13 replies to this topic

[RascalJoe]

As the topic reads. Thought this might be a fun game. Let me lay down some important rules though.

1. We use B-sides, Tracks material and most importantly, outtakes that never got an official release.
2. Stuff that got thrown onto compilation albums or anything from The Promise is okay too.
3. However, we're not allowed to rewrite history too badly, which means that any of his officially released studio albums or its tracks are off-limits. That includes alternate takes, even if it's on Tracks or The Promise.*

Other than that, the only thing I ask is some kind of vision for the album. You could go with an overarching theme or themes, or just go for a certain style, whatever - as long as it's more than just your Top 10 Bruce outtakes.

*Don't worry about duplicating lyrical content though.

Anyway, I'll start. I went for a late '70s or possibly early '80s guitar-focused rocker with some folky elements - kind of like a less frivolous The River, you know, more desperate and with some of that punky Darkness edge (most of the tracks are from this era). Thematically the focus is on desperation, love and its hardships in working class America.

Side 1
1. Loose Ends
2. Take 'em as they come - With that visceralness of the outtake available on YT.
3. Roullette
4. Janey Needs a Shooter ('78 version)
5. Baby, I'm So Cold - some band participation, but calm and with that desperate tone intact, nothing like Follow That Dream.

Side 2:
6. Restless Nights
7. White Lies
8. Ricky Wants a Man of Her Own - some cute and catchy relief.
9. The Losin Kind - a full band version, playing it slightly Phil Spector, but not too overtly so. Just building and building
10. This Hard Land

Now it's someone else's turn.

*Edit: I forgot the title. I guess Loose Ends sounds good.

[Jimmy the St.]

4. Janey Needs a Shooter ('78 version)

Not to nitpick, but I think you mean Jeannie needs a shooter, Bruce co-wrote with Warren Zevon? Or is it "Janey don't you lose heart"?

Either way, not sure there is a "78 version. "Jeannie" first appeared in '80 on Zevon's Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School, a great album btw, and Janey written in '83 with Steven but overdubbed in '85 with Nils for the "b" single of I'm goin' down.

Both songs are 2 of my favorites, along with Be True, and I just heard Janey solo acoustic in Albany!

[RascalJoe]

<- Janey Needs a Shooter from '78.

As you can hear it's very, very different from the version Zevon ended up doing, in just about every way. There's also one from even earlier on which is itself completely different from the two versions that came later. It's also on YT:



The uploader dates that version to 72-73, and it sounds about right to my ears.

I love Zevon, but I definitely think that the Bruce + E Street Band outtake from 78 is the best version. Janey Don't You Lose Heart is yet another matter. I love that one too.

Edit: Oh, and why Janey later became Jeannie I don't know, but the versions Bruce did are referred to as "Janey" everywhere I've seen.

[Jimmy the St.]

I stand corrected, well done! Thanks for the clip too. Maybe by the time Zevon came to Bruce he had another song in mind for "Janey"!

[Tomas T-B]

1. Loose Ends
2. Take ´em As They Come
3. Roulette
4. Ricky Wants A Man Of Her Own
5. Cindy


1. Murder Incorporated
2. Protection
3. My Love Will Not Let You Down
4. Janey Don´t You Lose Heart
5. This Hard Land

[Jimmy the St.]

E-Street Band plays The Jukes (Horns include LaBamba & "Love Man" Penders)

1.) The Fever (duet w/Southside)
2.) I Ain't got the Fever No More (Little Steven singing) I'm cheating a little - Little Steven wrote it
3.) You Mean so much to Me (Patti sings Ronnie Spector's part)
4.) Little Girl So Fine (The Chiffons backing up)
5.) Love On the Wrong Side of Town
6.) When you Dance

1.) Talk to Me
2.) Hearts of Stone (Clarence's solo)
3.) Trapped
4.) Trapped Again (get it?)
5.) All the way Home
6.) It's Been a Long Time (w/ Southside, Little Steven)

I'd like to see this one!

[RascalJoe]

Nice list Tomas, but what's the idea here? Somehow I always expect anyone to be as ready get down and geeky as I am.

E-Street Band plays The Jukes (Horns include LaBamba & "Love Man" Penders)

1.) The Fever (duet w/Southside)
2.) I Ain't got the Fever No More (Little Steven singing) I'm cheating a little - Little Steven wrote it
3.) You Mean so much to Me (Patti sings Ronnie Spector's part)
4.) Little Girl So Fine (The Chiffons backing up)
5.) Love On the Wrong Side of Town
6.) When you Dance

1.) Talk to Me
2.) Hearts of Stone (Clarence's solo)
3.) Trapped
4.) Trapped Again (get it?)
5.) All the way Home
6.) It's Been a Long Time (w/ Southside, Little Steven)

I'd like to see this one!

I'd listen!

[passaic factory boy]

but Born to Run is so perfect

[RascalJoe]

but Born to Run is so perfect

It is, it is. This is more about trying to puzzle together something from the great songs that never made it.

[RascalJoe]

Thought I'd bump this thread just this once. I know it's a bit more complicated than simply stating your favourite outtake over and over, but it'd be great fun if anyone was willing to give this a go.

[Brucefaninnyc]

fun topic! I kind of went for life crushing => Denial and escape through love => ending with just plain escape

1. Roulette
2. Code of Silence
3. Murder Incorporated
4. Living on the Edge of the World
5. The Promise (Solo Piano Version)
6. Take 'em as They Come

7. Don't Look Back
8. Bring on the Night
9. Protection
10. Loose Ends
11. I Wanna Be With You
12. Goin' Cali

13. Happy*

*if we go with cd release I include the bonus track happy to suggest that perhaps upon reaching Cali, our protagonist finds happiness!

[Jono2u]

1.Where The Bands Are
2.From Small Things (Big Things One day Come)
3.Take Em As They Come
4.None But The Brave
5.So Young and In Love
6.The Little Things (My Baby Does)
7.Thundercrack
8. Lions Den
9.Gotta Get That Feeling
10.My Love Will Not Let You Down

[Funkster]

I did one for my 6 year old boy recently... 9 Bruce, 1 Iron Maiden and 2 Queen, so I guess that doesn't qualify...

[LUFCJames]

Where the Bands Are
Frankie
Thundercrack
Lion's Den
Ain't Good Enough For You

Take 'Em as they come
Roulette
Murder Incorpoarated
Fire

It may not flow particularly well and could easily be changed as I'm yet to listen to Missing Tracks volumes 1 and 2.