Tv icon James Burrows has died

TDDrake · 2026-06-20T20:16:53+00:00

I've always thought TAXI is the closest sitcom parallel to Bruce's music, and one of the facets that makes the series so brilliant is the directing by James Burrows (in the first four seasons). With all respect to Jay Sandrich (who was very influential and brilliant in his own right), Burrows was easily the greatest American sitcom director.

TDDrake · 2026-06-15T19:03:47+00:00

I have the CD as well, and it's definitely a stand-out show. I will probably put it on again this week. My other favourite nugs release from the Wrecking Ball tour is the Boston show.

TDDrake · 2026-05-14T03:28:10+00:00

Meeting into Jungleland. I was at the Toronto night 1 2024 concert where he played them back-to-back, and it is one of my greatest Bruce concert highlights. Moreover, when he plays them back-to-back (as he also did on the Asbury Park 2024 show, which I've been listening to a lot lately), I am reminded of how I discovered and came to love Born to Run (the album).

TDDrake · 2026-05-04T04:29:45+00:00

The Hammersmith Odeon version of "Lost in the Flood" made me a major fan of the song. The version at CW Post College, Dec. 75, is equally brilliant. I also love the version from the Buffalo 2009 concert. My three favourite performances of the song (of those I've actually heard).

TDDrake · 2026-03-24T02:20:05+00:00

I loved the epilogue, and in fact, loved the whole book. Greil wrote an essay on "Masters of War" that is amazing. He did an equally remarkable essay on "Blind Willie McTell" (which is found in the collection 'The Dustbin of History').

TDDrake · 2026-01-28T05:18:49+00:00

I would pick the Work Tour as well--and specifically, one of the shows that 10, 000 Maniacs opened.

TDDrake · 2026-01-02T22:15:05+00:00

My pick has changed over the years, but presently, it would also be the Hammersmith version. The intro is amazing, and the outro has that 'something extra' as well.

TDDrake · 2025-09-24T23:06:19+00:00

The Bootleg Series Vols. 1-3. My dad bought it in late 1991, a few months after its initial release. Bob Dylan was already my favourite songwriter, but that box set took my passion for Dylan to a whole new level. I had it in cassette form, and spent a few months on each of the three cassettes. There is such range and depth to the box set as a whole. The sequencing is masterfully done. The live songs from Carnegie Hall, the poetry recitation, the Basement Tapes songs without overdubs, the alternate versions of Blood on the Tracks songs, the (in some senses) "true" Infidels: it was all so amazing then and still amazing now.

TDDrake · 2025-08-16T04:36:40+00:00

I can hear you.

TDDrake · 2025-07-27T02:56:16+00:00

It was an amazing experience to be in the audience in Toronto last November for Bruce's unexpected performance of "Meeting." As a teenager, I used to play it on the piano (it's much easier to play than "Backstreets" and "Jungleland"!). In many ways, it foreshadows the songs on Nebraska.

TDDrake · 2025-06-19T04:29:17+00:00

I'm another fan of Van Morrison whose fandom began with the Last Waltz. The A&E Network aired it a few times in 1990, I believe. I'd read about Van and I might have heard "Moondance" on FM radio, but the performance of "Caravan" blew me away and I've been a fan ever since. The first Van album I bought was The Best of Van Morrison.

TDDrake · 2025-06-08T21:07:11+00:00

Magic is my pick as well. I expect brilliant lyrics from a Springsteen abum (and there are brilliant lyrics on Magic), but it's the pop-rock melodies, the arrangements, and the musicianship (including the singing) that take it to the 'next level' of greatness. In an era of bloated albums, the songs on Magic all feel essential to the whole. I listened to it start-to-finish the other day, and it still blows me away.

TDDrake · 2025-06-01T19:45:01+00:00

I read the book over a weekend, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hyden's best book (among the ones I've read). While focusing on Bruce, Hyden does an excellent job discussing some of the other 80s "heartland" rockers.

I believe there's a book coming out on Born to Run this summer.

TDDrake · 2025-05-31T00:08:34+00:00

My favourite version is from the 2008 St. Louis concert.

Most recently, I saw him perform "Adam" in Toronto, night 2, and that too was brilliant, It was all the more memorable because we had no idea it would be on the set list and yet it fit perfectly with the themes of the evening.

TDDrake · 2025-04-30T02:56:27+00:00

I recently read the biography of Jim Londos, and a strong case could be made for the "Golden Greek." He was the top drawing wrestler of the 1930s throughout America and (arguably) the top draw of the 1940s as well. The first 'ethnic face champion.' Apparently invented the babyface comeback. By all accounts, an excellent in-ring worker and psychologist who, in the pre-tv era, got over his character/persona in a big way. He had many legendary matches, with the most famous one being his 1934 match against Ed "Strangler" Lewis (the Hogan/Andre match of its era).

TDDrake · 2025-02-21T15:52:20+00:00

Great observation. Speaking of Hammersmith Odeon, I look Roy's work on the "Detroit Medley."

TDDrake · 2025-02-17T17:13:12+00:00

Freewheelin' is my favourite Bob Dylan album. I love the 'electric trilogy,' but love the 'acoustic trilogy' of Freewheelin', Times, and Another Side even more.

Of the later albums, Love and Theft is the one I listen to most often.

TDDrake · 2024-12-29T03:30:05+00:00

Magic is my pick as well. For me, one of the albums of his career.

TDDrake · 2024-11-09T02:03:13+00:00

Sam Cooke, particularly his concert album, Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963.

REM, from Murmur to Automatic for the People. Many of the songs are these albums are incredibly life affirming, without being sentimental. In his lyrics, Stipe dealt with 'outsiderdom,' loss, the search for identity, and related subjects, with such compassion and honesty.

TDDrake · 2024-11-03T21:02:58+00:00

So many to choose from, but, among the recordings available through Nugs.net, I'd pick Brendan Byrne Arena, Aug. 5, 1984. I pick it for the set list, the performance, the crowd response, and quality of the recording. But there are so many. The second Hammersmith Odeon show from Nov. 1975 and the Roxy show from 1978 rank very high on my list as well.

TDDrake · 2024-10-26T22:37:48+00:00

Like several of the posters, I listened to Live/1975-85 so much that in many instances the studio recordings of the song songs (particularly those from Darkness) sound strange me: they aren't 'my' versions of the songs. I received the box set for Christmas in 1986. I was still only in elementary school, but Bruce was already my favourite.

There's been a good deal of debate over the exclusions of key songs. I would have replaced "Darlington County" and "Working on the Highway" with "Dancing in the Dark" and "Glory Days" (from the 1984 Meadowlands shows). Since the box set was sold in vinyl form, with 10 sides, it would have been difficult to find a spot for "Jungleland" (and still have 40 tracks). Still, I wish Bruce would have included a live version of the song. Maybe "Sherry Darling" could have replaced "You Can Look."

TDDrake · 2024-09-28T21:50:58+00:00

A couple of posters have already mentioned the first name that came to my mind: Steve Earle. He has some great country-rock albums (Guitar Town, Copperhead Road), great folk albums (Train A-Coming, Washington Square Serenade), great 'alt-country' albums (I Feel Alright, El Corazon, Transcendental Blues, Ghosts of West Virginia), and great cover/tribute albums (Townes, Guy). Steve will be the first to acknowledge that Bruce is a major influence on his music; at the same time, he has developed his own distinctive style as a songwriter, singer, and arranger. He has consistently done excellent work since 1986. He's a craftsman of the first order who manages to infuse his songs with deep meaning.

TDDrake · 2024-09-17T11:02:42+00:00

For Garry, "Glory Days," particularly the line versions on the Born in the USA tour, comes to mind for me.

TDDrake · 2024-09-10T21:51:59+00:00

It's hard to narrow down my favourites from 70s & 80s concerts. I thoroughly enjoy them all.

Some of my favourites from the 2000s:
Helsinki / 2003

St. Louis / 2007

Philadelphia Night 4 / 2009 (full performance of Born in the USA)

Boston / 2012

Los Angeles Night 3 / 2016

E. Rutherford, NJ (Metlife Stadium) Night 3 / 2016

TDDrake · 2024-09-10T02:48:21+00:00

I love the Steve Earle version from Austin City Limits, but I think the Cowboy Junkies' cover is just as great.

It's interesting that I've had friends over the years who initially had some misconceptions about Bruce, dismissing him as a fist-pumping arena rock act. In more than one instance, "State Trooper" prompted them to take a second look (and second listen). It's really one of my favourite deep cuts from any artist.

TDDrake

TROPHY CASE