seattlesteve Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Marvin and I have already exchanged on this subject, but I think this video is so good more people should see it. Circa 1978Most people know Springsteen can write and perform, but he's not known as a legend on guitar.Check out this video of one of my favorite Bruce songs, Prove It All Night, there is an extended 2.5 minute intro with Bruce soloing, and he's got a bit in the middle, and one at the end.My friends, this is rock and roll. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pijURu9Qzrg S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 BTW..For those of you that don't know, if that piano style sounds familiar, it's none other than E Street keyboard regular Roy Bittan who played on Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell, which says a lot since Jim Steinman who wrote the album is a pretty fair keyboard player himself. He even played keyboards on Bon Jovi's breakthrough single "Runaway".The professor has a distinctive appreggio style.S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 In the latter part of the 1960's when Steel Mill and Child were ending (Bruce's pre-E Street bands), and very early 1970's, Bruce was making his name around the Jersey shore as a guitar player first, a songwriter second. When it came to jamming at the Upstage Club, everyone would show up just to see/hear Bruce play. Some of the boots of recordings of those shows feature endless solos and jamming.The core of the E Street Band played on the "Bat Out of Hell" album: "Professor" Roy Bittan, "The Tennessee Titan" Gary Tallent (bass), "Phantom" Danny Federici (organ), and "Mighty" Max Weinberg (drums). They also played on Ian Hunter's fabulous "You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic" album.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Nivan Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Prove it All Night w/ extended solo: Yes.You guys have nailed it with this one.I saw him for the first time a couple months later and PIAN blew me away.Funny: I've got a Tele-copy just like The Boss's and can't for the life of me get those tones. Keep practicin'.And Roy Bittan: YES! Deserves his own thread. Absolutely my favorite Lead Pianist. Lots of great over the shoulder shots of Bittan in the Born to Run Live DVD. Arpeggios and really cool tinkling at the tiptop of the keyboard: cool, chimey sound.At one time the pianist at our church was a guy who had obviously listened to too much Bittan. Was pleasingly distracting when Mass slowed down.Bittan played on Bowie's Station to Station, too. Great album all around, that one. "Word on a Wing" has great piano in it."K" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Roy has played on everything from Bob Seger to Celine Dion. A unique and very recognizable style. The keyboard player he replaced in the E Street Band, David Sancious, is quite the musician himself.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich From PA Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I was lucky enough to see Springsteen on this tour and this clip brought back some great memories.Before he was recognized as a songwriter, Springsteen was known as a hotshot guitar player. His live soloing was always a highlight in those early concerts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Early Wynn Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I caught a couple of shows during that tour as well, one in Birmingham and the other at LSU in Baton Rouge. For my money, this was the best tour for Bruce, the shows were loud and fun - and not slick productions in big arenas or stadiums. I only wish I would have been able to catch him in the clubs in the early days. Prove It All Night, along with Candy's Room and Because the Night were highlights for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 The "Darkeness" tours were legendary for band improvisaton and for show lengths. It was during this tour that it became routine for Bruce to play 3-4 hour shows. Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 It's my understanding that Bruce didn't buff up before Born In the USA for cosmetic reasons, but rather he had to. I believe I heard him say once he was getting older and physically was completely whipped any more doing the marathon sets, so he started working out and even touring with exercise machines and weights, to balance aging and stamina. Seems to still be working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 You are correct Steve. Bruce has said that after many of those late 1970's ("Darkness") and early 1980's shows ("The River"), he would pass out from exhaustion. Getting into better shape was something that he knew he had to do if he wanted to keep doing marathon shows - and also keep eating greasy hamburgers! By the way, Bruce was all of 35 when "BITUSA" came out! Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 Marv,I did not know the rest of the band played on Bat out of Hell. What was the connection? Any idea why Steinman wouldn't play piano on his own songs? Was he that big a fan of the professor?S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich From PA Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Most of the E Street Band also played on John Eddie's self-titled cd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Steve I don't know the connection between the E Street Band and "Bat." I know Rundgren produced "Bat", but was Jimmy Ienner involved as engineer? If he was, that might have been the connection.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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