It's Boss Time: 10 Hidden Gems Bruce Springsteen Needs to Perform Live
Thursday, 15 June 2023
Written by Simon Ramsay
Photo: Press/Provided by PR
We might picture him as some kind of immortal titan, but Bruce Springsteen is, sadly, just as susceptible to father time’s inescapable march as the rest of us. As he succinctly ruminated on ‘Letter To You’, his most recent album with the E-Street Band, “One minute you’re here, next minute you’re gone.”
So while the New Jersey icon is still delivering epic live shows with trademark gusto, it’s time for him to unleash some of the greatest songs he’s given the cold shoulder to live before the moment comes to say adios.
With the Boss and his brethren in the midst of their latest massive tour, including upcoming shows at Birmingham’s Villa Park and Hyde Park in London, here are 10 jewels for audience members to paint on their colourful sign requests, and wave loudly and proudly in the air, to ensure Bruce finally gives them the live workouts they richly deserve.
Someday (We’ll Be Together)
Striking a tighter, tougher pose on ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’, this sweeping and swaying cinematic ballad, although full of yearning, definitely wouldn’t have fitted the stylistic ‘sound picture’ of that record. Left on the shelf until 2010’s ‘The Promise’, it’s arguably one of the greatest hits that never was. Full of gospel salvation, and enough soulful uplift to render gravity impotent, for many songwriters it would be their career-defining Everest.
Protection
One of the first tracks recorded for ‘Born in the USA’, Protection was gifted to Donna Summer after the song Bruce originally penned for her, Cover Me, was reclaimed for that record. A classic mid-80s E-Street rocker with a scorching Springsteen guitar solo, if he ever plays Protection live it might leave everyone scratching their heads and wondering how, in the name of Bobby Jean's disappearing act, this galloping thoroughbred didn't make the final album.
Little White Lies
This relationship-in-meltdown blast from sessions for ‘The River’ unleashes a breathless charge of punchy vocal jabs as it frantically rides a Tubular Bells-style piano lick towards the song's twisting, agitated pay off. Made to be sung live in unison with Stevie Van Zandt, on one mic, naturally, if there were a simmering prequel to Roulette’s incendiary explosiveness, Little White Lies would be it.
Brothers Under The Bridges
Not to be confused with its sequel-of-sorts, 1995’s Brothers Under The Bridge, this nostalgia-soaked romp tells the story of 14-year-old kids in ‘60s New Jersey, dreaming of cool cars and independence, before the Vietnam war ripped into their world. Originating from the ‘Born in the USA’ sessions, and not dissimilar to No Surrender, it’s a holy grail track for many die-hard Boss fans. As esteemed Reddit poster LunaSageLINY eloquently summarised, “God, if he did Brothers Under The Bridges I would shit myself.” Quite.
Cindy
Seemingly sweeter than a litter of kittens eating a bowl full of peaches, and originally on the single disc edition of ‘The River’ before, somewhat bafflingly, being omitted from the resultant double album, Cindy juxtaposes gooey ‘60s pop with the deceptively creepy tale of a lovestruck anti-hero. Gently menacing, sonically radiant, stealthily contagious, play it Bruce. Play it now.
Rockaway the Days
Don’t let its laid back, seductively upbeat acoustic grooves fool you, this impeccably layered ‘Born in the USA’ leftover delivers a vintage Boss masterclass in socially conscious, dark-hearted storytelling. Patiently unrolling the complex tale of a traumatised violent ex-con named Billy, love, murder, maternal rejection and a fatal car crash collide in a deftly magnetic musical and lyrical dance as the tragically flawed character succumbs to inescapable demons.
Happy
The early ‘90s certainly won’t be remembered as Springsteen’s artistic peak, but this undeniable gem, birthed during the ‘Lucky Town’ sessions, takes loveliness to whole new levels of swoon. An impossibly romantic, vulnerable and tender number, Happy depicts Bruce’s sincere gratitude and deep contentment over a gorgeously subtle, but emotionally contrasting, ‘Tunnel of Love’ soundscape.
Rainmaker
Janey Needs A Shooter might be the unplayed ‘Letter To You’ track many yearn to hear but, in truth, it’s probably too plodding to thrive on stage. Rainmaker, on the other hand, is a dynamic protest number full of fire and brimstone. Recalling ‘The Rising’ musically, and ‘Wrecking Ball’ thematically, its teasing verses expertly foreshadow a Biblical eruption where, revealing the desperation that fuels their ascent, Springsteen growls out a primal refrain about the disastrous coronation of false prophets.
Chain Lightning
Another cracking outtake from ‘The River’, this groove-heavy brooder prowls along on a cop show riff with haunting slashes of Link Wray guitar and chilling organ whistles. While the recorded version fizzles out towards the end, just imagine what kind of climax the heart-stopping, love-making, Viagra-taking E-Street Band, particularly guitarist Nils Lofrgen, could deliver if Bruce let them off the leash.
Anything From ‘Western Stars’
Springsteen may have been ignoring this record live, because he wanted his latest tour to be a full on rock show, yet the filmic songs on ‘Western Stars’ are simply too special to ignore. An E-Street painted Tucson Train would do its John Ford-inspired orchestration proud, while Moonlight Motel’s twilight meditation on love and loss could provoke enough tears to flood sports stadiums with state of the art pitch drainage systems. Don’t let the moment pass, Bruce.
Bruce Springsteen Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed June 21 2023 - DUSSELDORF Merkur Spiel Arena (Germany)
Sat June 24 2023 - GOTHENBURG Ullevi (Sweden)
Mon June 26 2023 - GOTHENBURG Ullevi (Sweden)
Wed June 28 2023 - GOTHENBURG Ullevi (Sweden)
Fri June 30 2023 - OSLO Voldsløkka (Norway)
Sun July 02 2023 - OSLO Voldsløkka (Norway)
Tue July 11 2023 - COPENHAGEN Parken (Denmark)
Thu July 13 2023 - COPENHAGEN Parken (Denmark)
Sat July 15 2023 - HAMBURG Volksparkstadion (Germany)
Tue July 18 2023 - VIENNA Ernst Happel Stadion (Austria)
Fri July 21 2023 - HOCKENHEIM Hockenheimring (Germany)
Sun July 23 2023 - MUNICH Olympiastadion (Germany)
Tue July 25 2023 - MONZA Prato della Gerascia (Italy)
Fri June 16 2023 - BIRMINGHAM Villa Park
Thu July 06 2023 - LONDON Hyde Park
Sat July 08 2023 - LONDON Hyde Park
Wed August 09 2023 - CHICAGO Illinois - Wrigley Field (USA)
Wed August 16 2023 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - Citizens Bank Park (USA)
Fri August 18 2023 - PHILADELPHIA Pennsylvania - Citizens Bank Park (USA)
Thu August 24 2023 - FOXBOROUGH Massachusetts - Gillette Stadium (USA)
Mon August 28 2023 - WASHINGTON District of Columbia - Nationals Park (USA)
Wed August 30 2023 - EAST RUTHERFORD New Jersey - MetLife Stadium (USA)
Fri September 01 2023 - EAST RUTHERFORD New Jersey - MetLife Stadium (USA)
Thu September 07 2023 - SYRACUSE New York - JMA Wireless Dome (USA)
Sat September 09 2023 - BALTIMORE Maryland - Camden Yards (USA)
Tue September 12 2023 - PITTSBURGH Pennsylvania - PPG Paints Arena (USA)
Fri November 03 2023 - VANCOUVER British Columbia - Rogers Arena (Canada)
Mon November 06 2023 - EDMONTON Alberta - Rogers Place (Canada)
Wed November 08 2023 - CALGARY Alberta - Scotiabank Saddledome (Canada)
Fri November 10 2023 - WINNIPEG Manitoba - Canada Life Centre (Canada)
Tue November 14 2023 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Thu November 16 2023 - TORONTO Ontario - Scotiabank Arena (Canada)
Sat November 18 2023 - OTTAWA Ontario - Canadian Tire Centre (Canada)
Mon November 20 2023 - MONTREAL Quebec - Centre Bell (Canada)
Thu November 30 2023 - PHOENIX Arizona - Footprint Center (USA)
Mon December 04 2023 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Wed December 06 2023 - LOS ANGELES California - Kia Forum (USA)
Fri December 08 2023 - SAN FRANCISCO California - Chase Center (USA)
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