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Brent Bowens's avatar

This is great - going to try that 10 song set out on Spotify. Next I’d request that you try this method out on the Clash’s Sandinista triple album!

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Mitch Blum's avatar

The legend of Sandinista is that The Clash thought they could get out of their label deal with a 3 disc album. Alas, it only counted as one album on the deal and we got stuck with the children's version of "Career Opportunities".

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CJ Kaplan's avatar

Okay Brent, here's what I've got on Sandinista. One caveat: I like the Clash, but I don't love them. So feel free to challenge me on any or all of it. I did twelve songs since there were thirty-six on the album. Again, in no particular order:

One More Time

Somebody Got Murdered

The Magnificent Seven

Corner Soul

Up In Heaven

The Sound Of Sinners

Police On My Back

Something About England

The Crooked Beat

Midnight Log

Kingston Advice

The Call Up

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Brent Bowens's avatar

Awesome- will give that a spin this weekend! Thx for the follow up!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

First, it’s great to see you guys back!

Other possible 1980 picks?

•Talking Heads- Remain In Light

•Peter Gabriel- III (aka “Melt”)

•Pretenders- S/T

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Mitch Blum's avatar

Melt was always on my short list but I knew it would be impossible to get past Ken & CJ. It’s a rock album with no cymbals!

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Second vote for PGIII. Top to bottom classic!

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Paul Renner's avatar

The River is Springsteen’s best. Yes a bunch of clunkers but that’s what makes the other shine.

And, not sure Boston is that much cooler than Jersey. And I LOVE BOSTON!

We will keep the best beaches a secret (and it’s Pork Roll!!!).

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Mitch Blum's avatar

3 way roast beef > Taylor ham!

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Paul Renner's avatar

It not greater than PorkRoll egg and cheese!!! Lol

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Kevin W.'s avatar

Very much enjoyed this writing/article on The River. I was a senior in high school in Monmouth County, NJ in 1980. Nearly every town I found myself back in those days (Freehold, Asbury Park, Marlboro, Holmdel, etc.) had its Springsteen stories. Anyway, Steve Van Zandt's recent book has some very revealing words about the making of The River album. Van Zandt was amazed at some of the bad songs (Crush, I'm A Rocker, etc.) which were included versus ones left off (Meet Me In The City Tonight) for example. Check it out! Thanks.

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CJ Kaplan's avatar

My wife grew up in Marlboro and she says every one of her high school teachers had a Springsteen story. I'm going to check out Van Zandt's book because I think he's an interesting guy and he's really found his voice in recent years. There were some truly questionable choices on The River. I'd love to find out why.

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Kevin W.'s avatar

That's funny your wife's from Marlboro. I lived there with my parents from '74-'86. They were there through '90 I think.

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Ken Hobbs's avatar

Welcome back. I didn’t know Substacks had “seasons.”

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CJ Kaplan's avatar

Not sure if Substack has seasons. But it sounded a lot better than "Mitch, Ken and CJ are back from four months of eating tortilla chips and betting on golf."

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Mitch Blum's avatar

In fairness, betting on golf has been going really well and it’s almost cinco de Mayo.

I wanted to call it a new “series” like the Brits, but that sounded too pretentious. And we probably won’t do a Christmas special.

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David's avatar

Making your own edit of The River is a true joy. Cutting it down from 2 records is fun and then sequencing a different one from Tracks & the remainders is next level!

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

I think 'The River' is a bit less bloated and more approachable on vinyl. Breaking it up into four sides makes it so much easier to digest! Wish there was a bit more love for "Jackson Cage" here, but that's what makes this fun.

Saw The River Anniversary Tour however long ago that was, and it was pretty awesome to see these songs with that raw E Street power. Just don't make me listen to that new album of covers. Woof!

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Ken Warshaw's avatar

Kiley, I didn’t mention that track by name, but the opening trio of Ties That Bind, Sherry Darling, and Jackson Cage are as good as it gets!

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Couldn't agree more! Also just thought of this sketch from The Ben Stiller Show if you guys have never seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIJ3grfB3WE

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I really wanted to like that record, but I just couldn’t do it...

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Kiley Larsen's avatar

Next time you see it for relatively “cheap” at the record store, grab that vinyl copy. I think you’ll be hard pressed to not love it.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I didn’t write that very clearly. I meant his album of covers! “The River” isn’t my fave Springsteen record, but I do like it.

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Marc Carrasco's avatar

But... Live versions of this covers album he does in their latest tour are brilliant.

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Mitch Blum's avatar

The soul album isn’t great but much respect to Bruce for covering William Bell’s “I forgot to be your lover”. Wonderful tune.

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Marc Carrasco's avatar

Nice post! With this album, Bruce came to say something like: 'Hey, we know how to have fun, but when it's time, we also know how to cry'. I think it's a very complete Rock album and I like most of the songs. I saw him two weeks ago, in his last show in Barcelona and I just can say he's still The Boss. They played Out In The Street and Ramrod from this album.

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