October 17: Bruce Springsteen released The River in 1980
But I remember us riding in my brother’s car
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I’d lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
They haunt me like a curse Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true Or is it something worse?
~Bruce Springsteen “The River”
Put on your best dress baby
And darlin’, fix your hair up right
Cause there’s a party, honey
Way down beneath the neon lights
~Bruce Springsteen “Out In The Street”
Steve Earle got to play with the Allman Brothers, and what do the do? A song he said he always wanted to do with them, Copperhead Road plus a true classic done in a respectful way, Knocking on Heaven’s Door. Bruce Katz also sit in on keyboards.
This happened just a few weeks ago.Lucky are the people who had tickets for that show!
The sound is a bit “sharp” but this was just too good to miss.
“I volunteered for the Army on my birthday They draft the white trash , ´round here anyway I done two tours of duty in Vietnam And I came home with a brand new plan…”
“”This record is definitely going to keep me off the Grand Ole Opry. I think we’ve made a real rock ‘n roll album. People that only know me from Guitar Town might be freaked out a bit, although anyone who also followed Exit O and the live thing won’t be taken aback at all. Sonically, the rhythm section’s a lot tougher.” – Steve Earle (to Spectator)
Copperhead Road is an American alternative country/country rock album released in 1988 by Steve Earle. Often referred to as Earle’s first “rock record”, Earle himself calls it the world’s first blend ofheavy metal and bluegrass, while in their January 26, 1989 review of the album Rolling Stone suggested the style be known as “power twang”. (read more at Wikipedia)
Released
October 17, 1988
April 29, 2008 (Deluxe)
Genre
Heartland rock, Alt-Country, Country rock, Americana
Length
43:36
Label
Uni Records (USA/Canada)
MCA
Producer
Steve Earle, Tony Brown
Official video for the song Copperhead Road
The songs on the album are a mix of personal/love songs and political/story-songs. The title track is about a road used for drug/alcohol traffic through generations, the song “Snake Oil” compares then president Ronald Reagan to a traveling con man. The title track and “Johnny Come Lately” ( with The Pogues) both describe the experiences of returning veterans.
Steve Earle and Pogues recording Johnny Come Lately:
The Beacon Theater – New York, NY.
