Watson<br \/>\nNever recorded\/released<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>First performed:<\/strong> January 18, 1971 (South Amboy, NJ)<br \/>\n<strong>Last performed:<\/strong> December 17, 1971 (New Brunswick, NJ)<\/p>\n<p>Looking for your favorite Bruce song? Check our <a href=\"http:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/roll-of-the-dice-album-by-album\/\">full index<\/a>. New entries every week!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What can we say about this early, bluesy Steel Mill original other than that it showcases a young Bruce Springsteen developing his stage presence and patter? Um&#8230; let&#8217;s just go with that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[162,1705,33,1706],"class_list":["post-4530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-roll-of-the-dice","tag-bruce-springsteen-band","tag-mary-louise-watson","tag-steel-mill","tag-weird-science"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/weird.jpg?fit=560%2C304&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9w3Lk-1b4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2779,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2018\/06\/22\/roll-of-the-dice-dance-dance-dance\/","url_meta":{"origin":4530,"position":0},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Dance, Dance, Dance","author":"Ken","date":"June 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Dance, Dance, Dance\" is a delightfully atypical, funky, horn-fueled, unreleased delight from 1971.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/dance-dance-dance.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/dance-dance-dance.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/dance-dance-dance.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/dance-dance-dance.jpg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15953,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/14\/roll-of-the-dice-sister-theresa\/","url_meta":{"origin":4530,"position":1},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Sister Theresa","author":"Ken","date":"February 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Steel Mill was known for its ferocious guitar jams, but \"Sister Theresa\" is a fascinating exception: a Springsteen original written for acoustic guitar and recorder(!)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nun.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nun.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nun.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nun.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/nun.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13617,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/22\/roll-of-the-dice-jeannie-i-want-to-thank-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":4530,"position":2},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Jeannie, I Want to Thank You","author":"Ken","date":"November 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Danny took the spotlight and Bruce earned his fastest-guitar-in-the east reputation when Steel Mill broke out Bruce's original song, \"Jeannie, I Want to Thank You.\" Even if you're not a Steel Mill fan, this one's a must-listen.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/19700113_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1174&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/19700113_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1174&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/19700113_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1174&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/19700113_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1174&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/19700113_front.jpg?fit=1200%2C1174&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10636,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/26\/roll-of-the-dice-resurrection\/","url_meta":{"origin":4530,"position":3},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Resurrection","author":"Ken","date":"June 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Bruce grappled with his religion through as far back as his teen years, but with a lot less subtlety. Listen to him challenge the church in his 1969 Steel Mill crowd-pleaser.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Resurrection.jpg?fit=742%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15200,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/08\/roll-of-the-dice-come-on\/","url_meta":{"origin":4530,"position":4},"title":"Roll of the Dice: Come On","author":"Ken","date":"January 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In the summer of 1970, Steel Mill (featuring a young Bruce Springsteen) performed one of Bruce's early galvanizing anthems. Take a listen inside.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/comeon.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/comeon.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/comeon.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/comeon.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25935,"url":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/2021\/04\/07\/roll-of-the-dice-well-all-man-the-guns\/","url_meta":{"origin":4530,"position":5},"title":"Roll of the Dice: We&#8217;ll All Man the Guns","author":"Ken","date":"April 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"One time only: Bruce and Steel Mill reveal a new song about a solider at war buoyed by the thought of his love waiting for him. (Or was she?)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Roll of the Dice&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Roll of the Dice","link":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/category\/roll-of-the-dice\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/allman.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/allman.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/allman.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/allman.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/estreetshuffle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/allman.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4530"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4530\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9215,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4530\/revisions\/9215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estreetshuffle.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}