Japanese exclusive live release released from 1998. Four tracks including two songs that were left off the monumental 3CD 'Live 75-85' box set, 'For You' and 'Incident On 57th St.' which are exclusive to this release. Also... more » features two tracks from the aforementioned box set, 'Rosalita' and 'Fire'. Sony.« less
Japanese exclusive live release released from 1998. Four tracks including two songs that were left off the monumental 3CD 'Live 75-85' box set, 'For You' and 'Incident On 57th St.' which are exclusive to this release. Also features two tracks from the aforementioned box set, 'Rosalita' and 'Fire'. Sony.
CD Reviews
Great Material But Ridiculous Price
Jim Mitchell | St. Louis | 04/23/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"There are two absolutely essential live Springsteen cuts on this CD that are unavailable anywhere else. These were b-sides released on the singles of "Fire" and "War" that came out to promote "Live 75-85". "Incident" is one of Bruce's all-time classic epics, rivaling Jungleland as one of his best and longest songs. "For You" is nice early Bruce, and the live rendition is much better than the studio version on his first album. There is nothing finer than live Springsteen material, and even moderate fans value it above all else in their collections. And it doesn't get any better than the two songs I just mentioned ("Rosalita" and "Fire" are equally good, but already available on his live box-set). But Bruce's live material is a double-edged sword- it is so good that you want as much as you can get, but Bruce is notoriously stingy with his releases in general, and his live material in particular. Why he would make this (and other recent, equally desirable singles) available to much of his fanbase only as a ridiculoulsly overpriced import is completely beyond me. C'mon, Bruce- you're known as a down-to-earth guy who celebrates the common struggles of life. Please make your highly desirable live releases as readily avaialable as possible!"
Hard to find but well worth the effort!
Scott Yeaman | San Diego, Ca. | 01/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This import only release is well worth purchasing if only for the epic version of Incident on 57th Street. It contains one of the greatest of Bruce's dramatic, crying guitar solos and is one of the reasons that its rare appearances in Springsteen's setlists are so highly prized by the faithful. The version of "For You" is also a great version that is only available here. Rosalita and Fire are outstanding live songs but are heard in the same version on the Live 75-85 box set. For hard core Bruce tramps only but if you're not one, what's wrong with you???"
Great, Essentioal live versions of two classics
Kevman | White Plains, NY USA | 06/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This import has two great live songs available on CD nowhere else. The 10-minute "Incident on 57th Street" here is the finest version of this great song ever done (available only as a single b-side and all versions I heard of the single had loud popping record noise on it - it's clean here). Also this live wersion of "For You" is wonderful. Highly recommended for these two songs. Its a very high priced import, so try to get a good price of it used."
"Imagine being 23 years old and an aspiring singer/song writer best known for your live shows. Your first album, "Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ," released on January 4, 1973, received critical acclaim but only sold about 20,000 units. Your second album is scheduled to be released in September, weeks before you turn 24.
You're stressed out trying to write great songs as a recording session looms. Coincidentally, as you attempt to use your God-given, but raw talent, God herself decides to write a rare song. She thinks, "who will I channel it through? Mozart is gone. The Beatles have broken up. Let's see what that skinny kid from New Jersey can do with this."
She sends down a vague idea, a few bits of melody, and turns him loose. He takes her hints, and pours his soul into a song that may have only one weakness. It's so beautiful that it may be obvious that no mortal, and certainly not a 23 year-old, could write it. He must have somehow cheated. In a way, he did cheat. When God was handing out musical brilliance, he somehow squeezed into the front of the line.
The song is "Incident on 57th Street."
It is an epic, a symphany, a stunning, brilliant, sublime song that can make stable adults weep. It can be played solo, with only a piano, or with full band, and be equally great. It will be played in a hundred years, much as Pacabel's Cannon in D, written in 1699, is played today.
As we now know, nearly 40 years after Incident was composed, Bruce Springsteen is ... I almost wrote, an "Americal Treasure," but he's more than that. He is a Human Treasure. Art has the potential to fundamentally challenge and change us, to help us become a more caring, empathic, and altruistic people. We well know that this potential is rarely realized. The depth and breadth of Mr. Springsteen's contributions, of which, Incident on 57th Street," is an exemplar, reveal an artist whose work fulfills the enormous potential of the medium.
This performance is historic, not just because "Incident" is played perfectly, but because it is the last time the song was played live for 19 years. No one knows why except Mr. Springsteen.
This is a rare, live, sound board recording, taken from the December 29, 1980, Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, NYC concert. (The booklet says the show was on the 28th. Bruce played the second of three Nassau Coliseum shows on the 28th, but only played "Incident" on the 29th.)
The next time the song would be heard was on September 25, 1999, First Union Center, Philadelphia. That show was opened with a full band, anthem-like version of the song. Slowly, the audience recognized what he was playing. By the end, ten minutes later, 20,000 people were singing along. Those who were there will *never* forget the experience.
Bruce Springsteen is arguably the greatest songwriter in the history of amplified music, but it is his live shows that set him apart from his peers, people like Dylan and McCartney.
The live versions of Rosalita, Fire, and For You are all good, but the overwhelming reason to own this import is to hear and possess one of Bruce Springsteen's greatest songs, "Incident on 57th Street," performed and recorded, perfectly, for posterity.
Even at the inflated "Import" price, this otherwise unobtainable presentation of one of the greatest songs God has ever channeled through a human, is a bargain."
You've got to be kidding me
L. Jones | Va | 04/14/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Simply not worth it for the price, especially now that the Hammersmith '75 show, long a popular bootleg, has been released ('73-'78 was Springsteen's real peak as a live performer) to complement the other multiple Bruce live sets already available. It's a fun listen but I certainly wouldn't pay more than $15 for it, unless you're the sort of Bruce fan whoa absolutely has to have everything, in which case no price will be too high anyway."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1