Bruce Springsteen, Not Fade Away, She's The One

I remember studying, or at least trying to convince myself I was studying, in my dorm room at McGill University in the fall of 1978. While I was "studying", I was listening to an FM radio rebroadcast of Bruce Springsteen's famous 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' tour stop that summer in Cleveland at the Agora Ballroom.

I recorded the show on cassette tapes (don't tell anyone...) that I proceeded to wear out over the years. I think I made a second copy at some point. Anyway, I don't remember much about my original reaction to hearing that show the very first time, other than the ferocious energy coming out of the speakers and how anxious I was to see him for the first time that November at the Montreal Forum. I also don't remember anything that I learned that night while "studying".

One thing I do remember is loving his performance of Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away" which segued into 'She's the One'. I've never seen any video from that Agora show, but thankfully there is other video from that tour, and so today I'll feature a clip of what seemed to be a very similar performance from a week or so later at the Capital Center in Largo, MD.

In case you've worn out your cassettes, too, or haven't heard that Agora show, below is audio of that show, in three parts, which you should feel free to listen to while you try to convince yourself that you are continuing to work quite efficiently.  Crank up the volume; no one will mind.

Set 1

Set 2

Encores

Happy Friday!  Now get back to work!

Comments

[Rick]

Thanks, Lawrence,and a great book it is!

What was it about the Augusta show that made it so special?

[Lawrence]

Rick, I remember the Montreal 1978 Darkness tour concert too. I had already seen the opening show of the tour in Buffalo, two shows at Madison Square Garden in New York, and my favourite Springsteen concert of all time in Augusta Maine. But it was the Montreal Springsteen concert that was the light bulb moment that stayed with me for 28+ years as the inspiration to create a book on the Darkness on the Edge of Town tour and album. I felt the need to let the Springsteen fan community experience what I had all those years ago. For anyone who is interested in this iconic tour, you can visit our web site at http://www.thelightinDarkness.com