Tunnel of Love

TroyD · December 2002

Last night I found, hidden in a box, my Bruce Springsteen Tunnel of Love CD. Man, I haven't listened to that in, well, forever.

Released in 1987, the followup to 'Born in the USA', it was not one of his more popular albums. Considered, generally, to be one of his weaker albums.

There is some FANTASTIC stuff on this album, I've always thought it to be one of my faves. It's also, IMO, the best recorded Springsteen album. It is a fairly dark and introspective album which jives since in coincides with the breakup of his first marriage. Some good tracks: 'Tougher Than the Rest' 'Tunnel of Love' 'One Step Up'

Anyway, just thought I'd share. I always like running across some old, forgotten favorites. It's also kind of neat since I associate music with the corresponding times of my life and 1987 was one interesting year in the life of BDT. Nice little stroll down memory lane. Now I got to find my copy of 'Hysteria', my other fave from 1987.

BDT

Paul Connor · December 2002

Happy New Year Troy!

Tunnel of Love is a great album. I bought it about the same time I met the ravishing, soon-to-be Mrs. Connor. I still listen to it, and it brings back memories of a great time in my life. Aside from that there are some great tracks on it My personal favorite is All That Heaven Will Allow. I really don't think there is a bad song on it.

BTW, I don't remember reading any follow up posts concerning the Springsteen concert you were going to attend. How was it?

Paul

gidrah · December 2002

I thought this was about that "back room movie I rented.

brettw22 · December 2002

I agree gidrah.......I almost didn't open this post as I wasn't really thinkin that I needed to know about Troys "Tunnel of Love"..........

gidrah · December 2002

Troy:
1) Happy New Year! May this year be better than all years previous, but not as good as next!

2) What would you consider to be Springsteen's best album? Or better yet, could you describe some of his styles by album or era.

I've never been a fan, but I've gotta give the man the respect he deserves. I'd like to mesh my respect with something I like. I don't always like those that I respect, nor do I respect those that I like. I would love to like Springsteen.

TroyD · January 2003

Paul,

The Springsteen concert was by a large margin, the BEST live show I have ever seen (and I've seen a bunch). I've never been to a show where the entire crowd knew every word to every song. It was beyond description, really. He flat out rocked non stop for 3 1/2 hrs. There are a couple songs that he didn't play that (Thunder Road, The River and a few others) I was dissapointed in but, hey, he's got 30 yrs worth of material.

As far as his albums go. Well, IMO, Born to Run is probably one of the top 5 greatest albums off all time (for me, probably top 2) but I digress.

I view his albums like this, his first 4 (Greetings from Asbury Park, Wild Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town) read and play out as the story of a young person maturing and growing up and things that happen along the way.

The River, Nebraska and Born in the USA, IMO are albums about commentary on social issues and how people deal with things in life. Nebraska is a cool album because he recorded it himself on some pretty primitive equipment.

Tunnel of Love, IMO was an introspective album that dealt with relationships and so forth, about that time he was divorcing his first wife and hooking up with his current wife. Lucky Town, Human Touch were along that same vein but they weren't my faves.

I sort of lost touch with Springsteen over the ensuing years, The Ghost of Tom Joad was not one of my favorites either. I respect the subject material but IMO, Bruce, although he is a great (I would argue the greatest American songwriter) writer had lost touch with Rock'n'Roll.

Now we come to the Rising. A throwback Sprinsteen album. Great songs and GREAT rock'n'roll. Reminds me a lot of The River, Nebraska and Born in the USA albums in terms of content and so forth.

Just a quick comment on the live box set he put out in '86. Man, I remember (I was 16) standing in line for hours waiting for it to go on sale. How many other box sets were THAT popular?

If I had to pick just ONE album, no brainer, Born to Run. Sleeper favorite? Greetings from Asbury Park (Growing Up and Lost in the Flood are stellar songs)

BDT

Paul Connor · January 2003

Troy,

Your comments on the Springsteen concert describe my experience when I saw him during the Born in the USA tour. My goodness, that was almost twenty years now. He was at McNichols arena in Denver, a large venue, and you are right, every person there knew every word to every song. Springsteen is a wonderful performer and has a way of connecting on an intimate level with every person in the audience. Your experience reinforces my need to see him again.

It is amazing to me the power of his lyrics. Many of his songs are literally anthems that describe the American experience of growing up, growing older, and living through what we know to be true as Americans. In other words, he reaches us on some deeper level that we understand as common experience. At the core of his lyrics is a humanist.

You are right about Born to Run, in my estimation anyway. From start to finish, that album is what I consider perfect. To date, this is his masterpiece. Hands down. And I say this without dismissing his other work. I own everything he has recorded (except the Ghost of Tom Joad which I will comment on) and I still listen to all of it. Let's face it, this stuff has held up over time and will continue to do so.

Tom Joad I will own sometime in the future. When that album came out, I felt that Bruce might be commenting on a subject that he should have perhaps stayed away from. I only say this because of an intimate relationship I have with the works of John Steinbeck. Since that time, I have grown some in my thinking of writers and at some point I will sit down with that particular piece. I know now that it was arrogant of me to assume that another American could not comment on a body of literature that we all share some phycic ownership of. This is especially true considering that I did not even give this album a listen. This is perhaps a reflection of some personal immaturity on my part.

Well enough kicking my own **** over that. Somewhere in my personal archives, I have an essay that I wrote called Poetry on Thunder Road. I took the lyrics of Thunder Road and commented on Bruce's role as an American poet, though in litererary circles he is not considered one. While I haven't read it in many years, I think I spent some time talking about Springsteen's relationship to the Ballad form of poetry put to music and his role in 20th century American Literature. Can we consider popular music lyrics a form of literature? I don't know. Certainly on some level. If you are interested I will dig out that piece and either post it or send it to you.

Just aquired The Rising a couple of weeks ago and I so far I really like it after a couple of sittings. I need to spent more time with it. In fact, that may be a good project for a snowy New Years day. A little clam chowder, coffee with Bailey's?

Happy 2003......Paul

TroyD · January 2003

Paul,

Yes, I love to read your essay. I'd suggest picking up the Live in NYC concert DVD. Obviously, it's not the same as being there but it is, nonetheless, the next best thing.

The thing that has always impressed me about Springsteen is the incredible amount of awareness that he has of the power of his music. It's also a nice contrast to some of the **** clowns out there today.

Anyway, I could go on for hours about the Boss but I'll save that for another time.

BDT

Dr. Spec · January 2003

Played Tunnel Of Love ad nausem in college up at Clarkson U. On my Sony turntable with the Grado cartridge and the servo drive tonearm.

Those were the days...I have all the Boss' stuff, mostly on vinyl - it's great to go back in time - he is still so fresh, alive, and, well, so "right". Classic rock and roll never goes out of style.

The Boss sold out in Rochester, NY in like one hour - I missed getting tickets and I'm VERY depressed. I'll be looking for scalpers in the classifieds.

Long live THE BOSS.

Doc

Paul Connor · January 2003

Troy,

You are right. Words have a certain power and a special magic about them when used correctly to convey an image or message. Springsteen has a sixth sense about this when he writes and while he does have a few songs that are just plain fun, the bulk of his work has been speaking to specifice issues. Nowhere is this as apparent as The Rising, his post 9/11 work. As we get older, we hope to gain wisdom through experience. Bruce Springsteen seems to have always posessed this, but is still moving and bringing the concept full circle. We should all be so blessed with this.

Sorry if I have strayed off topic with the thread. As penance, I will go upstairs and give a full listen to Tunnel of Love. (on vinyl, of course)

Paul

Paul Connor · January 2003

Dr. Spec,

You need to resurect the Sony and start playing the Boss on vinyl again. There is great joy to be found within the groove.

Hope you get to see Bruce. Perhaps I should make that my New Years resolution.

Paul

gidrah · January 2003

Great reply. Thanks Troy!

Dr. Spec · January 2003

The Boss Live 5 LP set '75-'85! I'm havin' my own Boss concert right here! Two channel vinyl glory all the way!

The Sony lives! Check out that 3 servo motor tonearm - totally awesome. We used to intentionally warp records to try and make it skip - didn't happen. This things rides em like a roller coaster.

Ed

scottvamp · January 2003

Can we get a seperate forum for the "BOSS" for the old folgies. At least for the quarterly rant. OK ELVIS i can sort of understand but freaking Bruce Springsteen. I believe I liked Huey Lewis and the News over the Boss. Man- guys are killing me!!!!! Oh well :rolleyes:

brettw22 · January 2003

Trouble's-a-brewin...........

Paul Connor · January 2003

Dr. Spec.

Great pic. I own that album and now I want to give it a listen.

The Sony looks like a good one. Always great to see that the world has not become totally digital.

Us fogies got to stick together. The Boss is one of us now.

As a side note: We call the newbies at work FNG's (effin new guys) They in turn took to calling us FOG's (effin old guys) At present they have coined a new term--FROG's (effin really old guys).

MAP1911 · January 2003

I remember my first Springsteen concert. I was Thanksgiving day 1980. What a show!

Makes me feel a little old.

Mike

jgido759 · January 2003

Rumor circulating at the Meadowlands in NJ is that Springsteen will end his tour with either 5 shows at Giant's Stadium or 15 shows at Continental Airlines Arena.

One of the highlights of my working at CAA was being at 13 of the 15 Springsteen shows during the 1999-2000 tour. Also, during the Holiday Express (www.holidayexpress.org) Christmas Show, Bruce got onstage, unannounced, and played 2 Christmas songs (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town & Merry Christmas Baby). It seems that Bruce and Tim McLoone, founder of Holiday Express, go way back to Bruce's Asbury Park days.

Without a doubt, Born To Run is the ultimate Springsteen album. My personal favorite after that is the E Street Shuffle album with the Tracks box set a close third. Being a fan since about '72, I think that Born In The USA (his most commercial album to date) would be my least favorite as that is when most fans jumped on the Springsteen bandwagon.

Tour2ma · January 2003

I saw Bruce open for Wishbone Ash in winter of '73/'74 at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, OH. The energy was amazing and he keeps on bringing it through all these years...

Originally posted by scottvamp
Can we get a seperate forum for the "BOSS" for the old folgies .

Old "fogies" know how to "separate" good spellers from bad... after all we grew up without spellcheck...;)

Ron-P · January 2003

Peace Out~:D

Tour2ma · January 2003

:cool:

Paul Connor · January 2003

Tour2ma,

I have most of Wishbone Ash on vinyl. Argus is by far my favorite. A great band that you don't hear much about today.

Paul

scottvamp · January 2003

Tunnel of love - that would be in the **** **** section.

I saw Bruce open for Wishbone Ash in winter of '73/'74 at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, OH.

Hey, I was one years old for god's sake. I just turned 30.
Now I don't feel so old.

Tour2ma · January 2003

Paul,

Think all I have on vinyl is Live Dates, which I won with the tickets to the show from WMMS, Cleveland. A college roommate had the albums.. wishbone Ash, Argus, Pilgrimage and ...Four. I had my Sony TCD1200 Dolby casette deck. Double lead guitars.. a RnR first and both were flying V's no less.

A few years ago I picked up a dbl CD set, "The Wishbone Ash Collection.... Time Was" from BMG. Just played it two weekends ago... nice stuff and a great set of liner notes.... sorry, I meant to say "booklet".... (sigh)...

Anyway wrong thread for this (just thought of a new one I'll start in a minute)...

BRUCE RULES... (that ought to keep us out of trouble)...

Paul Connor · January 2003

Tour2ma,

Guess I'll go shopping. That sounds like a good one to have on cd.

Paul

Tunnel of Love

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