THE RECORD COMPANY ROSIE, THEY GAVE ME A BIG POLL - Springsteen Tracks Voting Thread

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18646uzphhvdxjpg/original.jpg

Ready for some top of the head un-grammar-checked raving? Okay, here we go then. Bruce is one of those artists that means so much to so many people, that is such a huge part of their lives, that - like Slayer, or Iron Maiden, bringing him up in conversation with another fan is sort of like performing a conjuring trick in that a huge blast of proustian emotion bubbles up and makes both parties mega fucking happy. BRUCE is just one of those artists. I think this is sort of why Eric Church's Springsteen last year was such a hit; he didn't need to litter it with more than the few obvious Bruce references he did, he just had to say the guys name and try to hint at the same sort of teenage rebellious romantic feeling, and it totally works. The depths of emotion in Springsteen's music are just ridiculously intense, he can hit both the happiest (Rosalita) and saddest (Point Black) notes without seeming false, and although the last few records have been pretty off the mark, I think he's basically built up so much good will that I'll let him do whatever the fuck he wants. For me personally, it's the first 3 or 4 albums that really hit me hardest; and if for some crazy reason you haven't heard the live at Hammersmith lp that came out a few years ago in the Born To Run reissue, you're doing yourself a massive disservice. The performance from every band member is just amazingly intense and on the money and apart from some Who live shows, it might contain my fave live drumming performances too. I demand that before proceeding you watch at least one of these clips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9T-H-WDm1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAYXnm0OvSo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZHAbHg8t2s

....!

* Vote for the standard 20 tracks using this scoring system: 1:40, 2:36, 3:33, 4:30, 5:28, 6:26, 7:25, 8:24, 9:23, 10:22, 11:21, 12:20, 13:19, 14:18, 15:17, 16:16, 17:15, 18:14, 19:13, 20:12.
* Optionally, include your 5 favorite albums in order.
* Voting deadline is this Sunday 11th at midnight UK time. Not sure when I will go up with the results as i'm flying to Australia to run an event that night, but it'll be as soon as I can fit in the time to do the tabulation etc! Email your ballots to jamiesummers1984 (at) gmail (dot) com before the deadline. Also, please make sure I know how to score your list (adding the points by each track would be super helpful).

crap one of those links didn't work, here we go again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAYXnm0OvSo

My big Springsteen epiphany of the last year or so was the concert DVD in the Darkness box: Garry Tallent is a brilliant fucking bassist. Had no idea how much he contributed to that band's sound until I saw that concert.

yes when they were on form they really made a lot of the recorded versions on Born and Darkness sound a little lifeless. The solo piano+harp Thunder Road on the aforementioned hammersmith release is probably my favourite arrangement of the song nowadays.

those quiet Thunder Roads are the best; can I vote for those & have it be marked in the final tally? probably too big a hassle but you never know

yes why not, go for it

I am going to try to assemble a ballot here, but it may be a little too overwhelming for me emotionally to really listen to NONSTOP BRUCE for a week so if I do it at all, it's gonna be straight from the gut. My gut is full of favorites, 20 will be no prob whatsoever.

Well that's my week sorted. How to do this? Early stuff forwards, or late stuff back?

La Lechera - please point me at any deep cuts you adore. I trust your gut too.

20? 20??!!

Jiminy christmas. I was hoping this one would be at least 30. But I'll buck up and buckle down, and figure out which of my many favorites are my favoritest.

I can do 20 easy. The best thing about these polls imo is never overthinking them.

La Lechera - please point me at any deep cuts you adore. I trust your gut too.

― EZ Snappin, Monday, February 4, 2013 11:58 AM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I gotta admit a lot of songs on my ballot are gonna be coming from Ghost of Tom Joad, which is the only Springsteen album I ever owned.

Also I think I might already know what #1 is but I might not know enough about Bruce to say for sure

Vote for "Lucky Town," people!

(It's weird that I still think of this as "late era" Brooce, because it's 20+ years old now.)

#1 could be a lot of things

As long as nobody votes for "57 Channels" it almost doesn't matter what wins.

Ha, was actually considering that, based on his SNL performance that year.

hmm the only things i remember from Lucky Town are the titled track, My Beautiful Reward and the admittedly excellent If I Should Fall Behind... otherwise i can take or leave it

@title track

My regular listening usually ends at Born In The USA, so my shortlist will def come from everything leading up to that -- but I'm gonna dig back in the post-USA period over the next couple of days and see what sticks

this'll be fun!

also short turnaround means I have to rip the bandaid, which is good for not overthinking

oh and since this seems to be my job now:

BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCE

will be giving this a lot of points can't actually listen to it as it makes me fucking bawl like a baby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r4KjCuy94g

Lucky Town is an almost deceptively good album. It's a victim of "1992" production in many places, but things like the title track and "The Big Muddy" and others rise above it.

Overthinking is part of the fun. Like, trying to decide whether to steer entirely clear of the big 10 or 20 radio classics in hopes of boosting other worthies. (I don't think I can actually do that, because at least a few of those classics really are among my top faves.)

I'm trying to remember what hearing the main riff in "Born in the USA" was like for the first time, because it's engrained in my dna now as tightly as the chirping of birds and the sound of a train whistle. So tough to remember it's actual music.

everyone should listen to 'tracks'

so much good stuff

haha tipsy, i was thinking about doing the same thing, but the thought of leaving out those big guns is like considering cutting off a limb

my shortlist is like 50 songs long. I got some work to do

good call on Tracks, iatee

At least I know what my no. 1 is. It's been my official favorite Bruce song for years.

yeah my #1 is a lock

Mine's not. It's between a few choices, but I don't have one stone cold lifelong favorite.

And, oddly enough, if I were filling out my ballot right this moment it could very well be his cover of "War".

see what we really need to do is arrange an ILX fap at a bar in the middle of nowhere with a jukebox full of Bruce, and figure this shit out over booze and dancing

it's the only way

I'm trying to remember what hearing the main riff in "Born in the USA" was like for the first time, because it's engrained in my dna now as tightly as the chirping of birds and the sound of a train whistle. So tough to remember it's actual music.

100% OTM. But here's a hint--it sounds pretty amazing. The version on the Live 1975-1985 box set is actually superior. It's about as gigantic as a song can be.

ILX fap at a bar in the middle of nowhere New Jersey with a jukebox full of Bruce, and figure this shit out over booze and dancing

we need some of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129kuDCQtHs

if only for crotch-camera in the opening shots

xpost - otm

The version on the Live 1975-1985 box set is actually superior. It's about as gigantic as a song can be.

Listening now. I'm being crushed by the hugeness.

that box is full of awesomenes

I love the slow sad Born To Run too

The Live Box is what made me a fan as opposed to just listening to what the radio played.

100% OTM. But here's a hint--it sounds pretty amazing. The version on the Live 1975-1985 box set is actually superior. It's about as gigantic as a song can be.

― kornrulez6969, Monday, February 4, 2013 12:53 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

As much as I love studio Bruce, I'm hard-pressed to think of a live version of any of his songs that I don't prefer to the studio version (eh, maybe "Cover Me"...ok, all the Nebraska material, too). That live box is insanely essential.

And for years I assumed "Bob Clearmountain" was someone's pseudonym: the dude's name is Clearmountain, because that's what his mixes sound like!

I had the box on cassettes many many (many many) years ago, so listening to it now on Spotify is like having a drink with a friend I haven't seen in too long.

I had always liked Bruce growing up, but Ghost of Tom Joad, then going back and picking up a copy of Darkness on the Edge of Town was what really started my fandom I think.

The funny thing for me has always been, there's a ton of songs that I'm on the fence about album-wise. But all it take is him performing it live and then I'm sold. I guess I'm an easy mark, haha

I had it on vinyl way back when. Sold it to a friend when I went to college. :(

http://www.unlikelywords.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/boss_slide.gif

hahaha

i love that so much

Wasn't there a kerfuffle over Bruce & the band miming/lip-syncing that year?

The piano-only version of Thunder Road on the box set sounds strangely like Tom Waits. I guess that's an obvious comparison to make, but I'd never made it before just now.

yeah, he sounds lovely and ragged

warm beer is terrible
also I would like to sit *inside* the car plz

I guess my question is actually 'Where Jamie at?'

Australia iirc

(tried to Brucify that answer but nothing doing)

Oh hell, I forgot all about that.

he should stay in Oz through March, Bruce is doing his whole Australian tour next month (4 shows in Melb alone!)

in the absence of an update, maybe we get the madonna voting started?

I'll give him a couple more days before starting a Madonna thread.

madge one will be fun -- i've been doing a lot of listening in anticipation of that (although i hope there's a good-sized voting period so that i can do more)

actually Madge would be a great convergence- spent the past week od'ing on Rick Springfield and Gaga, lol

i keep on waiting anticipating 4 madge

Madge poll will be tons of fun. Easier than Bruce, though.

Unlike Bruce, where I can imagine any number of possible number ones, I will be shocked and awed if a certain song does not top the Madonna poll.

How deep is it worth going? I'm not sure I could name an album track, let alone a b-side or anything.

Live to Tell? If not, then results may vary.

Albumwise I dunno if I'll get past Ray of Light with the exception of a few singles...

Music has "Don't Tell Me," which is all-time.

i've been digging deep into her albums, will have suggestions when the thread starts

definitely check out her 90s albums ismael, that's where the bulk of her good deep cuts are

xxpost Don't Tell Me? Really? uggggh. looks like we're already off to a bad start :)

Madonna has so many singles that some of them qualify as deep cuts ("Angel," "Causing a Commotion," "Hanky Panky," "Nothing Lasts Forever").

As long as "Angel," "Sky Fits Heaven," and "Til Death Do Us Part" get mentioned, I'm ok.

hi!

event is over, just recovering, all went well, saw whiney + whineywife, which was nice.
will start tabulating soon.
but by all means go ahead with madonna.

xxpost gonna haveta bump "don't tell me" a bit higher on my ballot. didn't know it was possible to hate this vv good track. hating the video seems fair.

Albumwise I dunno if I'll get past Ray of Light with the exception of a few singles...

Oh god, get thee to a copy of Confessions on a Dancefloor right this minute.

'angel's like 'i'm goin down' (and 'cover me' to an extent) - huge huge hit at the time, written out of history by not having a video and being crowded out of comps.

the mention of shep pettibone on the madonna thread reminded me of the madge-bruce connection, which seems appropriate to mention here since madge seems to have temporarily taken over the boss's thread. shep was an asbury park kid, and today (or at least last time i checked) runs a hotel and nightclub in asbury park.

Broooce?

went out for a ride, never looked back

er, never went back

But maybe everything that dies someday comes back

hiding on the backstreets iirc

A little voice inside my head said: "Don't look back, you can never look back."

Wrong thread.

Besides, Springsteen would be all about stickers on Cadillacs.

okay - tracks ballots all fed into my spreadsheet thing - albums need to go in - then i'm ready.

sorry again for delays x

no apologies! we appreciate the work you're doing!

but we're still gonna tease you about it. just a meanness in this world tbh.

Hurry, before he releases another album!

Wreck Deez Balls: The Remixes

http://24.media.tumblr.com/ab1b54f1a0f01b0266ca3f0480b04630/tumblr_mj2xj0iiY21qbtw3fo1_500.gif

come to think of it, Bruce's Super Bowl halftime performance featured more crotch thrusting than LMFAO's

they didn't even hump the camera

57 channels and humpin's on

http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/crotch.gif

His worst single.

if that had been "tunnel of love" i was prepared to bicker about it! i have been super into that song lately.

Lucky Town is pretty good. Not sure I've ever heard Human Touch, it's certainly one of his, dunno, three worst albums?

57 Channels is indeed rough going, but I would argue for Working On a Dream for his worst single. Cliched, flat and totally uninspired. I can't believe he played it at the Super Bowl.

what about "part man, part monkey"?
maybe that one is so bad it's good

That's a b-side, isn't it? Pretty campy.

There was a fan-vote poll on the Springsteen Sirius channel of his top 100 songs, and I want to say the only two albums that had nothing place were ... Devils & Dust and Working on a Dream?