As a bonus, here's the greatest reggae song of all time.

Final Springsteen -related post? Say it ain't so. I'm hoping you meant "final Springsteen-related post of this week."

well, miko, believe it or not, there are some poor lost souls who don't share our obsession with the Bard of Freehold. Pray for them.

I'm with miko here - I was hoping you meant last Springsteen of the DAY. Let the silly haters just click on by.

"Hey, Jon? Love that you're into me and stuff, but the flowers and the cake? Way too much, man. See you out on the Backstreets, brother. By the dumpster, you know the one. Wear those jeans I like." - The Boss

I'm not a real Bruce fan, but these posts don't bother me at all. On the contrary - they're fun to read, and I like the comments. Keep it up. Share the wealth. Spread the joy. And all those other cliches that appply.

... oh and love the toots, too! My day is better.

I tend to think that if a person is not a Bruce fan, it is because they haven't been to a Bruce show.

I could be wrong; there could be people who have seen him and were left cold. But I don't know anybody like that.

"Greatest reggae song of all time? It had better be..." /me clicks link, smiles

thes: ha.

Well, as much as I love the Boss, even I'm tired of hearing me talk about him, but I love sharing music. So here's two songs from two men who prove that 'selling out' isn't a myth. And it's especially sad to see artistic decline from people this talented:

Anyday - Derek & the Dominos

I don't think Clapton ever played or sang better than on this album. And he has the bonus of having Duane Allman with him. But all the members of the band were hooked on heroin at the time and Clapton was going through the anguish of his failed affair with Patti Boyd. It all comes through on this glorious track.

Levon - Elton John

Silly Disney soundtrack hack that he is today, it's easy to forget that the former Reginald Dwight of Pinner, England was once capable of writing songs as gorgeous as this.

Yeah guys like these three's excesses are the reason punk had to happen, and I'm glad it did, but it's worth remembering what they were capable of one upon a time.

Ah, Elton. He was fantastic in his prime. My life would be so much sadder without my favorites of his: "Burn Down the Mission" and "Take me to the Pilot". "Holy Moses" is excellent too.

Those tunes are faves of mine too, as are 'Funeral For A Friend' and 'Country Comfort.' But I posted 'Levon' because the lyric 'Jesus, he wants to go to Venus..' needs to be immortalized.

BTW, did anybody actually download the live 'Rosalita?' It really is that good.

I did, Jon - and it is "that good" indeed.

I've seen video footage of the same performance and there's a great moment where Bruce & Clarence are staring into eachothers eyes and circling like two wrestlers in the ring, then the jump right back into the song.

also, just because I'm in the mood, here's one of the few songs in rock history with just the right amount of cowbell:

Mississippi Queen - Mountain

(ya gotta love a great big man with a little tiny guitar)

I downloaded, but haven't listened yet. I really need to get that boxed set anyway. My mom has it on LP, but that doesn't help me way up here in the No'th Country.

Mississippi Queen! You taught me everything.

You know Jon, the better I get to know you, the more I think you are missing your calling as a music journalist. Or essayist. Or whatever. You've got passion, knowledge, and a way with words. Have you ever thought about that?

You have to ask? Dave Marsh & Lester Bangs are my idols as music writers. Columnist, Disk Jockey, and of course, Porn Star are at the top of my list of dream jobs. But there's not much opportunity these days to make a living at such things.

(your mom owns a Springsteen box set? that's one hip mom. Although my mom did admit that of all the weird music I listened to she did like Bruce the best, maybe because she came from the type of town Bruce sings about)

Also, if you are as devout a Bruce fan as you seem to be, you really need to read Tom Perrotta's books. He's from Jersey, too. I've met him, he's a cool guy as well as a great writer. His book Joe College is about a lower-middle Jersey boy at Yale. In one scene he hears Springsteen played at a party.

Being from Jersey I was possesive of the Boss. I never came home from work and washed up and went racing in the streets, but I knew people who did or could if they wanted to.

His collection of short stories entitled Bad Haircut has a story called 'The Weenie Man' which features a childs eye veiw of an adult conversation which is some of the best writing I've ever seen.

Hey: if you want to be a writer, just write, and start sending stuff places, or blogging it, or whatever. The distinguishing characteristic of people who make it as writers is that they try relentlessly to make it. It certainly seems like it's so hard to crack the music-writing market, but in reality, editors are desperate for good writers and just don't usually know how to find or connect with them. Maybe it wouldn't be a FT job, but you've got skills, and the world would enjoy them. If you wrote a music blog, I'd think it would take off, and you might start getting solicited for paid writing gigs.

My Mom is an interesting subject when it comes to musical taste. First of all, she's wicked young: she had me at age 18 in 1969, and she grew up with this music, in Red Bank, NJ. The Castiles played at a couple of her high school dances at Red Bank Catholic. My parents still live in that area and are involved with the music community. My mom's editor of the local paper now, and has met Bruce in a bunch of contexts, through friends, at political dinners, and such. My mom is actually a big Patti fan - think Patti's the coolest. Anyway, there's my claim to fame. But everyone in Monmouth County has their Bruce-link story.

I haven't read Perrotta yet, but I do need to. I was really sorry to miss the "Springsteen Symposium" they had at Monmouth College last September. I had to work at my %$@# real job.

Ah, my mom's a good six years older than yours, her rock and roll aprecciation extended to Motown, the Beach Boys & the Beatles and Dad's a Sinatra, Elvis, doo-wop guy (had some great 45's that got sold at a tag sale when I was a kid: Great Balls Of Fire, Speedoo..)

Dave Marsh, the rock critic I mentioned is also Springsteen's co-manager along with Jon Landau (whom I've met, too). Marsh came into the bookstore I used to work in and I recognized him from his book jacket, when I helped him out (and got him to do a signing. My copy of his Boss bio is emblazoned with a personalized signature) and got to talking I asked "So, how's Bruce?" "he was great last night when we had dinner."

Lucky bastard.

Spinning update:

I'm into the CSN section of my LPs. This LP exploration is amazing just because I'm hearing all these deep tracks I haven't listened to in 15, 20 years. Today's blow-me-away track: Steven Stills' "4 + 20". Wow, what a song.

"Rosalita" is one of my favorite songs, ever.

My forever-love and I were out biking one day and exchanging turns singing the lyrics (half-remembered, but what the hell). That's one of my favorite memories in this lifetime.