Still, we do try to manage our head-space, try to find other things to occupy, entertain & divert us. Yesterday in our neck of the woods, the weather was absolutely perfect, a long, meandering, summer day. We made our appointed rounds earlier in the day, and then in the afternoon, we escaped to our little secret garden at the lakefront mansion we are "care-taking."
We had a full-blown pool party, which mainly meant cold drinks, (non-alcoholic), my partner floating around on a "floaty," in a gorgeous backyard pool, while I played DJ. I was spinning CD's on a kick-ass little Sony boombox. Tiny speakers, massive sound. How do they make such great music players? It was all quite exquisite. Loafing, goofing off, chilling out; it turns out these things are essential.
What was the playlist? Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band. We had recently re-purchased much of his back catalog. The albums sound better than ever, the music mastered by the great mastering engineer, Bob Ludwig (now retired). It's true the CD quality has gotten so much better, these little silver discs rival and probably, pretty much match, the vinyl. Be sure to check out the legendary 1990's Virgin remasters that Ludwig did for the Rolling Stones greatest (r&r Holy Grail), albums too: Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Get Your Ya, Ya's Out, Exile on Main Street, Goat's Head Soup, Some Girls. All superb!
So we had a long debate and discussion about all things Springsteen. We both agreed that Bruce's second album is an often over-looked masterpiece: "The Wild, the Innocent, the E-Street Shuffle." (1973). Bruce never made another record quite like it. Different E-Street band: Mad Dog Vini Lopez on drums, and the great David Sancious: piano, organ, sax, mellotron, string arrangements. Jazzy, funky, looser & more groovy than other Bruce bands; soulful r&b, epic, gorgeous vibe, lots of horns (even a tuba!), more swing, less rock, maybe a bit influenced by another New Jersey band, Southside Johnny and Asbury Dukes. A different vision, one that Bruce left behind on his next masterpiece "Born to Run." (1975). I spun both records so we could listen & compare.
So, yeah, we talked about the albums, the recording process, keeping a band together, the ebb & flow of creativity, Bruce's perfectionism & activism, things we are also very deeply-engaged in too. We talked about all of this as if these topics were so very important, the answers, and our lives, depended on getting it all right. It's was like falling into another dimension. It was all so engaging, relaxing, refreshing & renewing. Sure, it was good, so very good, we plan to do it all again soon. Maybe we'll move onto our other favorite Bruce records? You know, those other absolute stone-cold masterpieces: Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) & The River (1980)
Yes, we definitely need the time to clear the headspace! And the pool, and the boombox, awaits!
