Complex Numbers

B minus 8 Days

August, 1984, just outside Washington, DC...

Like that of any performer, Bruce's popularity has had its ups and downs. I don't usually pay attention to such things, because my enjoyment of something has nothing to do with whether it's popular or not. One of my favorite bands, for example, is Sniff 'n' the Tears. Never heard of them, have you? They're a one-hit wonder from England, and they've been around since the late 70s. Their one hit was "Driver's Seat." The lead singer, Paul Roberts, is also an accomplished painter.

But I was talking about Bruce. While he came into the pubic consciousness around 1975, it wasn't until about a decade later that he became a Celebrity.

Now, even then, I had mixed feelings about this. After the release of the double album The River, Bruce seemed to retreat into his basement for the 1982 release of Nebraska - solo, sparse, introspective and powerful; a critical hit and a popular flop. So when Born in the USA came out in 1984, I sat back and watched helplessly as Bruce became a Phenomenon.

What I said before about popularity? I should elaborate. I'm really of the opinion that if something is popular, I don't want anything to do with it. And this was as true when I was 18 as it is now.

Okay, I admit it. I thought he sold out with Dancing in the Dark. It was that song, that one song, that made me think Bruce had gone over to the Dark Side. It was the first song from that album that they played on the radio, and when the DJ (Greaseman, DC101) announced he was going to play it, I closed the door and cranked up the stereo in great anticipation.

Oh, I liked the song, don't get me wrong - but more than anything else, it reminded me of Hungry Heart, which is probably in my bottom 10 of Bruce songs, even though it seems to get the most airplay. It sounded... polished. Overproduced.

Eighties.

Have I ever mentioned how much I despised the eighties, from a musical standpoint? Gods, but some of that shit sucked. Culture Club. Cyndi Lauper. Ugh.

Anyway, so I approached Born in the USA with some trepidation - but my fears were unfounded. With the exception of the aforementioned song, the album was energetic, unpolished and raw. I found out later that every other song was done in the studio in 2-4 takes; only DitD had the studio production values I've rarely appreciated.

So a friend of mine got a couple of tickets to one of the DC shows, and we went, and from what I remember it was four solid hours of show, with one fifteen minute break.

It was my first Bruce concert, and I never looked back.

Well, I had the carburetor, baby, cleaned and checked with her line blown out she's hummin' like a turbojet
Propped her up in the backyard on concrete blocks for a new clutch plate and a new set of shocks
Took her down to the carwash, check the plugs and points
Well, I'm goin' out tonight. I'm gonna rock that joint

Early north Jersey industrial skyline I'm a all-set cobra jet creepin' through the nighttime
Gotta find a gas station, gotta find a payphone this turnpike sure is spooky at night when you're all alone
Gotta hit the gas, baby. I'm running late, this New Jersey in the mornin' like a lunar landscape

Now, the boss don't dig me, so he put me on the nightshift
It's an all night run to get back to where my baby lives
In the wee wee hours your mind gets hazy radio relay towers, won't you lead me to my baby?
Underneath the overpass, trooper hits his party light switch
Goodnight good luck one two power shift