Springsteen mixtape

since there's a lot of Springsteen fans on this forum, here it goes:

i want to make a Springsteen's mixtape for my dad. but the thing is, i'm not an expert on this man or his music (ie i just own three of his albums...). my dad is far from being a music lover, but i've noticed that he has enjoyed Springsteen songs every time i've put them on during the past couple of years.

so... would you guys be able to give me hand?

what songs do you think should be a MUST on this mixtape?

Waiting on a sunny day
Nothing man
Radio nowhere
Girls in their summer clothes
Glory days
No surrender
My hometown
Dancing in the dark
Badlands
Candy's room

Promised Land and Backstreets are my favorites. Basically anything from Darkness on the Edge of Town, Born to Run, and Magic

Thunder Road....basically the best song ever written.

or if you dare...then add the Frank Turner cover of it.

i would do it like this. its a pretty safe list with some of the hits/classics and some that don't quite have the same level of recognition

Thunder Road
Badlands
Brilliant Disguise
The River
Backstreets
Highway Patrolman (Live in Dublin)
Lucky Town
Long Time Coming (Live in Dublin)
My City of Ruins
Long Walk Home
This Hard Land
Born to Run

The task is to great, you could never cut a best of Bruce down to just 1 cd, I would pretty much say the live box set 1975 to 1985 is a good place to start. Then add stuff like 41 shots, Ghost of Tom Joad (live version with Tom Morello).

I'm not able to choose 10/20 songs, how many would you need? Haha

My two favourite song are Thunder Road and The River.

I wouldn't skip songs of his early days like Growin' up, Incident on 57th Street or NYC Serenade.

My two cents...

Allright, here we go...

Thunder Road (album Born To Run)
Born To Run (album Born To Run)
Backstreets (Live 75-85)
Badlands (album Darkness On The Edge of Town)
The Promised Land (Live 75-85)
Darkness On The Edge Of Town (Live 75-85)
The River (album The River)
Atlantic City (album Nebraska)
Born In The USA (album Born In The USA)
No Surrender (album Born In The USA)
Tougher Than The Rest (album Tunnel of Love)
Human Touch (album Human Touch)
If I Should Fall Behind (Plugged)
Youngstown (Live In NYC)
The Rising (album The Rising)
Radio Nowhere (album Magic)

That should be a good start for your dad, and according to my WinAmp the running time of this would be 1 hour and 19 minutes, so just perfect for an 80 minute disc.

I tried to make the tracklist represent as much of Springsteens career as possible, unfortunotly I couldn't find room for anything from Bruce' two first albums (Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ and The Wild The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle), and although they future some of his best lyrics ever, I don't think they are the best albums to start with anyway.

I couldn't find room for any songs from Devils And Dust, The Seeger Sessions or Working On A Dream (the last album) either, and The Ghost Of Tom Joad is only represented trough Yongsotwn from LiveInNYC which is a completly rearranged version of the song, but brilliant none the less. You might want to turn the volum down on that one a littlebit and add a 'fade out' at the end of the song, or just leave it out would be the easiest, but it's a great song and a great performance. If you want some help 'messing around with it' like suggested above, let me know.

Hope this helps.

If you want a couple songs from each CD-
1.It's hard to be a saint in the city-Greetings from Asbury Park NJ

2 and 3.Incident on 57th Street-Rosalita (NEED TO HAVE THEM TOGETHER, With no audio space)-The Wild the innoncent and the E Street Shuffle

4.Thunder Road
5.Born To Run
6.Jungleland

7.Badlands
8.Prove it all night
9.Darkness on the edge of town

10.The Ties that Bind
11.The River
12.THe Price you pay

13.No Surrender
14.Bobby Jean

15.Walk like a man
16. Tunnel of Love

17.The Rising
18.You're Missing
19.my City of Ruins
20. Lonesome Day

21.Radio Nowhere
22.Gypsy Biker
23.Long Walk Home

24.Racing in the Streets
25.Aint Good enough for you
26.Talk to Me
27.The Promise
28.4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)

I knowi t is a lot, but perhaps this can give you an idea of what you what to use

@JimmyB:
Do you prefer The Promise version of Racing to the Darkness... version?

oldgospelchoir wrote:

Thunder Road....basically the best song ever written.

or if you dare...then add the Frank Turner cover of it.

indeed

chickenman wrote:

@JimmyB:
Do you prefer The Promise version of Racing to the Darkness... version?

Like them both equally, But I think the Racing Intro is a little bit better than the Darkness version..The piano and Harmonica one....other than that....Darkness wins hands down.

nobody likes I'm going down and I'm on fire?? cmon!

nebraska wrote:

nobody likes I'm going down and I'm on fire?? cmon!

I'm Goin Downs a great song. Live versions are best. im on fires good but Ive grown tired of it a bit.

nebraska wrote:

nobody likes I'm going down and I'm on fire?? cmon!

It's impossible to make every Springsteen fan happy with a list of only 15 songs (more or less).

JimmyB has made a list of 28 songs and there are a lot of great songs that don't make it (Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out anyone????)!!! I mean, it's really difficult to please everyone. Born in the USA - a song I didn't like at first and one of the reason I was reluctant to hear more of Bruce in the beginning - has not made some of the lists.

But I think there isn't any big miss in the lists posted here...maybe we should start an alternative thread with Springsteen gems: i will go with Does this bus stop in 82nd street?

Thunder Road
Born To Run
Jungleland
No Surrender
Bobby Jean
Incident on 57th Street
My Lucky Day
This Hard Land
Blood Brothers
Badlands
Brilliant Disguise
Growin Up
The Wrestler
Marias Bed
The Promise
The Wish
Frankie

STREETS OF FIREEEEE

This would be my ultimate Springsteen mix tape, but it was so hard to pick so few songs when there are so many outstanding ones. This is a great gift idea, I hope your dad likes it!

1. Spirit in the Night
2. Born to Run
3. Thunder Road
4. Racing in the Street
5. The River
6. I'm on Fire
7. Born in the U.S.A.
8. Glory Days
9. Dancing in the Dark
10. My Hometown
11. The Rising
12. Mary's Place
13. Girls in Their Summer Clothes
14. Radio Nowhere
15. I'll Work for Your Love

wow i haven't even heard of some of these songs, i'm definitely going to check them all out as soon as i get home this week!

thanks guys

I chose the two or three from each CD that I personally, think are his best writing from that CD.

1. Growing Up
2. New York City Serenade
3. Jungleland
4. Factory
5. Something In The Night
6. Drive All Night
7. Reason To Believe
8. Bobby Jean
9. All That Heaven Will Allow
10. This Hard Land

some many amazing song,just picked 10 of my current favourites.

1) For You
2) Rosalita
3) Thunder Road
4) Jungleland
5) Prove It All Night
6) Darkness on the Edge of Town
7) Hungry Heart
8 ) Atlantic City
9) Better Days
10) Long Walk Home

Victory!