Re-recording is standard practice in classical music and jazz. A recording does not have to be a final word; reinterpretation by the same artist is always possible. Bruce's whole album live performances are illuminating - why would it matter whether these kinds of reinterpretations are live or studio performances? Why is a live revisit legitimate and a studio one not?
there's legions of world class "pop" musicians who have done it, in the studio, in the past: from Sting to Peter Gabriel, from Frank Zappa to Johnny Cash, from the Black Crowes to Page & Plant...

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ab

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Gazza

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birdie
Certainly not pointless. He feels some of these songs deserve a proper studio release and is some of his best writing! Who really cares if they were recorded before or played live before. Looking forward to hearing the new versions!

I dont. But I DO care if theyve been RELEASED before. Doesnt matter if they're some of his best writing or not? By that yardstick, should he just release a newly re-recorded version of the entire Darkness on the Edge of Town album?

Can you imagine the shitfit if the next Stones studio album was padded out with newly re-recorded versions of old b-sides like Through the Lonely nights, Jump on top of me and the like?

Granted, there'd be the obligatory cheerleaders who would manage to still get excited if the band released lo-fi recordings of their own bowel movements, but you'd like to think most sensible people would have higher standards.

This stuff belongs on a 'Tracks 2' type project.

He released a newly recorded Darkness with a scaled back E Street Band as part of the video content of the Darkness box set, and it sounded great. Playing those songs as 60-ish year-old men gave the material a certain gravitas.

Yeah - as a bonus video content on a box set of archive material. Not the same as sticking them on a studio album as 'new' material, though

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WindyHorses
Why is Little Steven not playing on the new album?
No offense to Tom Morello-he's brilliant.
But where was Little Steven?
Busy?
I am so glad I saw Bruce play with Danny and Clarence before they passed.
One of the best concerts I ever saw.
Thanks for the heads up on the new album,franzk.

he is.

THIS is great

Springsteen has really become a Las Vegas act - how many people on stage now, some 20 musicians?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-11-27 22:31 by mtaylor.

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franzk
Wow, The Boss is working really hard. He's just off from lenghty Wrecking Ball tour

Did he do any twerking?

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mtaylor
Springsteen has really become a Las Vegas act - how many people on stage now, some 20 musicians?

Yeah, because a lot of people on stage means Vegas! One of the purest rock and roll acts out there!

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mtaylor
Springsteen has really become a Las Vegas act - how many people on stage now, some 20 musicians?

I wish to f**k it was 200. Just to piss musical illiterates like you off even more.

Oh my, folks. It is unreal there are people on here who diss Bruce Springsteen and refer to him as a "Vegas Act." This statement and statements like it advertise ignorance. Now I love the Stones more than anyone, but how is a band that tours with three original members, back-up singers, and a horn section, as the Stones do, any less of a Vegas act than the E Street Band? And let's see... What albums of new music has Bruce released since 2005? Let's see, there is Devils and Dust, The Seeger Sessions, Magic, Working on a Dream, Wrecking Ball, and the new album in January. That would be 5 albums of new material since 2005. And the Stones? A Bigger Bang. That would be one (1) album of new material. I don't think we could compare what goes into a live performance for these two great dinosaur acts, either... When you see the Stones, whether it is 1990 or 2013, you can expect to hear Jumping Jack Flash, Miss You, Satisfaction, Tumbling Dice, Brown Sugar, virtually unchanged, tour after tour.... Bruce's sets each tour are far, far less predictable and the arrangements often vary from tour to tour. You get a new experience every time. Now don't get me wrong!! I love the Stones and will go see them until either they die or I do, but Bruce and his band have them far beat in a lot of categories... It is ok if they are not your cup of tea, but to say they are a Vegas act implies a lazy production, which our Stones are just far, far more guilty of.

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mtaylor
how many people on stage now, some 20 musicians?

on his current tour Bruce is backed by 13 musicians:

2 guitars (the guitar players also switch to slide, lap steel, banjo, mandolin)
2 keys (one of the keyboard players also switches to accordion)
violin
bass
drums
percussion
5 horns

+ 3 backing singers

mind, the instruments don't play all together all of the time...the horns don't play for a good portion of the show, as the violin. some songs are offered in a stripped down form, and Bruce himself also does a couple of songs "solo piano" or "solo acoustic.
a lot of songs are performed in pretty basic E-street form (3 guitars, piano, organ, bass, drums)



Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 2013-11-28 12:25 by superglen.

High Hopes - pink floyd
Superb leap steel solo

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Gazza
It was confirmed months ago that Morello will play on this tour. Along with both Lofgren and Van Zandt.

Wow, there will be 4 guitars then (or 5 actually, with Soozie playing accoustic). In any other case I would not think it would be a good idea, too many guitars usually only mean big mess in the sound. But the ESB seems to be able to handle and incorporate any amount of instruments and just make the sound bigger. It surely will be great.

And about the album - eventhough it might not be a regular studio album with all new material, the amount of work and material and concerts that Bruce has been giving to us in the recent years, while he is (more than) 60, is unbelievable. I loved the Wrecking Ball album, which also contained some already known stuff and I am looking forward to this current release. If it would be followed with another album later this year with another tour, only the better!

Okay, I could live without studio version of 41 shots, but I will judge the album after I will have heard it.

Back in 1972-76 I thought Springteen was incredible-- he was such a breath of fresh air in the music scene-- It was great to see an artist and a Band that really enjoyed themselves and it showed in the music and in their live shows--
BUT somewhere along the line Springsteen decided he wanted to be Woody Guthrie and over the last couple of decades has just become this Left-wing bore-- I cant stomach his political views which over-shadow the music for me these days-- still a talented guy, but for cryin out loud Boss, just shut up and play music ! Not everyone shares your socialist views and love of Obama

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all !

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bob r
Back in 1972-76 I thought Springteen was incredible-- he was such a breath of fresh air in the music scene-- It was great to see an artist and a Band that really enjoyed themselves and it showed in the music and in their live shows--
BUT somewhere along the line Springsteen decided he wanted to be Woody Guthrie and over the last couple of decades has just become this Left-wing bore-- I cant stomach his political views which over-shadow the music for me these days-- still a talented guy, but for cryin out loud Boss, just shut up and play music ! Not everyone shares your socialist views and love of Obama

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all !

Whilst hes played at campaign rallies which are a separate entity entirely, absolutely none of this stuff happens at his shows. Its an utter myth perpetuated by hyper-sensitive people who dont actually attend them.

There was more of that sort of political 'commentary' (and expressed in a much more extreme way) on the last Stones album than there's been on any Springsteen record or concert in history. Fact.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013-11-28 15:08 by Gazza.

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bob r
Back in 1972-76 I thought Springteen was incredible-- he was such a breath of fresh air in the music scene-- It was great to see an artist and a Band that really enjoyed themselves and it showed in the music and in their live shows--
BUT somewhere along the line Springsteen decided he wanted to be Woody Guthrie and over the last couple of decades has just become this Left-wing bore-- I cant stomach his political views which over-shadow the music for me these days-- still a talented guy, but for cryin out loud Boss, just shut up and play music ! Not everyone shares your socialist views and love of Obama

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all !

I don't mind his phony political views, I can't stomach his music.

The problem (well, one of the problems) I had with the guitar section of the ESB is that I could see the guitarists play tasty licks, but I could hardly hear them cut through the thick wall of sound created by Bruce's guitar and the keyboards.

Quite the opposite than a Stones' show, where I hear tasty licks, but I can't see anyone playing them ...

C

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bob r
Back in 1972-76 I thought Springteen was incredible-- he was such a breath of fresh air in the music scene-- It was great to see an artist and a Band that really enjoyed themselves and it showed in the music and in their live shows--
BUT somewhere along the line Springsteen decided he wanted to be Woody Guthrie and over the last couple of decades has just become this Left-wing bore-- I cant stomach his political views which over-shadow the music for me these days-- still a talented guy, but for cryin out loud Boss, just shut up and play music ! Not everyone shares your socialist views and love of Obama

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all !

Could not agree more."just play the damn music"

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michaelsavage

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bob r
Back in 1972-76 I thought Springteen was incredible-- he was such a breath of fresh air in the music scene-- It was great to see an artist and a Band that really enjoyed themselves and it showed in the music and in their live shows--
BUT somewhere along the line Springsteen decided he wanted to be Woody Guthrie and over the last couple of decades has just become this Left-wing bore-- I cant stomach his political views which over-shadow the music for me these days-- still a talented guy, but for cryin out loud Boss, just shut up and play music ! Not everyone shares your socialist views and love of Obama

By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all !

Could not agree more."just play the damn music"

Obviously you've never been to a show. Like Gazza said, "absolutely none of this stuff happens at his shows"

The Boss rocks, I've always admired him.

I thought you were dinner, but you were the shark....