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"Shut Out the Light" cinches the "Born in the U.S.A." single as the greatest of Springsteen's career. It's the absolute perfect 1-2 punch, and makes the experience of the Vietnam veteran visceral and immediate. Bloody brilliant.

As far as TRACKS goes, this is one of the few songs recorded in 1983 that even begins to approach the best of the '82 material. There was a fantastic analysis of the song many, many moons ago (I think on BTX, but I can't be sure) that delved into the echoes of Vietnam haunting the lyrics. It was quite moving and I wish that I had copied and pasted it somewhere in one of my various Springsteen-related Word documents.

Stuff has found a new home, no longer available.

UPDATED: U.S. residents only -- shipping's on me. PM me your address if you want the stuff (ALL of it goes as a single lot). CDs *Tunnel of Love -- Single housed in a mini-LP sleeve, with "Two for the Road" and LIVE version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (recorded at C.W. Post College on 12/15/75) *TUNNEL OF LOVE EXPRESS TOUR -- Promotional item with "All That Heaven Will Allow", "One Step Up", "Roulette", "Be True", and "Pink Cadillac" (first leg of Tour dates listed on back - Worcester to Landover) *Chimes of Freedom -- Canadian 5" with "Tougher" and "Born to Run" (recorded in L.A. on 4/27), "Be True" (3/28 in Detroit) and "Chimes of Freedom" (7/3 in Stockholm). Color artwork has been trimmed and fitted inside a Case Logic CD sleeve. CD-R Fistfull of Dollars -- NEBRASKA demos and outtakes DVDs This is Your Life -- LIVE Compilation (1979-1985) September 21/22, 1979 - NO NUKES December 11, 1980 - Providence Civic Centre December 31, 1980 - Nassau Coliseum June 14, 1981 - Hollywood Bowl, LA July 2, 1981 - Opening Night, Brendan Byrne Arena June 12, 1982 - Rally for Disarmament June, 1984 - Rehearsal for "Dancing in the Dark" at Bruce's house October 15, 1984 - "Detroit Medley" from Vancouver November 15, 1984 - TV News Report from St. Louis October 2, 1985 - L.A. Coliseum Breathless in Paris -- June 29, 1985 (Pro-shot): BORN IN THE U.S.A. / BADLANDS / OUT IN THE STREET / JOHNNY 99 / ATLANTIC CITY / SHUT OUT THE LIGHT / THE RIVER / WORKING ON THE HIGHWAY / TRAPPED / DARLINGTON COUNTY / GLORY DAYS / THE PROMISED LAND / MY HOMETOWN / THUNDER ROAD / COVER ME / DANCING IN THE DARK / HUNGRY HEART / CADILLAC RANCH / DOWNBOUND TRAIN / I'M ON FIRE / BECAUSE THE NIGHT / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE / BORN TO RUN / BOBBY JEAN / RAMROD / TWIST AND SHOUT - DO YOU LOVE ME / ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD Magazines *Rolling Stone -- Elvis memorial issue (#248, 9/22/77) *For True Rockers Only -- Spring '94 issue, NEBRASKA special *Backstreets -- 66, 67

Included in a MIX Magazine piece on Toby Scott from July of 2000: "The Sony/Columbia tape vault, where the music is archived, is currently home to about 4,700 Springsteen reels, approximately 1,500 of which are live performances. Before Sony’s library was computerized, Scott had developed his own database for the tapes, which he now interfaces with the official Sony one." https://www.mixonline.com/recording/recording-springsteen-live-toby-scott-372698

U.S. residents only. PM me if interested (it all goes as a single lot). CDs *Tunnel of Love -- Single housed in a mini-LP sleeve, with "Two for the Road" and LIVE version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" (recorded at C.W. Post College on 12/15/75) *TUNNEL OF LOVE EXPRESS TOUR -- Promotional item with "All That Heaven Will Allow", "One Step Up", "Roulette", "Be True", and "Pink Cadillac" (first leg of Tour dates listed on back - Worcester to Landover) *Chimes of Freedom -- Canadian 5" with "Tougher" and "Born to Run" (recorded in L.A. on 4/27), "Be True" (3/28 in Detroit) and "Chimes of Freedom" (7/3 in Stockholm). Color artwork has been trimmed, fitted inside a Case Logic CD sleeve. *NO NUKES (Godfather Records) -- 9/22 with "Rave On" from 9/21 (in a beautiful tri-fold sleeve, w/mini-reproduction of movie poster) *NUGS Archive -- 8/23/08 St. Louis CD-R Fistfull of Dollars -- NEBRASKA demos and outtakes Magazines *Rolling Stone -- Elvis memorial issue (#248, 9/22/77) *For True Rockers Only -- Spring '94 issue, NEBRASKA special *Backstreets -- 66, 67

Great questions on yesterday's episode: first time on radio, NYC blackout, NASA, Suki, Max as singer. And even if they're not great Max still tells entertaining stories! Star Wars, Jaws 2, Fattie Patty. "Max, you just drum". Classic. Max referenced the Indianapolis show where Clarence had two strippers (from the Red Garter, which is still around) come on stage to everyone's surprise. This was not at MSA, but rather the Convention Center on the Darkness Tour...I know someone who was at the show. Hells bells, you can't expect The Mighty One to remember every damn gig over all these years. Can't wait for next week's episode. I sent in a bunch of questions to Backstreets recently but it looks like I'm paying the price for my years of criticizing the editor of the magazine. What a guy.

Western Stars is very good, probably as good as Bruce is capable of at this point, and it holds up well. Take away "Sleepy Joe's Cafe" (an unnecessary attempt to lighten an album that didn't need lightened) and add a few instrumental interludes and then we're talking a legitimate great record.

The Mavericks' studio version is included here (a solid album):

It was reported in Rolling Stone in early '88 that Bruce was considering a tour of theaters with "a small combo".

Weird, I have no memory of this single. Though I did receive the TRACKS promo CD single when I bought a copy of SONGS from Backstreets in '98.

Max has been very consistent in talking about the E Street Band studio recordings of NEBRASKA material over the years, he said the exact same thing in a 2010 video interview with Rolling Stone. I'm going to send in a question about some specifics of these recordings so hopefully the question makes it to him and he chooses to answer it. Fingers crossed!

"Tunnel" and "Boom Boom" from 7/27, recently uploaded:

It almost was, along with "Prove It" and "Atlantic City". Time constraints and all...

Just happened upon this, from 2018: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/17/nyregion/stone-pony-asbury-park-nj.html