Bruce Springsteen, Levon Helm, Up On Cripple Creek, Atlantic City, Summertime Blues

Alright, here’s a rare occasion….  Bruce Springsteen and Levon Helm together on stage.

This seems to have happened in Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore, in the small but storied club called The Stone Pony.  Apparently Bruce dropped by to do a couple of songs at Levon’s gig.  There seems to be evidence that this may have happened in 1987, which makes sense to me judging by Bruce’s hair, and Levon’s pre throat cancer voice.  Of course, seeing the red baseball cap stuffed in Bruce's back pocket suggests this was around the time of his 'Born in the USA' album and tour, potentially placing this during 1984 or 1985.

The thing that throws me off is that this looks like low resolution digital from a cell phone or a point and shoot camera, yet no such thing existed in 1987.  It doesn’t look like it was shot on film.  Maybe just some low grade video.  Hmmmmm….   Any ideas?

Unfortunately, you’ve got to work for this one.  It’s in 5 parts, the audio is lousy and features a lot of fine close ups of Bruce’s back.

For a little twist here on the Friday Bruce Fix, fast forward to 2008 and watch post throat cancer Levon back out touring, performing Bruce’s “Atlantic City”.

This one’s a bit of a stretch, but for Levon, I’m prepared to stretch.  Both Bruce and Levon have covered this Eddie Cochran classic, although I don’t believe Bruce ever appeared on SCTV!  First up is Levon on SCTV, followed by Bruce opening his stop in Landover, MD on the Darkness tour in 1978. If you've still got the Summertime Blues after those two, the Eddie Cochran original follows.

Happy Friday!

Comments

[Friday Bruce Fix]

Thanks, Nick. That makes sense.

[Nick]

looks like cell phone footage aimed at a TV