On the facebook page Norrie expresses mild disbelief that I might not have owned ‘The River’ until 6 years after it came out.
The year was 1980 and I was a volunteer youth worker working in the City Churches in Dundee. I was paid some amount
that was pretty marginal and given free rent in a flat in town. I was totally happy, but there wasn’t a lot left to buy records.
I was going out with a girl who arrived at my flat one day with a copy of The River and we put the album on. I’d heard about Flo and Eddie from
Frank Zappa days but nothing prepared me for the impact of the second verse of Hungry Heart. It was a moment. Why had I not heard it until then?
The reason was simple; Bruce Springsteen didn’t get played on a any radio station I’d ever heard of…at least, not during waking hours.
So it was the time, poor times for most people and certainly for me, when you got any copy of your new favourite album and you hoped to buy it second hand or get a present for Christmas. Double albums? Well, that was double the price. As I said in the facebook page it was my intention when I signed to CBS records to get my hands on some seriuous bits of missing catalogue. Cue the sudden acquisition of Bruce’s missing albums, Dylan, Thelonius Monk, Willie Nelson and George Jones. I’m nothing if not eclectic.
What else could be done and not done in 1980? We stood at football matches and people took in bevvy on a grand scale to the match. They smoked in pubs…they smoked everywhere! Gigs were cheap. It cost the same to go to a gig as it did to buy an album….so you can work out why the recording business is in such disarray. You think things are bad now economically? It was terrible then. No one seemed to have any certainty of finding work and things were about to get even worse for a few years. But in among the gloom were pieces of music that took you out of yourself and made you believe. The River was one. On Friday night we’ll celebrate that album.
We’re not celebrating alone. We’ll be joined by a band of brothers who love that album as much as I do. Roddy Hart and The Lonesome Fire have just brought out their 3rd album “Road of Bones” on vinyl no less! They will be playing songs from that record, we’ll be talking about the music with Roddy and they are going to play one of their favourite songs from The River.
Country music…? Oh yes. Nice new things from Rachel Harrington, Mt Desolation and The Duke and The King.
p.s
I went to Hampden on Tuesday night with my wee boy and some pals of his. It was a great night because the team were heroic, even though we lost. I hate the Hampden PA system (hate Hampden mostly) and their dire music and stupid Americanisation of our great game – the fireworks, the dafties telling us to ‘make some noise’ but on the way out they played Dignity. It was a nice wee moment.
Great blog post Ricky. I hope that comment of mine did not cause offence! I most definitely remember saving up to buy lp’s ….anyway.
I think one of the other big things that people will forget is that there was no internet, no MTV. It was also always a relative;y long time between Springsteen lp’s and so prior to the release of the River the exposure to him was probably limited for most people to the film clips played now and then on OGWT. Prior to the release of the River there was a huge campaign in NME/ Melody Maker etc. and by the time the release came along I clearly remember being really quite excited to hear what he had produced. Like so many others I dropped the needle and prayed…….
As an aside the cover you show there is from the Nashua Night unofficial release and that as you will know is a stunning performance (best part of 4 hours). Some of those recordings have made it on to official releases and hopefully a proper document of The River Tour will follow the Darkness material.
And so to Roddy Hart. I am the proud owner of copy 12 of his album and it is excellent I would encourage all to seek it out from Roddy’s web pages. The packaging not unlike Darkness funnily enough!
Hi ricky, dont know if you remember me but used to work with Peter and Julian at 2nd vision. Had lots of facebook CBS reunion stuff which got me thinking of those days and then of working with Deacon Blue…. and thought why not say hi…..hope life is well with you all sian x
ha ha brings back memories! Also I know the flat that you are talking about as a friend of mine lived at the Steeple flat for a few years after you. This was an exciting piece of knowledge for us girls!
Unlike you I did get the River 6 years after it was released – not quite as cool.
Keep up the good work – LOVING the show :0)
A lovely slice of historical context. I have albums that I’ve had similar relationships with too (a vinyl copy of “Riches” amongst them!) that therefore carry such an emotional weight and remind me of times and places. There’s something about the tangibility of vinyl – and, increasingly, CDs too – that alongside the music itself helps conjure such vivid memories. It’s one of the great joys of a favourite album, or song, for me.
Good stuff. And a marvellous first hour of the show tonight too, as ever!
Really great show. Great set by Roddy.
Nice post Adam – I agree wholeheartedly with you that the tactile / tangible feel of albums and just about cd’s adds so much to the joy of listening to and collecting music. I’ve tried downloading a couple of thongs but I just don’t get the same out of it.
You’ve been downloading *thongs* off the internet, Norrie? Are you sure you want to be sharing that here?!
Just kidding… thanks, Norrie. I do download some music now – for convenience apart from anything else – but nothing quite compares to owning an album complete with liner notes. Martyn Joseph’s new album turned up today – “Under Lemonade Skies” – and I’m right now cherishing its contents…