There were seven people in the audience that night at Gerdies Folk City in Greenwich Village. It was an "open microphone night". He went on from 8- 8;30 pm. He also played "Saint in the City" and a few other songs that he never released. This was part of his audition for Columbia Records. John Hammond loved him but wanted to know if he was any good in front of an audience so they went there to see him on stage. That's a loaned guitar (with a crack in it) from a friend back in Freehold named Vinnie "Skeebots" Maniello (the drummer from his high school band "The Castiles"). There was no case for it so he had to carry it on the bus from NJ and through the streets of NYC over his shoulder "Midnight Cowboy" style feeling very conspicuous (to quote Bruce). He didn't own an acoustic guitar at that point. He still wasn't signed until Clive Davis heard him a few days later. He had auditioned earlier for Atlantic Records but they had no interest in him.
@@annarosen9706: I see where you are going with this! I'm actually a fan of Dylan. Bruce was "borrowing" the Dylan persona here. Dylan's lyrics were unparalleled.
glammer, thanks so much for that piece of history. I'll bet the Village hadn't seen anything like that performance since Dylan. It's great to see Bruce evolving his art.
It was all fields round here back then. I found it on Limewire a few years before I uploaded it, which is another sign of ancient times, so credit to the original Limer.
He auditioned for Atlantic Records around the same time and they had no interest. It took 12 more years before he made any money at it. I saw an interview with his E street base player Garry Tallent where he said in 1982 the musicians in a Springsteen tribute band had more money than he (Gary) had and the only reason he didn't file for unemployment benefits was he was afraid it would get out publicly and be embarrassing.
“I used to go and see him. I hated him as a solo artist, when he came on and did this Bob Dylan thing. It was awful. So cringe-making. He’d sit there with his guitar and be folky, have these slow philosophical raps in between the songs. As soon as the band came on, it was like a different performer and he was just marvellous.” -David Bowie. This is very much in the style of the former, though Bowie did cover the song, though in the style of the latter.
Love his reaction after announcing the song, dead silence. Don't worry young man, they'll be cheering soon enough
He's what rock used to be! Sexy, fun, soulful, inventive, celebratory, a sweet escape.
There were seven people in the audience that night at Gerdies Folk City in Greenwich Village. It was an "open microphone night". He went on from 8- 8;30 pm. He also played "Saint in the City" and a few other songs that he never released. This was part of his audition for Columbia Records. John Hammond loved him but wanted to know if he was any good in front of an audience so they went there to see him on stage. That's a loaned guitar (with a crack in it) from a friend back in Freehold named Vinnie "Skeebots" Maniello (the drummer from his high school band "The Castiles"). There was no case for it so he had to carry it on the bus from NJ and through the streets of NYC over his shoulder "Midnight Cowboy" style feeling very conspicuous (to quote Bruce). He didn't own an acoustic guitar at that point. He still wasn't signed until Clive Davis heard him a few days later. He had auditioned earlier for Atlantic Records but they had no interest in him.
Great backstory
Thank you so much for sharing that brilliant true story of a star in the making!
This is from may of 72 (5/2/72) he is 22...first album comes out next year. Pretty damn special. My favorite song when I was growing up.
My favorite version
Love this song, always been a big fan !!!
My favorite Boss song. One person has a tin ear...
Pardon my language. This is bee fucking beautiful. Just chokes me up that a kid could write a song that great.
This is incredible!
Amazing!
I'm 61 now. I never was a fan of Springsteen, but this is pretty good!
If you’re so inclined, u might wanna check out “before the fame”. Deeply felt stuff for sure ❤.
@@annarosen9706:
He was definitely channeling the Dylan persona here.
@@midnightrider7648 For sure 😎 edit: I guess I could use a different affirmative.. Yes, definitely lol
@@annarosen9706:
I see where you are going with this! I'm actually a fan of Dylan. Bruce was "borrowing" the Dylan persona here. Dylan's lyrics were unparalleled.
Speechless...just incredible
Boss!!
glammer, thanks so much for that piece of history. I'll bet the Village hadn't seen anything like that performance since Dylan. It's great to see Bruce evolving his art.
thanks glammer, this is why you tube is so vital
When they said sit down, I stood up!
"It was bye bye New Jersey, we were airborne!"
Wow, this was uploaded a decade point 5 ago. *Thank you* all this time later. I’d not seen this before. Love ❤️.
It was all fields round here back then. I found it on Limewire a few years before I uploaded it, which is another sign of ancient times, so credit to the original Limer.
24,000 views, the world don't know shit from clay. Pure art.
wow...what a find... thank you
Maybe he spent some time listening to Bob? :) Man, this is really tremendous!
Is it a wonder after hearing this he became a legend?
He auditioned for Atlantic Records around the same time and they had no interest. It took 12 more years before he made any money at it. I saw an interview with his E street base player Garry Tallent where he said in 1982 the musicians in a Springsteen tribute band had more money than he (Gary) had and the only reason he didn't file for unemployment benefits was he was afraid it would get out publicly and be embarrassing.
wow!
Outfuckingstanding! Just read about this performance in the book, "Bruce"!
Monday night at the coliseum!
"Could be a song about becoming a woman too--but I don't know." lol
And that was ‘72…😂
This was obviously professional musicianship hubris. Ya know, what we all had to do to make it on our own back then.....
bruce is 23 here
Does anyone know any details about this gig? Was it well attended? Was it a frickin open-mic? When did he start gigging solo acoustic???
Dylan starter pack
theres a version on the "philidelphia" cd of growing up but cant find it. can anyone help?
I cant find the studio verison on youtube!
czcams.com/video/g3Cs-bZ2YX0/video.html
“I used to go and see him. I hated him as a solo artist, when he came on and did this Bob Dylan thing. It was awful. So cringe-making. He’d sit there with his guitar and be folky, have these slow philosophical raps in between the songs. As soon as the band came on, it was like a different performer and he was just marvellous.” -David Bowie. This is very much in the style of the former, though Bowie did cover the song, though in the style of the latter.