Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Hot Fun in the Summertime

And speaking as we were yesterday of Bruce Springsteen in 1975, attentive reader VR has inquired whether I was in attendance for any of the Boss's legendary August week-long 10-show run at the Bottom Line, the performances that directly preceded the release of Born to Run 50 years ago yesterday.

The answer -- yes, I was. I saw three of the shows in fact (three and a half, if you count the early one broadcast live on WNEW-FM, which I made sure to listen to/tape at home before I went out to see the 11:30 follow-up).

What can I tell you -- I was a hardcore fan.

Here's one of my favorite performances from the aforemetioned radio show. BTW, I seem to recall there was later a very fancy shmancy two-LP bootleg of it that I went on to play countless times in several different apartments of mine. 😎

I should add that -- believe it or not -- I was bitterly disappointed by the first of the shows I attended, and for possibly the stupidest reason imaginable. To wit, that some of the guys in the E-Street Band -- particularly Miami Steve Van Zant (who I had never seen playing with the group before) -- hit the stage wearing white ice cream pimp suits, rather than the usual casual street attire. I don't know why, but it struck me as some kind of ghastly betrayal at the time. I kid you not.

Hey, by the second show I had gotten over it. 😎😎

9 comments:

ChrisE said...

Steve - Didn't you at one point (possibly inspired by the E Street guys) actually own a three-piece white suit? I think in I saw you wearing one in a pic that was in SR; it was a photo taken at one of the Stereo Review Record Of The Year parties. Might have been the shot when you were talking to Betsy Volck from Arista.

steve simels said...

Never had a white suit.

The one you're talking about was a pale grey YSL. And I wouldn't ever have worn it onstage. 😎

BTW -- your memory is astounding. You remembered the name of the publicist? Wow!!!

ChrisE said...

Well, to tell the truth, I thought Betsy was kind of hot :-)

steve simels said...

She was a terrific gal -- I liked her a lot. She was the girlfriend of rock critic Paul Nelson for the longest time.

ChrisE said...

Interesting. I did not know that. But I fear I've sent this blog off on an obscure tangent, so let's get back to... THE BOSS.

getawaygoober said...

No, tell us more about these Ballroom Betsies disguised as "vinyl grooves" for the wandering stylus.

Allan Rosenberg said...

I don't have much to add beyond 1) I was at the Sunday night early show thanks to Simels (and it was incredible, (2) I don't remember the white 3 piece suits, (3) As I've said many times before I'd take Bruce's first 8 years over the last 45 as good as much of it has been.

Captain Al

Rob said...

Captain, reviewing those 8 years -
1973 Greetings from Asbury Park
1973 Wild Innocent E Street Shuffle
1975 Born To Run
1978 Darkness on the Edge of Town
1980 The River
Culminating that 8th year he eeleased

Rob said...

Culminating with Born In The USA 1984 -