Classic Debuts: Greetings From Asbury Park NJ - Bruce Springsteen

It's hard to believe that Springsteen's debut album is almost 40 years old. For me it is still one of the great debut albums, although it didn't exactly get the kind of welcome that it was due when it saw the light of day on January 5th 1973. In the first year it only sold 25,000 copies

"Tonight! One time only!" — the Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. album, start to finish. "This was the miracle," he said, "This was the record that took everything from way below zero to... one."  That got a big laugh. Bruce went on to speak of John Hammond, "one of the great legends of music production," and of manager Mike Appel, whose "incredible talking" got him a crucial audition with said legend. Tonight's album performance was dedicated "to the man who got me in the door. Mike Appel is here tonight — Mike, this is for you." He added, "We've never done it... hope we can do it!"

Blinded by the Light

Growin' Up

Mary, Queen of Arkansas

Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?

Lost in the Flood

The Angel

For You

Spirit in the Night

It's Hard to be a Saint in the City