The Legend Is True
Colombia Records have finally released what has become a mythological gig on cd. The diehard fans of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band who were about in '75 talk endlessly about this gig. This was a time when Springsteen was under pressure to produce the goods from Columbia, give them a return for their money, and he came up with 'Born To Run' and the rest as they say is history.
The Hammersmith Odeon performance immediately became a classic and defining moment in the history of the band. The concert became mythical to long time fans and to those of us too young to attend, it was just another fabled story that the old timers made up about the most legendary performance in Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Bans career.
Listening to the gig it is hard to believe that it was recorded over thirty years ago, and has been lifted off dusty and rotting tape. This album rocks from the opening chords of 'Thunder Road' on cd1 to 'Quarter To Three' on cd2. This has that very distinctive sound of The Boss and his band, and demands to be listened to with the windows wide open and the volume set to twelve or more.
Through the music you are able to encapsulate the passion, the drama and the intensity that has defined the music of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band for so long. But it is so good that it is hard to believe that this is a live recording from the Hammersmith Odeon and not a studio album.
To try and describe the music on the album would be like trying to teach my Grandma how to suck eggs, everybody knows what Bruce Springsteen's music sounds like and this is a two cd set of his original sound. To pick out favoured songs is just impossible, as there is something for everyone on the album, including the legendary 'Born To Run'.
Re-live the mythological concert, as this is the defining moment of Springsteen's career.