Monday, 2 June 2014

Rewind: 1978: Darkness on the Edge of Town Released


This is a slighty expanded version of a post from last year looking at one of Springsteen's greatest releases.


Read the Rolling Stone Article by Dave Marsh

The Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, New Jersey. (2009)

Three years after 'Born To Run' finally put Bruce Springsteen on the map of Rock and Roll (he'd been there awhile but not many people had noticed him!) and a bunch of legal hassles with Mike Appel his manager that had been dealt with, Bruce was free again to record and release new music. Problem was that he recorded so many songs that it was going to be hard to pick an album's worth that would communicate just what he wanted to say.

Thanks to the release of the Darkness Boxset and the simultaneous release of 'The Promise' we got a little look into the whole process of Springsteen's heart and mind during that time and were able to witness the creativity of those days.

 
Songs from The Promise
12th December 2010
Asbury Park New Jersey
 
 
 
Songs off The Promise Performed Live

There's still quite a number of tracks that were recorded during the sessions that haven't seen the light of day except on Bootlegs:

 
'American Madness' is one of many Bootlegs out there that have gathered up the recordings.



It's a rare thing these days when Bruce doesn't play a single song from 'Darkness at the Edge of Town', the songs have stood the test of time and still have something to say 36 years later.

From a personal point of view 'Darkness' remains as one of my favourite works from Springsteen. I was 15 years old when it came out, listening to punk, struggling with family and school but the heart of the message of 'Darkness' resonated with me. It may be an album that seems full of despair, loss, human frailty, and bitterness but there's also faith, hope, love and belief that there can be a brighter day coming.

Happy Birthday Darkness, you have been a good friend on my own journey.
 
Bonus Live Material
Monmouth Arts Center, Red Bank NJ. Premieres of New Songs.
 
 
Darkness at the Edge of Town Tour 1978
 
Houston 15th July 1978.
Setlist
BADLANDS / NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FOR YOU / THE FEVER / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACING IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD / JUNGLELAND / PARADISE BY THE "C" / FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE / GROWIN' UP / BACKSTREETS / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / QUARTER TO THREE
 
Charleston Civic Center, Charleston 4th July 1978.
Setlist
OH BOY (1.52) / BADLANDS (4.24) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (7.00) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (4.13) / FACTORY (2.21) / THE PROMISED LAND (5.25) / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT (9.55) / RACING IN THE STREET (8.09) / THUNDER ROAD (5.24) / JUNGLELAND (9.15) / PARADISE BY THE "C" (3.10) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (6.36) / SHERRY DARLING (4.11) / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE (12.21) / GROWIN' UP (11.18) / BACKSTREETS (11.51) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (11.41) / BORN TO RUN (4.41) / BECAUSE THE NIGHT (6.30) / QUARTER TO THREE
 
The Agora, Cleveland 9th August 1978.
Setlist
SUMMERTIME BLUES (2.28) / BADLANDS (4.12) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (6.35) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (4.00) / FACTORY (2.13) / THE PROMISED LAND (5.18) / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT (9.32) / RACING IN THE STREET (9.05) / THUNDER ROAD (5.17) / JUNGLELAND (9.00) / PARADISE BY THE "C" (3.10) / FIRE (2.26) / SHERRY DARLING (3.45) / NOT FADE AWAY - GLORIA - SHE'S THE ONE (13.05) / GROWIN' UP (12.10) / BACKSTREETS (11.53) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (11.29) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (6.28) / BORN TO RUN (4.23) / BECAUSE THE NIGHT (7.07) / RAISE YOUR HAND (4.25) / TWIST AND SHOUT (6.32)
 
Capital Center, Largo 15th August 1978.
Setlist
 SUMMERTIME BLUES (1.55) / BADLANDS (4.17) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (7.09) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (4.05) / FACTORY (2.40) / THE PROMISED LAND (5.24) / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT (11.02) / RACING IN THE STREET (8.00) / THUNDER ROAD (5.25) / JUNGLELAND (cut, 3.40) / PARADISE BY THE "C" (3.33) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (6.30) / SHERRY DARLING (3.49) / SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN (3.08) / GLORIA - NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE (12.21) / GROWIN' UP (11.04) / BACKSTREETS (edits, 11.30) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (cut, 12.27) / BORN TO RUN (4.39) / BECAUSE THE NIGHT (7.01) / QUARTER TO THREE (13.44)
 
 
Passiac NJ 19th September 1978 (Black and White Film).
Setlist
 BADLANDS (4.58) / STREETS OF FIRE (4.49) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (6.52) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (4.12) / INDEPENDENCE DAY (5.27) / THE PROMISED LAND (5.23) / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT (9.27) / RACING IN THE STREET (8.03) / THUNDER ROAD (6.28) / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER (3.16) / JUNGLELAND (9.39) / KITTY'S BACK (12.41) / FIRE (2.52) / CANDY'S ROOM (3.02) / BECAUSE THE NIGHT (6.34) / POINT BLANK (6.33) / NOT FADE AWAY - SHE'S THE ONE (11.27) / BACKSTREETS (11.30) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (10.17) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) (6.36) / BORN TO RUN (4.27) / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (3.54) / DETROIT MEDLEY (7.22) / RAISE YOUR HAND (4.22)
 
 
Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco 15th December 1978.
Setlist
BADLANDS (4.43) / STREETS OF FIRE (5.10) / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT (6.39) / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (4.20) / FACTORY (3.25) / THE PROMISED LAND (5.25) / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT (11.30) / RACING IN THE STREET (9.05) / THUNDER ROAD (5.18) / JUNGLELAND (9.42) / THE TIES THAT BIND (3.24) / SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN (7.41) / THE FEVER (7.47) / FIRE (3.03) / CANDY'S ROOM (3.06) / BECAUSE THE NIGHT (7.12) / POINT BLANK (8.24) / MONA - PREACHER'S DAUGHTER - SHE'S THE ONE - I GET MAD (12.44) / BACKSTREETS (11.58) / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (10.34) / BORN TO RUN (4.26) / DETROIT MEDLEY (9.10) / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (4.02) / RAISE YOUR HAND (4.32) / [QUARTER TO THREE / TWIST AND SHOUT]
 
 
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