Springsteen Tracks II: an unfair first listen

I like my Springsteen at Sherry Darling. This isn't that.

The following is a completely unfair incomplete first impression that I needed to get out of my system. I haven’t read anyone else’s review to influence (or fact-check) me here, this is all me.

I like my Springsteen at “Sherry Darling.” Steve on Bruce’s left hand, Clarence on his right. Max, Danny, Garry W, the Professor. In a bar. Maybe in Asbury Park. Basically the Glory Days video. Give me that.

THAT guy put out Tracks in 1998.

Today we got 83 “new” songs and 5 hours and 21 minutes to dive in on from the Bruce Springsteen that doesn’t want to be the BROOOOCE that I want him to be. This is the Bruce of solo albums and singing in falsettos.

I grabbed my best headphones and headed out to walk the dog.

Before we begin, let me lay down my bona fides. Been listening since 1983, which was late to the party, but also 42 years at this point. I’ve been to more shows than I can count (probably just shy of 50). I’ve worked closely with Steven Van Zandt (and Dave Marsh). Met Clarence, had real conversations with Max, was in the men’s room once with The Boss, and been in ESB Situations I am not allowed to tell you about.

I’ve heard enough Bruce to know what I like, and what I don’t. I hit play on Tracks II which kicks off with Follow That Dream - nothing new to diehards - and struggled to make it through. Dream isn’t My Love Will Not Let You Down which gave Tracks One some goodwill but to be fair that’s the memory talking - the actual leadoff on Tracks is Mary Queen of Arkansas, which might actually be Bruce’s worst song.

Anyway, after Dream, I was a few seconds into the next song - later discovering my phone was on shuffle - which was another downtempo dirge (I don’t know which one) and I was like I just can’t.

So now my trigger finger was on “Next” and hit next a bunch of times until I came to Don’t Back Down. This is a fun song that should really be a Beach Boys Song, except they already have one with that title!

Then my phone started playing something that sounded “1992” and I was like - wait am I on shuffle, and yes I was. So I went back to the beginning and ran through what sounds to me like 1982-83 era stuff - things like County Fair have been floating around for decades, and that was more in line with what I was looking for rather than Devils and Dust era outtakes.

My advice to the “me” types would be to start with Disc 7, which seems to be more where “we” like our Bruce. Build up the goodwill and get yourself in a Brooce mood before really diving in.

I kinda wish Bruce had given us an hour of this once a year so we could digest it. At 5 hours it becomes a race to even listen once, and I am already working on a “Best of Tracks II” playlist.

The thing my experience this morning reminded me of was that I like Bruce to sound like your friend’s impression of Joe Piscopo’s impression. The falsetto Bruce, the whisper Bruce, the cowboy Bruce….not my Bruce.

Anyway here’s some songs that I dug this morning.

Don’t Back Down - nice straightforward song that Mike Love deserves a crack at. I can hear the surf backing vocals in my head.

Between Heaven and Hell - has that Secret Garden era percussion but it works and is slotting nice at #2 in my playlist

One Beautiful Morning - hooray, drums! Nice uptempo song with hook right out of the box.

Don’t Back Down on Our Love - Not to be confused with regular Don’t Back Down, Bruce doing his generic rocker song, but it works. Catchy hook.

Stand On It - this has been around and if you’ve seen enough live shows you’ve seen this busted out at 12:15 in the morning at some point.

Another Thin Line - has that 1992 style chord progression. I haven’t fact checked this, but this was the song that made me think “hey you’re on shuffle.” I like the 1992 albums so I welcome this one. It’s grabbing me right now as I type.

Little Girl Like You - one of those songs that could have been on any Springsteen album between The River and USA and you wouldn’t have questioned it. Bruce doing Bruce things.

I realize right now I don’t think I have heard a single saxophone :(

County Fair - I’ve had this song since the days of Napster and always liked it. This could have been in My Hometown’s spot on USA and would have worked. But hey, even Pink Cadillac didn’t make that album.

Repo Man - I love this. It sounds like Bruce walked into Legend’s Corner in Nashville and asked whoever was on stage if he could sit in, and they all winged a generic song with some slide guitars and piano breaks. Give me a warm sweaty night and a generic American lite beer in a glass and this will hit the spot.

Janey Don’t You Lose Heart - another that we’ve had for a while, but nice version here.

I’m Not Sleeping - ah Big Production with an E Street Piano, some heavy drums…now we’re talking…and why I am telling the “me” crowd to start with Disc 7.

So that’s a totally unfair first take….but I will put ears on this and circle back with a second look.