Iona’s Song of the Week - Np. 12
- ionacali
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
In 1980, I was a 22-year-old architectural student with long summer months ahead of me and no real plans. So, when a friend of mine told me that his older brother was looking for summer staff for his bar/restaurant in Pitlochry, I said, “Count me in”, and after a cursory telephone interview with the older brother, I was hired! Now, the reason for this short precise is to introduce the fact that a local girl I ended up dating, introduced me to a double album by someone I had never heard of, The Boss, or as he is also known, Bruce Springsteen. The album was The River and I was smitten from just after the stylus made contact with the vinyl record. The initial single drum beat, followed by a double tap and then three more single shots whilst being accompanied by the rest of the band just lit me up!
I was hooked initially by two things, firstly the singer's unusual gravelly voice, and secondly by the exquisite musicianship of the E Street Band! My first (of ten) concerts was a year or two after in Wembley, however between times, I bought his four previous releases which turned out to be (at the time) a bit of a mixed bag! I didn't enjoy the first two, but loved the second two. I have since come to understand that Greetings from Asbury Park N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle were the band working on a ‘style’ and showcased much of their live work up to that juncture.
However, Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town were the start of something enormous! It is also clear to me now that the first two outings allowed the band to hone their magnificent, masterful musicianship ready to blast out on Born to Run!
Anyway, after much thought for this week’s choice, I have landed on Track Five, Side One of Darkness… The Fabulous 6:52 seconds of Racing in the Street. We hope you like it too…..
Another stonker