i didn't really get into bruce springsteen until later in the decade (circa 1978) when i was driving a cab in chicago. he was getting a lot of airplay (heavy rotation,dude, as a lady friend who worked in radio would have phrased it) on the fm rock stations. i was generally more impressed with him as a songwriter (recalling THUNDER ROAD or GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES, jesus christ on a bicycle)than as a singer. anybody else remember johnny lyon? warren zevon?
Loved this story, especially since my older sister and younger brother went to Niagara in the years just following this event. But please tell us the story about meeting Bruce at Sing Sing as I have never heard it. Ossining is my home town.
During that same period in 1973 I played with a band Named "Sunny Jim" and we would practice in the Armory right over the bridge in Highlands NJ. Bruce and his band were there all the time practicing and recording tapes. It was just the two of us, his band and ours. The Building was owned by a fellow called "Tinker Bell" who at the time I thought was his manager. Do you know what his real name was? Thanks Craig Rauchle
yes, knew Tink and I think his real name is out there online or in Bruce's memoir. He never was his manager (that was Mike Appel, of course) but probably equipment manager. He was there was the set-up at the Sing Sing gig, for example, Dec. 1972.....
Wow! What a great story! I live in Hamburg, NY and I’ve seen Brucie 102 times. I have stood countless times on the right-side of the brink at Goat Island and still took steps backward out of complete fear! 🎸
What a memory, in both senses of the phrase. Thanks for sharing. Crawdaddy was a cool magazine filled with sharp, funny writing. This evokes pleasant memories of the 1970s. Did you stay in touch with “Brucie” as he climbed the heights?
remained friends for a few years--I will soon tell the stories or our softball faceoff and the time he let me write my first book at his house while he was on tour...then he got so big we drifted...re-connected on the Tom Joad tour...a few years later he wrote preface for my book on Iraq war and the media..././...
Greg, I still have that cover story on Bruce you wrote. I became Bruce's product manager at Columbia Records in January '76 and had met him when Columbia brought him to my radio station WBRU-FM (Brown Unversity) upon release of Greetings. I saw him perform with the original E Street Band (minus Mad Dog, who had been replaced by Boom Carter) in April '74 at Brown.
Also, although Peter and I were equally involved on that first story, he actually wrote it (with my major input and later editing). We aimed to take the absolutely unprecedented step of putting this total unknown on our next cover but a mini-staff rebellion ended in a less courageous decision and it merely ran--as an 8000-word feature....
GOAT overused today. Just say "great" or "among the greatest."
great piece on Springsteen. Glad to have come across you Mr. Greg Mitchell!
i didn't really get into bruce springsteen until later in the decade (circa 1978) when i was driving a cab in chicago. he was getting a lot of airplay (heavy rotation,dude, as a lady friend who worked in radio would have phrased it) on the fm rock stations. i was generally more impressed with him as a songwriter (recalling THUNDER ROAD or GIRLS IN THEIR SUMMER CLOTHES, jesus christ on a bicycle)than as a singer. anybody else remember johnny lyon? warren zevon?
Loved this story, especially since my older sister and younger brother went to Niagara in the years just following this event. But please tell us the story about meeting Bruce at Sing Sing as I have never heard it. Ossining is my home town.
thanks, will do that in full but it is included in the video within the Bruce story you just read...
Thanks, I’ll watch the video.
During that same period in 1973 I played with a band Named "Sunny Jim" and we would practice in the Armory right over the bridge in Highlands NJ. Bruce and his band were there all the time practicing and recording tapes. It was just the two of us, his band and ours. The Building was owned by a fellow called "Tinker Bell" who at the time I thought was his manager. Do you know what his real name was? Thanks Craig Rauchle
yes, knew Tink and I think his real name is out there online or in Bruce's memoir. He never was his manager (that was Mike Appel, of course) but probably equipment manager. He was there was the set-up at the Sing Sing gig, for example, Dec. 1972.....
small crazy world, thanks for the clarification, it was a long time ago...
Wow! What a great story! I live in Hamburg, NY and I’ve seen Brucie 102 times. I have stood countless times on the right-side of the brink at Goat Island and still took steps backward out of complete fear! 🎸
so I was at Goat Island with the GOAT?
Definitely MY GOAT!
Could Bruce be the Greatest " all around ". Due to his great writing and live shows??
What a memory, in both senses of the phrase. Thanks for sharing. Crawdaddy was a cool magazine filled with sharp, funny writing. This evokes pleasant memories of the 1970s. Did you stay in touch with “Brucie” as he climbed the heights?
remained friends for a few years--I will soon tell the stories or our softball faceoff and the time he let me write my first book at his house while he was on tour...then he got so big we drifted...re-connected on the Tom Joad tour...a few years later he wrote preface for my book on Iraq war and the media..././...
What a cool story. I was in the 8th grade when Rhythm of the Rain was a hit.
Greg, I still have that cover story on Bruce you wrote. I became Bruce's product manager at Columbia Records in January '76 and had met him when Columbia brought him to my radio station WBRU-FM (Brown Unversity) upon release of Greetings. I saw him perform with the original E Street Band (minus Mad Dog, who had been replaced by Boom Carter) in April '74 at Brown.
Dick, I remember your name from back then, possibly we met.
Also, although Peter and I were equally involved on that first story, he actually wrote it (with my major input and later editing). We aimed to take the absolutely unprecedented step of putting this total unknown on our next cover but a mini-staff rebellion ended in a less courageous decision and it merely ran--as an 8000-word feature....
Possibly we did...it's a long time ago. I certainly read your work regularly. And was a big fan of Crawdaddy. Happy to now be on your mailing list!
I accidentally saw him 11/8/74 in Corpus Christi Tx. Big part of my life was written that day!
Very Cool
Rhythm of the Rain....amazing
Cool story. I wish I was there.
that just made me smile.
Perfect!
Learning and enjoying all that you share.