Live: 1975-85 (3CD)

Live: 1975-85 (3CD)

To say that Springsteen's live shows with the E Street Band were legendary is the height of understatement. On a good night, the set might extend to three and four hours of exhilarating, pulse-pounding rock & roll. How best to capture that on CD? Or was it possible at all? As it turns out, Live 1975-1985 comes as close to the experience as possible. Culling material from various tours and settings ranging from small rooms to stadiums, the three-CD set emphatically displays Springsteen's charisma as a bandleader and storyteller and makes plain the sheer power of the E Street Band. Some of the many highlights here include covers of Edwin Starr's "War," Tom Waits's "Jersey Girl," and Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and rare versions of originals such as "Because the Night," "Fire," and "Seeds." And relax--all the hits are here as well. If you never saw Springsteen and the E Streeters back then, you might still get your chance. But this set chronicles a special time in the life of a special performer. --Daniel Durchholz

Review:
Even today, Bruce Springsteen's concerts achieve something close to a religious experience. Anyone who has seen him live knows that The Boss has an ability to touc his fans in a way few other artists have been able to do. His songs speak directly to them, and they know every word, as if they're connected by soul just as much as sound.

he no doubt is still able to retain that special connection today, few argue that Bruce hit his peak in the years 1975 to 1985, when he was unquestionably the best live act in town. Their absolute worst nights would be considered definitive shows for lesser bands, but Springsteen and The E. Street Band played with an energy unseen in rock and roll, built up from the frustration Bruce felt from the trappings of his small town upbringings and his desire to make his dream real.

This three cd, 40 song set serves as the definitive documentation of what it was like to see The Boss live in his best years. Every song here is pakced with that aforementioned energy, each one exploding out of the starting gate. This is the kind of music rock and roll was created for - in your face, raunchy, anthemic and unapologetic. There's a visceral thrill matched only by some form of Divine Intervention that comes from hearing 80,000 people singing along to every song by heart. Listen, on Disc 1, for how, in unison, every single audience member raise their voices for the opening lines of "Hungry Heart." This performance alone is proof of Bruce's genius with his fans.

, there are blazing renditions of classics like "Rosalita," "Born In The U.S.A.," "Badlands," "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and a host of others that leave their recorded renditions in the New Jersey dust. "Born To Run," one of rock's most prominent anthems, is given its definitive treatment, and the result is almost haunting, with Bruce's voice screaming against the throngs of admiring fans with sizzling, almost superhuman passion. (Surprisingly, given their popularity at the time of their releases, neither "Dancing In The Dark" nor "Glory Days" are present.)

Bruce wrote for other artists are also included in vastly superior renditions, such as "Fire" and "Because The Nights," as well as excellent covers of Edwin Starr's "War" and Tom Waitts' "Jersey Girl." booklet contains lyrics as well as a slew of rare photos of Bruce and his band. The sound quality is excellent, and this cd is a flawless document of one of rock's most important figures.

Read more about Live: 1975-85 (3CD)

Love to shop online? Don't "Check-Out" before checking out TripleClicks, Coupon Cactus and CBMall for great bargains, discounts & cash back shopping!