P.S.

LOD 2013

Part 5

Day 5

Monday

Today I woke at the crack of dawn - literally.  Should I turn over and go back to sleep or get onto the boardwalk to try and catch the sunrise?  Might never get the chance for sunrise again but I can sleep any time so... no - brainer really.

So when I get to the boardwalk there is a solitary bloke fishing. He packs up and heads off home leaving me on my own, strolling up and down, waiting for the sun. A police car drove by at one point and I swear it slowed down to check me out. Probably thought I was mad.

Photos taken I head back to the room and who is helping himself to coffee in the hotel lobby?- non other than Joe Grushecky. We had quite a long chat as I got tea for myself, and coffee to take back to Mike, who was still languishing in bed. This might be a lesson to learn. Just do your own thing and mind your own business and you don’t know who will cross your path. Go out of your way to bump into someone and zilch.

No rush this morning as our lift back to the airport wasn’t picking us up until 6.00pm. We packed cases and set off for a late breakfast at Frank’s Deli. 

After a last wander around Asbury Park and Ocean Grove we headed back to the hotel to relax. The final day of a holiday is always a bit strange don’t you find? A lot of waiting around and wondering whether to go for a last walk, a drink or look around the shops. We opted to wait and read.

Our group were leaving at different times during the afternoon so there were lots of ‘Goodbyes’ and ‘Safe Journeys’. Everyone talked about when they would be back. Never if but when. 

Chatting to the waitress in Frank's this morning we mentioned we were heading home and weren't looking forward to it so much. She told us that whenever she leaves New Jersey she can't wait to get back - can't really argue with that.

MIke and I? Well barring disasters we’ll be on that plane next year. With the Paramount Theatre looking so pretty in the setting sun who could resist?

Epilogue

Remember that feeling I had that 2013 is going to be a good year? Don't know why I ever doubted it. If the rest of the year is anything like the last five days it's going to be amazing.

P.S

LOD 2013

Part 4

Day 4

Sunday

I keep thinking that the weather must break but it's another gorgeous day.

No breakfast for us today. We’ve booked a table at McLoones again for Songwriters by the Sea so we are trying to save ourselves. We eat so little, by rights, we should be as thin as rakes but it doesn’t seem to work that way.

We are keen to go and see Ocean Grove so retrace yesterday’s steps but this time walk on further passed the Casino.

Ocean Grove is an interesting place - well we thought so. I understand it has been through tough times but seems to have come out the other side and appears rather well-to-do now. It’s a dry town set up by a group of Methodists as a sort of summer camp. We researched all this after we came back and it explains why there are beach chalets surrounding the church. 

The streets are full of Victorian houses and newer builds in-the-style-of. Imagine the main street in a Western - Court House, General Store, brothel, that kind of thing - that’s what it reminds me of. It would make sense given the time that the original houses were built.

The boardwalk here seems to have taken a bit of a hit but the houses are apparently OK. 

I’m not sure whether they escaped the worst of Sandy or whether they have already been repaired.

Anyway we meandered around in our usual fashion, with no particular idea of where exactly we were heading, and happened upon the main street. There are a few quaint little shops and cafes but if you want more than a cup of tea or coffee you will be out of luck!

On our way back to the hotel we decided we couldn’t manage all day without food so we stopped off for a coffee and a cake in Cookman Avenue. Free Wi-Fi here and we find out from the UK that there was a wild party in our hotel lobby last night. This internet thingy is pretty impressive - the other side of the World knows what’s happening in our hotel before we do!.

So then onto the music which is after all why we are here. We nipped into the hotel bar for Songwriters by the Sea - Mike in his slippers - did I say we were beginning to feel right at home? This afternoon session was pretty laid back with everyone on stage together taking turns to give us a song.

On to the evening’s Songwriters by the Sea at McLoones. It followed the same format as the afternoon session with all the artists on stage together.Such a good contrast to the previous night. We sat at a table eating our meal and absorbing the atmosphere. Very leisurely and laid back. I’m a big fan of acoustic music so hearing songs, familiar from last night, given a new sound was right up my street.  

We ended with a nod to Bruce again - hearty renditions of Hungry Heart and Twist and Shout.

Mike and I spoke to James Maddock and Joe D’Urso after the show. They were both very gracious, signed the CDs we had just bought and took time to chat. Well, Joe was so chatty we could hardly get away! 

... and a good night was had by all.

P.S.

LOD 2013

Part 3

Day 3

Saturday

Another beautiful day. The sun is shining, the sky is blue and life is good. I’ve got over my disappointment. We are looking forward to tonight’s show and just happy to be here.

Breakfast at Frank’s again. So good, and great value for money. Mike has corned beef hash and scrambled eggs and I have bacon and eggs ‘over easy’ - I don’t necessarily want them cooked this way I just like saying it. 

To be perfectly honest there’s not much to do in Asbury Park except eat and drink. Some of you will know that Mike and I are no gourmets and don’t drink a lot. Luckily the weather is so good we can indulge in one of our favorite things - walking.

The boardwalk between the Paramount Theatre and the Casino is closed- fenced off - but I know, from some research before leaving the UK, that there is access to the beach north of the theatre. It's clear we can walk around the end of the Convention Hall to part of the beach which has no access from the boardwalk. 

We trudge along - it's hard work walking in the sand - and I take many, many many photos, most of which I have discarded already.

There are a lot of other folks doing the same and - look! - people on the boardwalk itself. Not to be outdone we climb up too. Some of the boards are intact and look undisturbed but there are chunks that are impassable unless you're prepared to balance on beams.  Apparently all will be open again in May 2013.

So just up to the Casino and back today as we intend to call in at the Wonder Bar in the afternoon for 'Asbury Blues'. By now we're coming across the same people again and again and I no longer feel out of place as we wave to one or two already in the bar. I think I might have put myself under a bit of pressure to enjoy everything I heard but to be honest the music wasn’t really to our taste. I’m sure the musicians are very talented but all this noodling does nothing for me. I like a bit more structure to my music. Anyway at least we can say we have been to a gig at the Wonder Bar.  

We had booked a table at McLoones to eat before the night’s big concert.  Although the doors to the Paramount opened at 6.00pm we were told there was no need to arrive at the start so we aim for 7.00pm to 7.30pm. 

Lovely place, McLoones, with a great view. Could I ever have believed that we would be sitting in a restaurant in Asbury Park looking out at the Paramount Theatre? 

Sometimes I can’t believe my luck - Friday I felt so unlucky but a day on and I know just how lucky I am. Oh My goodness the starters are so big we can barely eat our mains and we're so stuffed by the time we set out for the theatre we can barely move. 

Great seats - four rows back towards the middle and Christine Martucci is just coming on stage.  She's fab. Would like to see her again. The whole night is so well organised, a full band set followed by an acoustic set, played in front of the curtain, whilst the next band is setting up behind.

With or without Bruce the night is fantastic and despite a stinking headache I manage to stick it out until the end and Mike gets to see Joe Grushecky play live.

Looking back there was only one act we really didn't like (I won’t say who), and anyway, if we weren’t keen we only had to suffer around 20 minutes or so before the next act came on. Darlene Love was great and surely that will be our one and only chance to see her live. A bonus - Brian Fallon joined Jesse Malin - albeit for a very brief session. It might bode well for a longer set another year though. 




At the end of his set Joe Grushecky tells us that Bruce sends his love. 'Needn't be sending his love to me' I say. I've fallen out with him - at least for the time being. I still joined in with a rousing rendition of Thunder Road though.

We both enjoyed it so much we’d would go again in a heartbeat.  

P.S.

LOD 2013
Part 2

Day Two
Thursday

The Berkley had some bad reviews on TripAdvisor so I was more than a little worried. Here we were and -yes - the room was a little tired in places but it was big, had a comfy bed and great views of the ocean.

We had been to Asbury Park before but only for a few hours. Whilst I wasn’t exactly blase about this visit I had nothing like the feeling that I had when we arrived the first time. That was a magic moment and although it was amazing to be here again nothing will ever beat that first step onto the boardwalk. It’s funny - I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get the same buzz, yet pleased  a second visit didn’t spoil the fantastic memories of the first. 

Anyway off to our first breakfast at Frank’s Deli. Here is where the help of Badlands really comes into its own. To be perfectly honest I think Mike and I would have given Frank’s a miss, even if we had ventured that far into town. We knew some areas of Asbury were a bit rough and Frank’s, just a basic cafe with no pretentions, didn’t look like a place we would visit. Fair do’s though - it was good. We had a great breakfast and saw some faces we knew. I was beginning to relax into this a bit now.  

I did strike up a conversation with Janice who we thought we recognised from our group. It turned out that, although she was Scottish, she hadn’t come over with Badlands at all! Made a mental note to be more observant in future and from then on if people looked familiar my mantra was ‘Do they belong to us?’

After breakfast it was on to Cookman Avenue. This area of Asbury Park has seen some regeneration but to get there we walked down Main Street which is certainly in need of some TLC. It was a beautiful day, very cold but we were well wrapped up and walking along in the sun my mood lifted. After all we were in Asbury Park!

Cookman Avenue had some interesting shops and restaurants and a coffee shop which would be a good bet another day when we hadn’t just eaten breakfast. Looking round shops isn’t really our thing and we had already decided not to go to the daytime gigs so... what to do now? We had passed the bus/train station on our way so headed back to see where we could go.

Red Bank - only five stations on the train, about half an hour - change at Long Branch. 

Do-able then but next train wasn’t for an hour. It was warm in the station waiting room so we sat down and marvelled at the janitor who spent the whole hour mopping a floor which would have taken me half the time.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone work with so little urgency but Mike says he was just being thorough.

The train journey was so easy, and surprisingly, as we had no map, we managed to get ourselves into the centre of Red Bank without any trouble. More shops but it was a nice little town and we did buy a couple of CDs from Jack’s Music Shoppe and two very gooey cup cakes.  A coffee and sandwich at a ‘proper’ diner and off back to get ready for The Stone Pony that night.

Ooooo excitement - Joe Grushecky is just checking in to our hotel! What luck to be passing through the lobby at the right time. We had a quick chat with him and his wife - Lee Anne, shook his hand and Mike had his photo taken. Result for Mike. He is a big fan, has always wanted to see him live and meeting him was a bonus.

Denny Laine was appearing at McLoones early evening and without doubt this was going to be popular. We had decided not to go, so headed down to the hotel bar instead. Hardly anyone there but Joe Grushecky and his family were having a meal - oh god he’ll think we are stalkers! We got ourselves a drink and didn’t have long to wait before we had more company - do they belong to us? It turned out they did and it was here that I overheard the news that Bruce wasn’t coming. It was a definite as he had published a statement on his web site. 

I had considered coming to LOD many times before but this year was the first time I thought I could come just for the experience and not to see Bruce. We had both decided that Bruce would be a bonus but I was realistic enough to admit that I wouldn’t know exactly how I felt about a no-show until it actually happened. Well it has happened and I was gutted.

On our way to The Stone Pony we popped into McLoone’s to catch a glimpse of Denny Laine. It was absolutely heaving and the set from ‘Abbey Road’ didn’t particularly appeal. Octopus’s Garden was our cue to go.

Wow! We are at a gig at the Stone Pony - what’s not to love? Nothing actually - well perhaps there was one band we didn’t like. Faces were becoming familiar, people were saying ‘hi’ and I was beginning to feel more at home - this is fun!  We must’ve stayed until about midnight and you will hear us singing on the Asbury Angels Theme Song when it’s released.  Actually I hope you wont hear me singing as I can’t hold a note.

Back to the hotel and time to dwell on the fact that Bruce won’t be here. Let’s be honest I’m still feeling a bit sorry for myself but I’d said I wouldn’t mind and  I’m persuading myself I don’t mind.

P.S.

LOD 2013

Part 1

Prologue

I’ve started a year book. It’s not a diary just bits and pieces - what I am looking forward to, what I hope to achieve and significant events that happen in the year.

On the opening page I say that I think 2013 is going to be a good year. I felt optimistic, lucky even. 

Sitting in the hotel bar in Asbury Park on Friday night, having just learned that Bruce is not coming to LOD 2013, I knew that I had been wrong.

Day One

Thursday

We had a trouble free journey but it was a long day and tiredness had made us niggly with each other. As we were due out to our first gig almost immediately it was a quick wash and brush up before going down to the hotel bar. There was a pretty big crowd and scanning the room proved we recognised only a few people. We said hello to one or two but most were already chatting in groups. These situations are often a bit awkward don’t you think? There’s a fine line between muscling in on other people’s conversations and looking stand-offish. Although I’m sure no-one would have minded if we had joined in, we elected to sit on the edge looking interested. 

We had no chance to get our bearings so followed others down to Asbury Lanes. This must have been about 7.00pm or so. We stood - just the two of us together - for, perhaps, three hours listening to bands we had never heard of, playing stuff that we didn’t really enjoy. This might be a bit unfair. We just weren’t in the mood to be won over.

Around 10.00pm part way through Joe D’Urso's set we had to give in and shuffled, thoroughly exhausted, back to the hotel.

I sat on the edge of the bed wondering what on earth I had done. Here we were in Asbury Park living my dream and all I wanted to do was go home!

A Deadly Sin

I don't consider myself to be an envious person.  Don't get me wrong I wish I could win the lottery but I'm not envious of those who do.  We throw our £££ in and have the same chance as the next man. We can do no more.  I have friends who have interesting well paid jobs and I sometimes wish I was the same but I decided long ago that I was no career girl so no point in being envious.  Envy is a pointless emotion. It just makes you miserable. Either do something about it or settle for the fact that nothing can be done and move on.

BUT

when it comes to Bruce I can't help myself.  There is absolutely no point in being envious of the people who were at 'Light of Day' (LOD) last night.  There is no point torturing myself looking at set lists and pictures and YouTube clips but I keep looking and yes yes yes I'm green with envy.  

Realistically, though, We are never going to go (unless we win the aforementioned lottery). I'm a big Southside Johnny fan and Mike would like to see Joe Grushecky. I could tell you that we would go just to see them or because it's such a good cause but I am rather ashamed to admit that if I was there and Bruce didn't turn up I would be gutted. It's OK if you live in New York or Philadelphia or New Jersey itself.  If you can get a ticket for The Paramount show on Saturday you don't have so far to travel but to 3500 miles is a long way to go to be disappointed.  So I've talked myself out of being envious.  There's no point.

Each week when I sign off I think that the following week I will be talking about a new album.  Nothing concrete yet but Bruce has been in Asbury Park shooting a video. Assuming things are going to follow the same pattern as previous years this will be related to a track released in advance of the album. Here's a quote from a Backstreets poster:-


Clad in a dark leather jacket, The Boss braved the chilly temps and gusty winds to film a video with his pal, singer-songwriter Willie Nile, who is believed to add guest vocals on the soon-to-be-released track. Bruce seemed anything but angry, however, even stopping to pose for pictures with fans who are in town for the week-long “Light of Day” charity concerts, according to observers.

“He filmed at Johnny Mac House of Spirits, the Irish Pub on Main Street, and then he went down Mattison Avenue and into the old Savoy Theater,” says a source. The theater, which was built in 1911 and once housed vaudeville performances, is undergoing a massive renovation.

Blogness says that "the band has reportedly been rehearsing the new material" also in Asbury Park.  This must be very clandestine as normally we would have heard from fans hanging around outside the rehearsal venue telling us about the snippets of songs they can hear.


So all in all things are moving on but we know nothing.  Are Bruce's people doing a better job of keeping things under wraps than usual or do we know nothing because there is nothing yet to know?


Back to LOD. I've reproduced the set list here even though it's old news now:-


1. Incident on 57th Street (solo acoustic)
Bruce left the stage, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers performed East Carson Street
Bruce returns
2. Darkness on the Edge of Town
3. Never be Enough Time (with Joe Grushecky)
4. Adam Raised a Cain
5. Save my Love
6. Talk to the King (with Joe Grushecky)
7. Atlantic City
8. Johnny 99
9. I’m not Sleeping
10. Because the Night
11. Waiting on a Sunny Day
12. Pumping Iron
13. Light of Day (with Max Weinberg on drums)
14. The Promised Land
15. Twist and Shout
16. Thunder Road (acoustic)


Here's a picture of the man on stage.  I like to get Mike's opinion of Bruce's latest fashion statement. He's not keen on the jacket.  Says he won't be getting one.  Well don't suppose he could afford one anyway.  looks very expensive to me.

He likes the shirt though:-

And finally because I can't let LOD go by without including a clip.

I'm Riding Down Kingsley

So last week I admitted there are some Bruce songs that I don't really like.  At least two of my Bruce buddies disagreed with my choices - both mentioned Kitty's Back.  Now I know this is a good song it's just that I can't get my ears around the syncopation if that's the right word.  Somebody who knows about music can perhaps tell me.

This week I've been thinking about my favourite tracks from the same albums.  This isn't so easy or in many ways so interesting.  Anyway here they are... I think.  There are others I was tempted to add but I've been ruthless.

Sandy
BTR
Thunder Road
Backstreets
Badlands
Racing
The Promised Land
Drive All Night
Atlantic City

So what would you add, and of course, take away?

Mind you, having said there are some songs I'm not keen on, I would quite happily listen to them all If the man was standing on a stage in front of me.  Just lately I find I'm really hankering for a tour - more than usual that is.  Perhaps it's because I've some money in my Bruce account that's burning a hole in my pocket!

There is some talk on Greasy Lake.  Now, I'm happy to clutch at straws and it's a great thought but don't you just hate it when somebody pops up out of nowhere to say they know something that you don't?  It's not the only thread suggesting a tour in the autumn, though, and we know Bruce can spring something on us last minute.

Had to chuckle at the comment by DetCaptain on this page. Didn't find my way to the beginning of the article but it's about Barack Obama's 50th birthday party.  How come some people hate Bruce so much?  It's such a random and vitriolic comment that once I'd got over the shock it just made me laugh!

The Guardian newspaper is a great supporter of Bruce and he gets a mention in a roundabout way in this article.  You need to go right down to the last paragraph.  Great to see artists are still dedicating stuff to Clarence  and here's Damon's version of Thunder Road.



There's many a time when I wish I lived in Asbury Park.  In a couple of weeks time 'Outside the Box' are going to play WIESS in it's entirety at The Stone Pony.  Would love to be there for that.

Not so sure about the triathlon although I wish I was fit enough to do something like this.  Here are the details of  the route. Lots of places we all recognise of course and I notice they cycle down Kinglsey at one point!

Talking of Asbury Park I was flicking through the TV channels last week and stopped on an episode of 'The Sopranos'.  We have some of the box set and I'm sure we've watched season 2 but I don't remember this.



And last of all this week still on the subject of AP Blogness on the Edge of Town is asking for your Springsteen Landmark stories.  Now I know some of you have them - ahhhh happy memories.

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Sea

Well we have been away this weekend to visit my family on the Lincolnshire coast.  I've talked about my home town before - if I squint and suspend disbelief  I can pretend it's Asbury Park.  The weather was glorious and I love this photo I took through the open door of the beach hut

Irene, my sister -in -law, thinks we are the biggest Springsteen fans in the world but then we are the only Springsteen fans she knows.  She saves every article and snippet she finds and this week she handed over the Sunday Times Magazine from November last year.  We were in Dublin at The Gaslight Anthem gig the weekend this came out and missed it.  I was really disappointed at the time so getting hold of the article after all these months is great.

I haven't had chance to read it all but I notice Bruce says he's been for 'swim in the ocean'.  Now Sutton-on-Sea may look quite idyllic in the photo but I certainly won't be going for a swim in that ocean any time soon!!

Nick Rufford who interviewed Bruce and wrote the article says that he shouted out to Bruce after the Roundhay Park gig in 1985  'You didn't play 'No Surrender''.  A couple of weeks ago we were listening to a radio programme during which the DJ was asking people to text in to say what they would do if they had their time again or perhaps it was what you regretted not doing.  Either way Mike immediately said he would've gone to Roundhay Park.  We didn't live in Leeds at the time ourselves but all Mike's family were here so a bed for the night wouldn't have been a problem.

As I've touched on before it never even crossed our minds in those days to go to a live concert of any sort.    Anyway this struck a chord with me because he may not have played 'No Surrender' that day but I reckon he's played it at every gig we've been to since!!.  Well that's a bit of an exaggeration but we've heard it a lot and I'm happy to keep on hearing it.

From time to time on Greasy Lake someone poses a question along the lines of which song do you not want to hear live again (at least not for a long time)?  I expect 'No Surrender' would be some peep's choice but for me it has to be 'Because The Night' probably because it's so familiar to me from listening to the Patti Smith version in my youth.  This choice changes though.  If I had asked myself this during 2008 the answer would've been 'Mary's Place'.

As promised I've been working on my Bruce doll this week.  The dolls I've attempted so far have been copied, more or less exactly, from a book.  They were all female dolls and all had flat faces.

I've now progressed to sculptured faces - basically they have noses.  So again my first head was an exact copy.  For my second I tried to get more masculine features and the third is my first go at Bruce.  Those of you with a nervous disposition should look away now!

And finally for this week

New Time but same Old Stuff

For the benefit of my regular readers - thank you one and all- I will start this blog 

with a short

  announcement

My routine has changed in the last few weeks and this has had an unexpected knock on effect on my blog.  This means that my Weekly blog is going to become my Sunday Evening blog.

Hopefully my musings will round off your weekend nicely and set you up for the week ahead.

So as promised during the week I listened to the Born to Run outtakes.  Arcade Fire was put on the back burner.  Well it goes without saying that Bruce must take precedence.

We downloaded this collection of songs a long time ago and I realise now why I haven't checked this out more thoroughly before.  At the time I wouldn't have been interested in alternative versions.  I was only just getting to know some of the officially released stuff.

I assume the whole thing suffers a little from not being finished - the two versions of 'Backstreets' sound really tinny.  I haven't got a very musical ear but there are definitely strings in version 1 which seems to lick along at an unnaturally speedy pace.  I prefer version 2.  This is more similar to the official version musically but has different lyrics.

Born To Run has strings too and weirdly backing singers pop up from time to time - very unerving and a bit Partridge Family - ish.  Could this be Mike Appel's influence? Anyway yuck!

There are three versions of Thunder Road and I must admit I really like this one.





Takes a bit of getting used to after hearing the familiar track so many times but if you have never heard it before give it a chance.  You will be singing along to the new tune in no time.

The two songs that are new to me are 'Walking In The Street' and 'Lonely Night In The Park' which (as I mentioned last week) was the track that prompted me to dig out the CD again - both great songs.  I'd never heard of 'The Heist' before either but this turns out to be 'Meeting Across The River' by another name.  It's not one of my favourite tracks but this version has more trumpet on it and it's OK.

Anyway on to other things.

Our man has been fairly busy this week here he is visiting The Upstage Club
I must say I'm not sure about the outfit here - perhaps it's because I'm not used to seeing him in beige. Showed it to Mike who has always kind of liked Bruce's fashion sense.  He won't be going out to buy anything similar any time soon.

Bruce also popped in to Little Steven's Underground Garage to chat about this and that.  The interview will be aired in three parts this weekend and 8th and 15th April.  Don't know if we can hear this in the UK.

And in a spare moment he has found time to put pen to paper.  As I write this I wonder if he actually sent a letter or just emailed.  A letter might be worth a few $$$ on Ebay!

A good few years ago now Mike did a stint as a city councillor.  He had to hold regular surgeries where the same complainers turned up time after time.  These folk often wrote to the local paper and I couldn't help but think about this when Bruce wrote his letter to the local rag.  Not that Bruce is complaining about his dustbins not being emptied

And finally he also turned up at The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park last night



Interesting to compare this to another You Tube clip on the same page from way way back



My sign off for this week is another blog.  Wouldn't mind swapping locations with this woman, and if I knew how, I would put the clip of Bruce on my own blog.  A project for some other time maybe.

Even if you don't want to read the blog just click on the link - it will make you smile and you all know how I feel about smiles.

See you next Sunday.  Have a good week.

Cover Me

I lived the first 18 years of my life by the sea.  Sutton-on-Sea to be precise – a small town on the Lincolnshire coast about 4 miles from Mablethorpe to the north and 15 miles from Skegness to the south. This has skewed my opinion of the seaside somewhat.  When I go home I have an irresistible compulsion to go to see the sea but suggest I get in the car on a sunny Sunday and drive to Scarborough or Blackpool and I would be horrified.  You see the seaside was my prison when I was a teenager.

Sutton was, and still is, a sleepy little place.  All the excitement,if you could call it that, was to be had in Mablethorpe (Skegness being an expensive and long bus ride away).  Here during the summer the amusement arcades opened and there was a funfair.

As teenagers it was expected that we would get summer jobs waitressing or selling ice creams, rock and candyfloss but during the evenings and on days off we would hang around the fair.

This was way back in the days before video games had even been thought of so our 'pleasure machines' were penny slots, table football or pinball.  There was a carousel, waltzer, twister and big wheel and we had our very own Madame Marie, although she was called Gypsy Rose Lee or some such..



There wasn't a boardwalk instead a concrete promenade lined with a few shops, cafes and beach huts.

A bit off topic you might be saying but as you know all roads lead to Springsteen (or in this case they lead from Bruce and back round to him again) and I was prompted to tell you this after I pulled out our copy of Light of Day – A tribute to Bruce Springsteen. 


The cover depicts probably the first picture I had seen of the Asbury Park boardwalk and I was struck by how similar it is to my home.  It's not that it looks the same it's just a feeling:something about the atmosphere of the place. Maybe it's just the sea.

Anyway I escaped my seaside town at about the same age as Bruce landed in his but in an odd way his affection for the place made me appreciate my own home a bit more.

So Light of Day was the first covers album we actually bought.  We had two albums given away free with Uncut magazine which Mike had played over and over.  He is a champion of the cover really.  In fact there are some occasions when he would choose to listen to the cover over Bruce's original.  On the other hand I know there are many tramps who can't even bear to listen to any version other than Bruce's.

I fall somewhere between the two.  I have nothing against covers.  Some I like, some I don't like and some are just so different that it makes me listen to Bruce's version in a new light.  On the whole though I don't think I would ever prefer someone else's interpretation of a Springsteen song more than his own.  At least I'd never admit it not even to myself.  Or would I ?... I'm not a Tom Joad fan but I like this






That version of 'Sinaloa Cowboys' is on the albums (it's a double) along with some other unusual covers.  I would recommend it to any Bruce fan just for the experience of hearing a new interpretation of an old, familiar and ,in some cases, much loved song.  I can't pick out a truly bad track.  There are artists we have never heard of, some we didn't know at the time but have familiarised ourselves with since and one who we have met a couple of times – you know who you are Mr Wright.

The first version of 'The Promise' we heard was a cover from the album by an Italian – Graziano Romani. During a holiday in Italy a few years back we went into every record shop trying to find something by him but to no avail. 

Anyway Mike's fascination with the cover means we also have One Step Up Two Steps Back – The songs of Bruce Springsteen. Another great double album.  More dubiously we own If I Were The Boss – The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen which includes such gems as 'Growin Up' by Alvin Stardust and 'Fire' by Shakin' Stevens.  The weirdest album? - it has to be The String Quartet Tribute to Springsteen.

Back in the days when we were just getting into ripping and burning, these many versions of the same song inspired Mike to make up two CDs of our own featuring only the one song in it's many guises. Atlantic City because it's his favourite and Thunder Road for me.

Well guys to be honest I can't find much Bruce news for you this week.  There's this DVD which is apparently being released in February.  For the intellectual among you this blog compares Steve Jobs with Bruce.

And finally this week to go back to the covers theme here's a medley for you to consider.  There is only a snippet of each so if there's something you hate it'll soon pass!

Beyond The Palace

So we did indeed get a few You Tube gems from Light of Day.  I love the sing-a-long-a ‘Thunder Road’.



The sound of a crowd singing along together is so uplifting.  It only goes to prove that most people there were Springsteen fans and they seem to have been treated to a great night.

In 2005 I had an urge to go to LOD.  We had a Badlands email advertising their trip and did a lot of research regarding flights.  I had managed to convince myself that I didn’t care if Bruce appeared or not.  The thrill of going to Asbury Park was enough.  In the end Mike persuaded me that I was kidding myself and he was right. Bruce didn’t turn up that year and I was relieved that we didn’t go.

We considered going this year but things have moved on since 2005.  We have now been to Asbury Park.  It was the most amazing day.  I would love to go back but the thought of the boardwalk on a cold January day doesn’t really appeal.

Seeing a show at the Paramount Theater would be fantastic.  Mike and I follow many of the acts that perform at LOD but, with apologies to those other artists, I have to admit that I would be gutted if Bruce didn’t put in an appearance.

Anyway back to the You Tube clips. This one along with a couple of others have been posted by Backstreetsbev.



I assume this is the same Backstreetsbev who I first came across on BTX. She’s quite the celebrity over there. All her posts include a photo of her and Bruce.

This was the first photo I had seen of Bruce with a fan and I was so envious - still am.

I seem to remember she was at Emirates night 2 when Bruce played 'Backstreets' and someone posted a brilliant photo of her listening in awe. This was the night I fell in love with the song.  It had sort of passed me by before but hearing it live I realised what an amazing song it is.

My little Bruce world is a bit subdued at the moment.  The excitement of the Darkness Box set has faded and there is nothing to look forward to.  For the first time for, well, possibly years I don’t feel the need to listen to Bruce music all the time.  I’m not getting the usual withdrawal symptoms if I choose the non Bruce play lists on my iPod so I’ve had a go at Biffy Clyro, The Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, Matchbox Twenty and 12 Stones.  Can’t say I love any of them on first hearing although most will merit a second and third play.

We didn't even get excited about Bruce night on the Beeb.  In fact Mike hardly watched any of it.  I stuck it out until the end though although I'd seen it all before.

Anyway today Mike suggested we make Saturday a sixties day (so also a non Bruce day).  Some of you reading this weren’t even alive in the sixties but most of you will know hundreds of sixties songs and loads of those songs influenced Bruce.  So... whilst I was washing up I played The Monkees - the first band I really loved - but who had absolutely no influence on Bruce I imagine.  This afternoon I chose a compilation featuring girl groups - the likes of The Shirelles and The Crystals.  A bit more influence there then.

By the way the drum roll at the beginning of 'The Locomotion' is eerily similar to 'Born to Run'. I must have heard both songs hundreds of times over the years and never noticed this before.

This week when I was researching LOD I came across this piece about the Paramount show.

Sara has written a book which I have ordered.  I read the first page on Amazon.com and I am very much looking forward to reading the rest when the book arrives.  I’m not into e-reading yet so it‘s the paper version for me.  I’ll let you know what I think in a few weeks.




And to round off this week.  The folks on BTX are suggesting that Patti needs to hang on tightly to her man.  Apparently Shakira has split with her long time boyfriend.  I believe she is a bit of a Bruce fan and she's a good looking woman in anyone's book.   Just joking Patti - I think you are probably stuck with him for life now!