Darkness On The Edge Of Town

[Spike-X]

Seems like this classic album is getting a similar 30th Anniversary treatment to the legendary Born To Run.

Although few details have been revealed about Bruce Springsteen's upcoming boxed set commemorating the 30th anniversary of his album Darkness On The Edge Of Town, some solid confirmation has leaked out.

The British Springsteen fan site Stone Pony London (spl-messages.net) quoted noted Springsteen photographer Frank Stefanko, who shot both covers for both Darkness On the Edge Of Town and The River, as saying that he had been interviewed for a Springsteen-produced documentary on the album. Stefanko added that the project will contain live concert footage that will "blow us away," and that the project will be released sometime between "June and December" of this year.

Recorded between June 1977 and April 1978, the album's sessions generated dozens of outtakes, as well as songs that went on to become successful for other artists, including "Fire" for the Pointer Sisters, "Because The Night" for Patti Smith, and "Rendezvous" for Greg Kihn and later Gary "U.S." Bonds.

The recording of Darkness On The Edge Of Town, which was the followup to Springsteen's 1975 album Born To Run, was blocked for a year while Springsteen was in litigation with his former manager and producer Mike Appel. Appel's suit barred Springsteen from recording with future manager and producer Jon Landau.

Springsteen has included the songs from Darkness On The Edge Of Town in his concert setlists far more than any other album, including such songs as the title track, "Badlands," "Candy's Room," Factory," "Racing In The Streets," "The Promised Land," "Adam Raised a Cain," and "Prove It All Night."

Springsteen's 30th anniversary boxed set of Born To Run featured a remastered version of the album, with a CD featuring a miniature reproduction of the album's artwork, a 48-page booklet, the Grammy award winning documentary on the making of the album Wings For Wheels, and a concert DVD Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band /Hammersmith Odeon 1975.

Although there has been no official word on what form the Darkness retrospective will take, there have been rumors that the set will feature a remixed and remastered version of the album, the documentary, and a full concert from Springsteen's 1978 tour, during which a half dozen shows were professionally filmed.

There's been rumours that the concert DVD will be the Phoenix show that the live video for Rosalita was taken from. Whatever concert they use, it's going to be amazing - the Darkness tour is considered by many fans (myself included) to be Springsteen's peak as a live performer.

[howyadoin]

I am beside myself with joy.

[Spike-X]

I thought you might be.

[Ilash]

Cool. I've been meaning to check this album out for ages but I'll probably land up buying the ordinary edition that is out now because I would imagine the deluxe edition will land up being hillariously expensive.

[Spike-X]

When the Born To Run box set came out, it was Aus$50.

As a basis for comparison, full retail price for CDs here is Aus$30, although new releases generally sell for Aus$20. New release DVDs are usually about thirty bucks.

[Ilash]

When the Born To Run box set came out, it was Aus$50.

As a basis for comparison, full retail price for CDs here is Aus$30, although new releases generally sell for Aus$20. New release DVDs are usually about thirty bucks.

Ah well, the difference here was quite a bit bigger. I think the regular edition costs R130 (new releases average out at R150) while the box set cost somewhere in the vicinity of R500.

Of course, the pricing of CDs in this country is insane. I saw Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at a major music chain here today going for R460. Compare that to the copy I got from Israel which was the equivalent of R120. At the same time, there are tons of good stuff to be found for as little as R80 first hand.

[Spike-X]

Bloody hell. Yeah, that's a huge price disparity there.

Anyway, check out the album. You should be able to find a CD for pretty cheap.

[howyadoin]

Ah well, the difference here was quite a bit bigger. I think the regular edition costs R130 (new releases average out at R150) while the box set cost somewhere in the vicinity of R500.

Of course, the pricing of CDs in this country is insane. I saw Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at a major music chain here today going for R460. Compare that to the copy I got from Israel which was the equivalent of R120. At the same time, there are tons of good stuff to be found for as little as R80 first hand.Shit, man. You're being robbed.

[Ilash]

Shit, man. You're being robbed.

Yeah, no kidding. Thank goodness for the internet and second hand CD stores.

[howyadoin]

Yeah, no kidding. Thank goodness for the internet and second hand CD stores.I just looked up that R460 amount - roughly 60 bucks Canadian. I've seen Raising Sand here for less than 20.

[Spike-X]

I just looked up that R460 amount - roughly 60 bucks Canadian.

Jesus.

And if he was to, er, obtain it by 'other means', he'd be the bad guy.

[Ilash]

I just looked up that R460 amount - roughly 60 bucks Canadian. I've seen Raising Sand here for less than 20.

Yeah, I must admit, I literally laughed when I saw that. They stick an "imported" sign on the things and then charge whatever they want. Imported. From where? Mars?

And incidentally, how terrific is that album! I never knew that Robert Plant had it in him to lay down vocals that are so beautiful and so restrained. I apologize Mr Plant, it seems like I underestimated you.

[howyadoin]

And incidentally, how terrific is that album! I never knew that Robert Plant had it in him to lay down vocals that are so beautiful and so restrained. I apologize Mr Plant, it seems like I underestimated you.It's pretty damn spectacular, that's what it is.

Incidentally, have you heard his Dreamland CD?

[Ilash]

It's pretty damn spectacular, that's what it is.

Incidentally, have you heard his Dreamland CD?

No, I haven't. Is it also good?

[Spike-X]

I never knew that Robert Plant had it in him to lay down vocals that are so beautiful and so restrained. I apologize Mr Plant, it seems like I underestimated you.

Have you heard his version of Tim Buckley's Song to The Siren?

If not, you need to.

[Ilash]

Jesus.

And if he was to, er, obtain it by 'other means', he'd be the bad guy.

Yeah, I know. I think CDs are generally overpriced at the best of times but these prices are, or at least should be, criminal.

[howyadoin]

No, I haven't. Is it also good?Very much so. And also fairly low-key, in a good way.

[Ilash]

Have you heard his version of Tim Buckley's Song to The Siren?

If not, you need to.

Cool. On which album could I find it?

[Spike-X]

Cool. On which album could I find it?
The copy I have is from the Moonlight Mile soundtrack.

[Spike-X]

Now can we get back to talking about the awesomeness that is the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album and tour?!?!

[mattx110]

I am beside myself with joy.
So you are one of three people on a couch. One is a girl and the other looks like you?

That's so deep. How come Springstreet never thought of that??

[howyadoin]

So you are one of three people on a couch. One is a girl and the other looks like you?

That's so deep. How come Springstreet never thought of that??Sorry, buddy. You completely lost me there.

[Ilash]

Now can we get back to talking about the awesomeness that is the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album and tour?!?!

Heh, yeah, sorry for derailing the thread. I do have a question about the subject at hand though: I have generally had trouble really getting into Springsteen even though I really love The Rising overall, would Darkness at the Edge of Town be a good place to start getting better acquainted with his music? If not, what would be a better starting point?

[Spike-X]

Darkness is as good a place as any. Born To Run would also be good.

Darkness is, as Bruce puts it, a look at what happens to the characters (broadly speaking - neither album is a 'concept album' or anything like that) from Born To Run once they stop running.

[mattx110]

Sorry, buddy. You completely lost me there.
:o ;) ;)


You're in the middle (and blue!), Yourself is on your left. Joy is on your right (and pink!).

You are beside Yourself, with Joy.



edit: this reminds me of the star trek episode where Picard had to communicate with the alien captian who spoke in metaphor.

[Spike-X]

So...Bruce and the band played the entire album live the other night, start to finish, at a benefit to restore the Count Basie Theatre in NJ. Pure speculation on my part, but I'm assuming they recorded the whole show, and the anniversary is coming up...hmm!!!

Here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmVwO7yfIyI) a few clips of the show.

[Spike-X]

Holy Crap! They also played Born To Run start to finish straight afterwards!!! Even brought out the Max Weinberg Seven Miami Horns Of Love for Tenth Avenue Freeze Out!

[howyadoin]

Is it just me, or is the video chopped up into random bits?

[Spike-X]

It's not just you.

[leonaozaki]

Heh, yeah, sorry for derailing the thread. I do have a question about the subject at hand though: I have generally had trouble really getting into Springsteen even though I really love The Rising overall, would Darkness at the Edge of Town be a good place to start getting better acquainted with his music? If not, what would be a better starting point?

I don't know if Darkness is really a good starting place for someone who doesn't like the song "Born to Run." (I kind of remember that you don't. I'm sorry if I'm wrong.)

Darkness is very, well, dark-- both in lyrics and production-- and while it's one of my favorite Springsteen albums I didn't have to be convinced.

I would try Born to Run, or Born in the U.S.A., or even Tunnel of Love, and then branch out from there.

Actually, I know I'm gonna get stomped on for this, but if you like early 70's rock the way I think you do (and again, apologies for the assumption if it is incorrect) you might really enjoy his first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park and The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle.

rob

[Spike-X]

Here's a bootleg of Prove It All Night from Phoenix '78 - the show that's rumoured to be part of the 30th Anniversary package.