Search - Bruce Springsteen :: Acoustic Radio 1973

SPRINGSTEEN S EARLIEST RADIO RECORDINGS, AMONG SOME PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS OF THE STREET BAND Bruce Springsteen signed a recording deal with Columbia Records in the summer of 1972 and immediately began recording his debut album. The songs were new and old; some had been in his set for many years, others were completed only after inking this deal. Greetings from Asbury Park NJ was released in January of 1973, and within the week Springsteen, with a little help from three of the later-to-be-named E Street Band, were performing their first ever radio broadcast, aired on Boston s WBCN FM. A quite remarkable performance ensued with Bruce and the boys in excellent humour and fine form as they played a terrific set, although remarkably they included just one number from the album. Bruce s second radio appearance, which took place at Richmond, Virginia s Alpha Sound Studios, not at the station itself, was broadcast live by WGOE-FM via a remote link. In addition to the DJ, the small audience heard in the studio included Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Albee Tellone and David Sancious - who had yet to join the band but who was employed at the studio at the time. The performance and chat at this second event are notably more relaxed and have a party atmosphere somewhat lacking at the first show. The 6 cuts performed, peppered with some intriguing studio rapport, includes three tunes from Greetings, plus the very rare You Mean So Much To Me - sporadically performed live by Bruce since 1971 and originally due to feature on Greetings.... but not on the final release - New York City Song - re-christened New York City Serenade of course by the time of its inclusion on Bruce s sophomore record The Wild, The Innocent and The e Street Shuffle, released in September 73 and another take of Duke Ellington s Satin Doll which kicked off proceedings at both events. Springsteen and band were due on stage at the Richmond Coliseum later the same evening, as support to AOR superstars Chicago; if that unlikely pairing was a fraction as entertaining and enjoyable as either of the intimate gatherings presented on this CD, nobody went home unfulfilled.