Academics to debate Springsteen

[elevation2u]

From BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4199860.stm

The life and works of Bruce Springsteen are to be discussed by academics at a conference devoted to the star.
More than 150 papers are being presented at the symposium at Monmouth University in New Jersey, Springsteen's home state, from 9 September.

Discussions include "A Marxist Perspective on Darkness on the Edge of Town" and "The Boss and the Bible".

Organiser Kenneth Womack said the event focused on Springsteen because "he was always shooting for something higher".

The English professor cited Springsteen's lyrics on class and community, and his overt patriotism, as among the reasons he was so worthy of academic debate.

Feminism and Springsteen

More than 500-people are expected to attend the three-day symposium, titled Glory Days, with a concert inspired by Springsteen's music also being staged.

Also on the itinerary is a guided tour of Asbury Park, the inspiration for his first album Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ.

Although the conference is not restricted to academics, Mr Womack is hoping "it is not too fan-nish".

"I hope people are thinking carefully about their arguments," he said.

Other titles up for debate include "Springsteen is to New Jersey what Santa Claus is to the North Pole" and "Feminism and Springsteen".

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

how about a discussion on why bruce kept his mouth quiet while a democratic governor was involved in some of the largest scandles the state of new jersey has ever seen...




ok i'll stop now... i still like bruce.

 

[Hewson]

From the title I though it was gonna be a debate, the Academics vs. Bruce Springsteen.
Now that I'd like to see.

 

[FizzingWhizzbees]

Yeah, there was an academic conference about the Smiths earlier this year. The NME went along and made fun of it, naturally.

 

[IWasBored]

i read something a few months ago about a law school with an elective course devoted to studying various springsteen songs.

 

[elevation2u]

if only they had those courses in CA

 

[Popmartijn]

This was the big news at that conference. From Backstreets (http://www.backstreets.com/news.html)

HAMMERSMITH DVD PREVIEWED AT SYMPOSIUM
A bunch of Bruce fans sittin' around talkin'... and rockin'.
Just back from the Glory Days Springsteen Symposium, a whirlwind weekend of impassioned Bruce talk, debate, insight, sights & sounds. High points, too many to name, included an opening talk and significant involvement all weekend from Dave Marsh; Colleen Sheehy's fascinating conversation with photographer Frank Stefanko, highlighted by many unseen photos (including a stunning peek at Stefanko's November 2004 photo shoot with Springsteen, some striking weight-of-the-world shots); BBC Music Entertainment Executive Producer Mark Hagen's presentation of his 1998 "A Secret History" documetary; Bob Santelli reminiscing with Danny Federici and Vini Lopez; and just a wealth of presentations, perspectives and discussions with fans, authors, musicians, teachers.... Kudos to Mark Bernhard and everyone involved for an inarguable success -- this conference was the first of its kind, and by its end the main question on everyone's lips was, "When are we doing this again?"

A couple of late additions included the always engaging Bobby Muller (regaling the Saturday night dinner crowd with the story of Springsteen's involvement with the Vietnam Veterans movement, as well as addressing the current war) and -- perhaps the most "newsworthy" event of the weekend-- a surprise visit from Thom Zimny. The editor of all of Springsteen's recent concert films (Live in New York City, Live in Barcelona, VH1 Storytellers), Zimny brought a treat for the conference crowd on Sunday: a sneak peak of the Hammersmith Odeon DVD, which will present the complete 11/18/75 London show as part of the upcoming Born to Run 30th Anniversary reissue. Yes, we've finally gotten official confirmation of at least some of the much-rumored additional content for this package, and what better confirmation than two songs played in full, "She's the One" and "Quarter to Three" -- in full color and at full blast.

Just days before the London show, Mike Appel approached Mike Appleton (original producer of the Old Grey Whistle Test) and asked if he'd film the performance. Most of the reulsting 16mm negatives sat in a storage locker -- in unlabeled cannisters -- for the better part of 30 years, until Zimny was asked to work his magic. You might have already seen some circulating footage from the show... but you ain't seen nothin' yet. Zimny spent the better part of a year piecing together footage from three cameras, restoring it frame-by-frame, synching it up with pristine audio (mixed by Bob Clearmountain in both stereo and surround), and the result is a jaw-dropper.

In addition to the London video (runnning time: 2 hours, 9 minutes), DVD content for the 30th Anniversary of Born to Run will also include a documentary about the making of the album, directed and edited by Zimny with interviews by the BBC's Hagen. Zimny and Hagen were both onstage for the Sunday afternoon presentation, answering questions as much as they were able... like, release date? Sometime before Christmas. Good enough for now. Let the salivating begin.

And here's some more info about the 30th Anniversary Edition of Born To Run. From Greasy Lake (http://www.greasylake.org):

Details about Born to Run box set seeping out

It could be a rumor or it could be fact. According to AOL Music, the Born to Run 30th Anniversary edition will include a 44 page, full color booklet of unpublished photos, a digitally remastered version of the CD, Live In London, a never before seen, complete two hour concert from the Born To Run tour that was shot by the BBC in November, 1975 at the Hammersmith Odeon, a second DVD with The Making Of Born To Run, which is supposedly a brand new documentary including new interviews with Bruce, the entire band and recording team, plus extensive archival photos, unreleased versions of songs and historic, previously unseen footage from the Springsteen vaults. As an added bonus, the set includes Bruce's historic 1973 performance from the CBS Records Convention in Los Angeles". The whole shebang is supposedly going to be released on November 15. We've got one word: Awesome!

 

[elevation2u]

yea, i read that over at backstreets.com and was quite enthused,
i will be saving up for this baby if it is released indeed, unseen 70's material double drool
hooray for consumerism!

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

i wonder how many confused teenyboppers visit backstreets.com every day

 

[IWasBored]

 

[phanan]

Yeah, I read about the Born To Run anniversary edition a while ago. If that is true, it is going to be incredible.

 

[hedge]

but wasn't the hammersmith show one of the worst performances he ever did? sulked all night?

he even apologised for it the next time he played London

CD sounds cool though

 

[IWasBored]

does it get any more official than the official springsteen site's mailing list?

COLUMBIA RECORDS TO RELEASE HISTORIC 'BORN TO RUN 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION' ON NOVEMBER 15

BOX SET WILL INCLUDE THREE SEPARATE DISCS INCLUDING A STUNNING DVD OF THE LEGENDARY 1975 HAMMERSMITH ODEON CONCERT; A DVD OF "WINGS FOR WHEELS: THE MAKING OF BORN TO RUN," WITH NEVER BEFORE SEEN ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE AND NEW INTERVIEWS WITH ALL THE BAND MEMBERS AND MANY OTHERS; AND A CD OF THE BRILLIANTLY REMASTERED 'BORN TO RUN'

Columbia Records will release the 'Born To Run 30th Anniversary Edition' box set on November 15. Personally supervised by Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau, the box set includes "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75," an astonishing film of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's legendary 1975 concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in London; the new film "Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run;" the classic album in remastered CD form; and finally, a 48 page booklet of previously unpublished photographs. With its two DVDs, the package offers approximately four hours of previously unseen footage.

"I believe that the combination of the great 1975 concert footage, the brilliant documentary of the making of the album and the dazzling remastering of 'Born to Run' add up to a nearly perfect storm of Bruce's music," said longtime manager Jon Landau.

Spanning roughly two hours and ten minutes, the November 18, 1975 concert at London's Hammersmith Odeon finds an epic performance of sixteen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band classics, including "Thunder Road," "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out," "Jungleland," and "Born To Run," as well as such other favorites such as "Kitty's Back" and "Rosalita." The multiple-camera film of the complete concert will be available in its entirety and its original sequence, as newly edited by Emmy Award Winner Thom Zimny. "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75" is the only full-length concert film ever released of Bruce and the E Street Band's first 25 years.

Zimny's production team painstakingly cleaned the original negatives and digitally restored the footage, ultimately presenting this indispensable concert in vibrant color and detail. Producer Bob Clearmountain remastered and remixed the DVD in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. Zimny has worked with Springsteen on several projects, including editing the Emmy-winning "Live in New York," the quadruple-platinum certified, Emmy-nominated "Live in Barcelona" and the "VH1 Storytellers" films. Clearmountain is the legendary mixer who has often collaborated with Springsteen over the last twenty- five years, most famously on 'Born in the USA.'

The ninety-minute documentary "Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run" chronicles the definitive story of the creation of 'Born To Run,' from songwriting to production and beyond. "Wings For Wheels" boasts archival film never shown publicly, including substantial footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band recording the album, 1975 concert film and other footage shot between 1973 and 1975. The film also features exclusive footage of Springsteen playing solo piano and guitar versions of songs from 'Born To Run.'

In addition, "Wings For Wheels" incorporates newly filmed interviews with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, including former members who played on the album, as well as the production team. In newly shot footage from Asbury Park, NJ, Springsteen discusses his personal feelings about the making of the iconic album in great depth; the footage with Springsteen includes the musician reflecting on outtakes and unreleased tracks from the album for the first time since 1975. The DVD of "Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born to Run" ends with stunning bonus footage of three songs recorded live at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theater in 1973: "Spirit In The Night," "Wild Billy's Circus Story" and " Thundercrack."

Finally, the box set will feature a CD of the newly remastered 'Born To Run,' as well as a remarkable 48-page photo album of previously unpublished photographs with an introduction written by Springsteen. This is the first time Springsteen has allowed any of his catalogue to be fully remastered and he enlisted his longtime mastering guru Bob Ludwig to handle the job. The newly remastered version presents the masterpiece with striking clarity and presence. Widely regarded as one of the cornerstone albums in rock and roll history, 'Born To Run' has been recognized by many international polls as one of the greatest albums of all time. It has sold nearly nine million albums worldwide. Of 'Born To Run,' which was originally released August 25, 1975, Rolling Stone wrote, "It is a magnificent album that pays off on every bet ever placed on him-and it should crack his future wide open."

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75" Track Listing

Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
Spirit In The Night
Lost In The Flood
She's The One
Born To Run
The E Street Shuffle/Having A Party
It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City
Backstreets
Kitty's Back
Jungleland
Rosalita
4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy)
Detroit Medley
For You
Quarter To Three

"Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run" Interview List

Bruce Springsteen
Roy Bittan
Ernest "Boom" Carter
Clarence Clemons
Danny Federici
Nils Lofgren
David Sancious
Patti Scialfa
Garry Tallent
Stevie Van Zandt
Max Weinberg
Jon Landau
Jimmy Iovine
Mike Appel
Eric Meola

 

[Imarocker]

There was an article in the Boston Globe about the symposium a couple of sundays ago, pretty interesting. Also I read somewhere you can pre order the BTR Anniv. pkg off amazon? I believe.

 

[elevation2u]

cant seen anything about the preorder on amazon.com maybe in a few weeks? but I am quite anxious for that freakin concert dvd, that setlist is to die for

 

[Imarocker]

pre order BTR

cant seen anything about the preorder on amazon.com maybe in a few weeks? but I am quite anxious for that freakin concert dvd, that setlist is to die for

Try this link...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...=sr_1_13/102-4341202-2192155?v=glance&s=music

 

[elevation2u]

thanks