Book 'em Again

I mentioned in the previous post that there were three Springsteen books that would make great gifts for the fan on your Christmas list. Here's my take on the second book worth your investment.

Bruce Springsteen On Tour 1968-2005 by Dave Marsh is the author's fourth book on Springsteen. Having dealt with Springsteen's life and career in his previous three books (check out Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story, Glory Days, and Two Hearts, which takes the story up to 2003), Marsh dives head first into Springsteen's live shows. The result is an extensive look into every tour Bruce has undertaken from his beginnings with The Castilles, through to the Devils and Dust shows.

In beginning with The Castilles, Marsh admits he may be going over ground covered in his previous books on Springsteen. As was the case with most garage bands of the post-Beatles 60's, touring would be an overstatement. Teen dances and battle of the bands were the places you would find most of these groups in their infancy.

Instead of fast fowarding through these formative years, Marsh takes the time to introduce us to the cast of characters, some of whom would eventually join Bruce on E St., and some of the more memorable moments of Bruce's pre-E St. live shows. One of the shows that looms large in the Springsteen story was at the Clearwater Swim Club in 1970. It's at this show that Danny Federici earns the Phantom nickname that lives with him to this day.

One of the qualities I have always enjoyed in Marsh's writing is his ability to let the fan in him co-exist with the critic. In his best work, I've always felt the fan had the upper hand.

Marsh's introduction to Springsteen, the performer, came in February 1973. It's here that the story becomes Marsh's primarily and the fan in him begins to show itself in the writing. For the remainder of the book, Marsh's experiences overlap with the words of others who were there to tell a story that is every bit as exciting as seeing Bruce performing in person.

The chapter entitled "No Miracles Here," covers "The Other Band," the group that went out on the road with Bruce following the release of Human Touch/Lucky Town. Because so many Springsteen fans went south when Bruce split from the E St. Band, this is a time that many fans may not be as hip to. For those fans who fell off the Springsteen bandwagon during this time, I'd suggest reading this chapter a couple of times.

It's in this chapter that Marsh offers his observations on the fans and the expectations they have of their hero. Clearly, breaking up the ESB was not a part of those expectations. Marsh writes at length of The Other Band and the different noise Bruce made with their help, and offers his take on what may have drawn the ire of the die hard fans during this period.

Along with what I think is some of Marsh's best writing, the book also contains a timeline that joins the chapters with interesting dates in Bruce's musical career. The energy in Marsh's words are complemented by the concert photos included within. Bruce Springsteen On Tour 1968-2005 is as pleasing to look as it is enlightening to read.

With the Seeger Sessions Band tour completed and rumors of E St. activity in 2007, I sure would love to see this book updated in about three years. Let's hope the story has several chapters remaining.