Live: 1975-85 (3CD)

The Live Box Set is an extremely impressive collection of Springsteen, arranged chronologically (with exception of the last track)

The First Track, Thunder Road, is the only one taken from the '75 tour (Born To Run). Its missing its Rock and Roll feel, but stripped to the piano and no guitars or drums, it has a much more intimate feel to it that you can really appreciate.

The Next 8 Tracks are taken from the '78 Tour (Darkness On The Edge Of Town) and interestling enough, only 1 from the album released during that time. Here you'll find many early classics, from Its Hard To Be A Saint In The City, Rosalita and Growin' Up to an previously unreleased "Paradise By The 'C.'" Its also important to note that Bruce covers the song "Fire," a song he wrote, but was never released before, which had become a #1 hit for another group. These are all immaculately recorded, and sound better than their original albums, they are taken from the Roxy, which holds only a few thousand, if even that (some say closer to 1000) so you get that small, intimate feeling

The next several tracks are from the "River Tour" in '80 and '81 and are mostly tracks from his '78 album (Darkness On the Edge Of Town) Including blistering versions of Badlands, Darkness On The Edge Of Town and Candy's Room. Also included here is an electrifying previously unreleased version of "Because The Night" the song Springsteen co-wrote with Patti Smith. Also included is a cover of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and a very good cover at that. 3 of his songs from his recent album are also included in Cadillac Ranch, You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch) and Independence Day. These tracks are nearly all taken from Arenas.

The rest of this collection (final 5 Tracks of Disc 2 and All of Disc 3) are taken from Bruce's most recent tour (when this came out) and his record-breaking one, the Born In The USA tour. First, we have 3 songs from his Album "Nebraska," which, while they don't have the feel they have on his album, sound much better because of first rate recording equipment. Than, there is a thunderous organ version of Born In The USA, which, upon first listen, doesn't measure up to the Album's version, but the more you listen to it, the better it sounds to you.

The highlights of this tour are a version of Born To Run that blows away the album's version, and it is the definitive version of the song. Great recordings of "The River" and "The Promised Land", along with a great cover of the song "War" which makes the original look poor in comparison. An acoustic version of "No Surrender" and a fanstastic horn version of "Tenth Avenue Freezeout."

Overall, the songs sound much better live than they do in the studio, particularly songs from Darkness On The Edge of Town and The River. Some of the songs from Born In The USA sound exactly the same (Bobby Jean, Working On The Highway, Darlington County) and some a little worse (Cover Me) Some great previously unreleased material (Fire, Because The Night, War, Raise Your Hand, Seeds) also helps. The first disc, as you can see by the picture, is supposed to be from small, intimate settings, holding not much more than 1000 people. The second disc, as seen by its picture, is mostly from Arena shows, and the third disc, is from giant, Stadium concerts.

In all cases, the recordings are immaculately done, and are as clear as possible. Springsteen's music sounds better here than on album, and considering the amount of stuff here, this is essential for anyone even remotely interested in Springsteen. There is a reason this is the highest selling box-set of all time! Even though its missing a few songs that should be on it (Blinded By The Light, Prove It All Night, Out In The Street, I'm Goin Down, Dancing In The Dark, Glory Days) it doesn't suffer much from not having them. Get this album today, you won't regret it, and will listen to it rather than to the studio albums.


A Gift for Bruce Fans   September 6, 2000
Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA)
26 out of 29 found this review helpful

When Bruce released this live album back in '86, fans jammed record stores to wait in line to buy this much anticipated release. Bruce released it as a gift to his fans who had been with him since the beginning and were begging for a live release. Bruce made his name a live act and although no live album can ever replace being at a concert, this album comes the closest to actually achieving that feat. Most live albums are a double or maybe triple album affair, Live 1975-1985 was originally a five record set. From the opening track of a solo Bruce on the piano in "Thunder Road" to the closing "Jersey Girl", we are taken on a musical journey through Bruce's career. We are treated to unreleashed gems like "Seeds", "Because The Night" & "Fire" to covers like "Raise Your Hand", "War" & "This Land Is Your Land" to fiery versions of "Rosalita", "Born In The USA" & "Born To Run" to moving epics like "Independence Day", "The River" and "Racing in The Streets". There are too many great live versions of songs to list and there is no let up from beginning to end. Bruce was so popular at the time that altough this was a pricey five-record set, it was first album to debut at number one since 1976. It's common place nowadays, but a rare feat at the time. Bruce is the king of the stage and this album provides recorded proof of that fact.


The reason he is called the "Boss"   February 29, 2000
Joseph La Belle
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

This was a long awaited box set. It comes as close to a Bruce Springsteen Concert as possible without buying a ticket. The "Boss" takes you down the thundering road of his musical history of this time frame. If you have never seen the "Boss" live then you don't know what your missing.From the hard core Bruce Springsteen listener to the newly discovered fan this set is a MUST HAVE.The pure sound and feeling I get from this historical recording is unsurpassed. Bruce Springsteen's performance from Thunder Road to Jersey Girl will evoke feelings of joy,sadness and pure outright feeling of having you heart dancing in the aisle. Springsteen's cover of "War" and "This Land is Your Land" are the best I have ever heard. Bruce includes songs such as "Beacuse the Night" and others that have never been included in a studio recording before makes this more of a treat. Owning this set is not an option in the life of a Bruce Springsteen Fan's music collection. This is the live set to rival all others. If you don't own all of the Boss' recordings this will make you want more and more!


Because the Night Before Springsteen......   December 21, 2007
Metamorpho (Budd Lake, N.J.)
16 out of 20 found this review helpful

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through my lair
Everyone was dancing, a great party was there,
Stratocasters were displayed by the fire so alive
In hopes that Bruce Springsteen soon would arrive,
The children were listening to "Thunder Road" in their heads
While "Bobby Jean" and "Rosalita" bounced into their sled,
While Marshy with her lipstick and I in my cape
finished gift wrapping with double stick tape,
When outside my castle the sound of guitars
Made me grab my Gibson and play a few bars,
Away to the window, I heard pounding drums
I looked in the distance, beyond boardwalk bums,
The moon then reflected a motorcar form
I knew all at once, this was not the norm,
Then everyone saw just what was at hand
A pink cadillac and an 8 member band,
With a buff old driver, so lively and keen
I knew in a moment it must be Springsteen!
More rapid than "the river", his comrades they came
He played harmonica then called them by name;
"Now, Scialfa! now, Clemons! now Lofgren and Tallent!
On, Bittan! on Federici! on, Weinberg and Van Zandt!
To the top of the charts, no arena too small
Play those songs! Play those songs! Please play them all!!!!"
And as big bulldozers that come to the lot
cleared burnt chevrolets for a landing spot,
So up to the house-top, the band memebers flew,
All with their instruments, and Bruce Springsteen too.
And then, in a guitar riff, I heard right on high
The intro to "Badlands", of this I can't lie,
As I replaced a string, and was turning around
Down the chimney Bruce came with a total "live" sound,
He was dressed in blue jeans, a working man's brigade
And his clothes were all soaked from the shows he has played,
A bundle of c.d.s he had tucked in his hand
And he looked just like someone from "the promised land",
His eyes were intense, his demeanor so cheery
He was barking to the crowd, "Hey now don't be so dreary!"
His singing voice, so raspy and raw
Held all the revelers, totally in awe,
A fender guitar pick he held in his teeth
for if one should break, he had some relief,
He had a broad face with no fat on his belly
I knew all at once, he never ate at a deli,
He was revved up and ready, a right jolly superstar
And I laughed and I laughed, like I do at a bar,
A wink of his eye and a mean guitar riff
Gave everyone there, a good holiday lift,
He sang and sang these songs we can't forget
And filled all our stockings with this 3 c.d. set,
And raising an "Adam" and raising a "Cain"
He has to leave, before snow turned to rain,
He sprang to his car, his bandmates looked down
And disappeared in the "Darkness On the Edge of Town",
But I heard him exclaim, after he was all done
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, WE WERE ALL BORN TO RUN!!!"

Peak Springsteen plus peak Live recording. One of the best live performers ever.

Enjoyment to all this cherished time of year--your own, Metamorpho



Still a "Jersey Girl" in my heart for Bruce   March 10, 2000
Jean Yates (United States)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

..."Screen door slams...Mary's dress sways..."

--from THUNDER ROAD.

Ok, ok, so what if I am now 48, and married and I have 5 sons. When I hear this song I still feel the passionate intensity I felt the first time I heard it. Bruce Springsteen is a poet and he continues to infuse my life with his remarkable writing. I never try to separate his words from his music however--that would be a waste. They have a dual integrity that is stunning. I just funnel both the words and the music way down in deep--right to my soul--and suddenly I am eighteen again and I am ready to run...

and I never get tired of listening to his music.

by the way: you younger people: say age 20 or so: this is valuable for you to listen to. In fact, it is definitely one of THE quintessential musical collections of this era. Possibly, a time will come when you need help understanding your parents. They might want to explain what they were like when they were young to you, who knows why. Humor them and they might give you money! You never know! best, Jean