Category Archives: Video

Video of the day: Rosalita (Come out tonight) – Live, July 8, 1978 – Phoenix, Arizona

Seeing the video as a thirteen-year-old, I felt my brain exploded…. this was honest, and true, and it made me feel. Really feel.
— Robert J. Wiersema

From Wikipedia:

Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” is a 1973 song by Bruce Springsteen, from his The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle album, and is especially famed as a concert number for Springsteen and The E Street Band. The song, which clocks in at just over seven minutes, is a story of forbidden love between the singer and the titular Rosalita, whose parents disapprove of his life in a rock and roll band. It is included on the compilation albums The Essential Bruce Springsteen and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Greatest Hits.

In the early 1980s, many years after the song’s initial release, MTV began showing a music video for the song. The video was a straight concert performance (from a Darkness Tour performance on July 8, 1978 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona) that included band introductions and numerous adoring females rushing the stage. While only adequate technically, the video captured the energy and playfulness of Springsteen and the E Street Band in concert, and was the first such introduction many casual fans had.

For many years, dating back virtually to when the song was written, “Rosalita” always closed the regular set in Springsteen concerts, often elongated to incorporate extended band introductions. It was the one “sure thing” in a Springsteen set list and celebrated as such. Steven Van Zandt used this time to shine on backing vocals, as his voice changed on performances of the song from the Born To Run Tours to the The River Tour.

However, on October 19, 1984 in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, during the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, this suddenly changed; “Rosalita” was dropped from the show..

The goodies:

Lyrics:

Spread out now, Rosie, doctor come cut loose her mama’s reins
You know playin’ blind man’s bluff is a little baby’s game
You pick up Little Dynamite, I’m gonna pick up Little Gun
And together we’re gonna go out tonight and make that highway run
You don’t have to call me lieutenant, Rosie, and I don’t want to be your son
The only lover I’m ever gonna need’s your soft sweet little girl’s tongue
Ah, Rosie, you’re the one

Dynamite’s in the belfry, baby, playin’ with the bats
Little Gun’s downtown in front of Woolworth’s, tryin’ out his attitude on all the cats
Papa’s on the corner, waitin’ for the bus
Mama, she’s home in the window, waitin’ up for us
She’ll be there in that chair when they wrestle her upstairs, ’cause you know we ain’t gonna come
Ah, I ain’t here on business, baby, I’m only here for fun
And Rosie, you’re the one

Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain’t no liar
Rosalita, you’re my stone desire

Jack the Rabbit and Weak Knees Willie, don’t you know they’re gonna be there
Ah, Sloppy Sue and Big Bones Billy, they’ll be comin’ up for air
We’re gonna play some pool, skip some school, act real cool
Stay out all night, it’s gonna feel all right
So Rosie, come out tonight, oh, baby, come out tonight
Windows are for cheaters, chimneys for the poor
Oh, closets are for hangers, winners use the door
So use it Rosie, that’s what it’s there for

And Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your lover, ain’t no liar
Rosalita, you’re my stone desire
All right

Now, I know your mama, she don’t like me ’cause I play in a rock and roll band
And I know your daddy, he don’t dig me, but he never did understand
Your papa lowered the boom, he locked you in your room
I’m coming to lend a hand
I’m coming to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man
Someday we’ll look back on this and it will all seem funny
But now you’re sad, your mama’s mad
And your papa says he knows that I don’t (have any money)
Whoa, your papa says he knows (that I don’t have any money)
Whoa, so your daddy says he knows I don’t have (Papa says he knows that I don’t have any money)

Well, tell him this is his last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance
Because the record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance
And my tires were slashed and I almost crashed, but the Lord had mercy
And my machine, she’s a dud, out stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Well, hold on tight, stay up all night, ’cause Rosie, I’m comin’ on strong
By the time we meet the morning light, I will hold you in my arms
I know a pretty little place in Southern California down San Diego way
There’s a little café where they play guitars all night and all day
You can hear ’em in the back room strummin’
So hold tight, baby, ’cause don’t you know daddy’s comin’
Oh, everybody, so!

Rosalita, jump a little lighter
Senorita, come sit by my fire
I just want to be your love, ain’t no lie
Rosalita, you’re my stone desire
Oh, yeah
(Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

 

I HAVE to include the Passaic-78 version as well:

-Egil

Dawes Live at WNCW 13th of June 2012

It’s not some message written in the dark,
Or some truth that no one’s seen,
It’s a little bit of everything.

The California-based quartet Dawes has  made a name for themselves with their great harmonies and songwriting.  With roots in the great Laurel Canyon sound of Gram Parsons, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, and other 70’s west-coast icons, bandmates Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber and Tay Strathairn went into WNCW’s Studio 13th of June for a great performance and talk about Middle Brother, Robbie Robertson, and of course their own great recordings.

Dawes was a great discovery for us in 2011 and they just keeps getting better.

The fantastic Million Dollar Bill:

Interview about songwriting, Middle Brother and more:

Continue reading Dawes Live at WNCW 13th of June 2012

Documentary: Spooner Oldham and the Muscle Shoals sound

From Wikipedia:
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett (keyboards), Roger Hawkins (drums), Jimmy Johnson (guitar) and David Hood (bass) (called The Swampers) left FAME Studios to create their own studio. The Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, as they became known, was the first rhythm section to own its own studio and, eventually, its own publishing and production companies. The distinctive accompaniment and arrangements have been heard on a tremendous number of legendary recordings, including those from Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and the Staple Singers amongst others.

Spooner Oldham and Muscle Shoals” is a short, no budget, 4-part documentary I shot in celebration of Spooner’s induction into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame (created by Cory Pennington). The sound is a bit all over the place on the interviews, but it’s a facinating look into one of the most legendary studios.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Very interesting stuff!

– Hallgeir

Soulful performances from Bonnaroo 2012

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Today we have picked three performances from this year’s Bonnaroo festival. Three bands that are som funky, so tight, so good that it’s hard to describe it. So just enjoy these videos, they do the artists more justice.

First out is the great Sharon Jones with the fantastic Dap-Kings. They feel retro but really fresh at the same time. I had the pleasure of seeing them in Oslo last year and in a few weeks I’ll see them again, this time at Bergenfest.

He Said (funky as hell!):

Alabama Shakes:


Next band out is the “up and coming” Alabama Shakes. Just as much a rock band as a soul outfit, but this song is soul as good as any!
Last year at this time the Alabama Shakes were only dreaming of playing a packed Bonnaroo tent. The reality at Bonnaroo 2012 was that they rocked the festival just right!

Be Mine:

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires:

Last but not least we present Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires. Gonna see them three times the next few months, it’s going to be fantastic.

This band doesn’t care if they’re playing for 5,000 people or just five, Charles Bradley and his companions are in it to perform and completely brings the house down!

Heartaches and Pain:

– Hallgeir