1976


1976


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1976-01-01 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ

No set details known.

Bruce, as well as E Street Band members Steven Van Zandt, Roy Bittan, and alum David Sancious, turn up at a New Year's Day evening performance by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. All three end up taking the stage for an extensive, spirited set of oldies. Van Zandt, who at the time was in the studio with Southside and the Jukes producing their debut album I Don't Want To Go Home, actually took the lead vocal on several numbers.

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1976-02-00 - RECORD PLANT, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Sessions for Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' work-in-progress debut album I Don't Want To Go Home, produced by Steven Van Zandt, recorded by engineer Jimmy Iovine. Springsteen was present at several sessions, particularly during the recording of his two donated compositions "You Mean So Much To Me" and "The Fever". When Steve Van Zandt invited Ronnie Spector to visit the Record Plant, Springsteen, who is a big fan of her ex-husband Phil Spector, as well as Ronnie & the Ronnettes, promptly re-arranged "You Mean So Much To Me" as a duet for Ronnie and Southside Johnny, which got everybody excited. He had previously finished the arrangement of "Fever For A Girl", now referred to as "The Fever", for Southside Johnny, who sings and plays harp. Clarence Clemons reprises his baritone vocal, which he also performed on Bruce's May 1973 "demo" recording, but used the pseudonym "Selmon T. Sachs" for contractual reasons.

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1976-03-07 - BEACON THEATRE, NEW YORK CITY, NY

THE LOCO-MOTION

Bruce makes a spur-of-the-moment stage appearance at the final night of Carole King's three-night residency, singing a rollicking duet with Carole on the evening's encore, "The Loco-Motion".

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1976-03-21 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ

RAISE YOUR HAND
Incomplete setlist.

After an eleven-week break over the holiday period Bruce & The E Street Band conduct a dress rehearsal performance in preparation for the second leg of the Born To Run Tour (the so-called Chicken Scratch Tour). Most of the Born To Run album was apparently performed, along with the first known Springsteen performance of "Raise Your Hand". Only about three hundred invited guests are in attendance.

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Start of the fourth leg of the "Born to Run" tour - U.S.

Start of the "Chicken Scratch" tour


1976-03-25 - TOWNSHIP AUDITORIUM, COLUMBIA, SC

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce's first ever appearance in South Carolina. Opening night of the second leg of the Born To Run Tour, soon nicknamed by the road crew as the "Chicken Scratch Tour" because of the high proportion of secondary market, southern state locations. The listed partial thirteen-song setlist is culled from post concert details in the city's newspapers and the recollections of those present. A very positive review in the Gamecock, student newspaper of the University of South Carolina adds some detail, but no further songs to the listed setlist. The song sequence is mostly or entirely correct, but there were one or two songs sandwiched in between these that are unverified, including in all likelihood "Quarter To Three". This show was not a sellout, with around 2,400 in attendance.

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1976-03-26 - FOX THEATRE, ATLANTA, GA

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE
Incomplete setlist.

Listed setlist gleaned from a mixture of newspaper reports and recollections from fans present. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported a 2½ hour show and a near-capacity crowd at this tiny, picturesque venue. Assuming these fan recollections are accurate, this show features the earliest known version of "Frankie" and first known tour appearance of "Blinded By The Light".

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1976-03-27 - RADIO STATION WQXI-FM, ATLANTA, GA

Bruce and Miami Steve visit the station for an hour-long live interview with DJ Cat Simon that was intermixed with both of them playing some of their favorite records for the listening audience.

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1976-03-28 - CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM, DUKE UNIVERSITY, DURHAM, NC

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / BACKSTREETS / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

The listed, presumably complete setlist is culled from the audience recording (which contains the full set, save for "Quarter To Three", information from a May 20, 1976 report in Rolling Stone, and a brief review in Duke University's student newspaper. This is one of only a few shows in which all eight songs from the Born To Run album are performed. First confirmed on-tour Springsteen performance of "Raise Your Hand," and the recording supports that claim as Springsteen calls out chord changes to the band. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Some sources suggest that "Kitty's Back" was played, but there is no evidence of it on the audience recording. First confirmed time on the Chickenscratch Tour that "Growin' Up" and "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" are dropped from the set.

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1976-03-29 - OVENS AUDITORIUM, CHARLOTTE, NC

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / BORN TO RUN / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / GROWIN' UP / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

The listed tracks are mentioned as having been performed in reviews in The Carolina Journal and the following day in the Charlotte Observer. This was a last-minute addition to the tour itinerary, arranged on only five days notice by a local promoter who became aware Springsteen had an open date available following the Duke University gig. Despite the lack of pre-event promotion Bruce pulled in an enthusiastic, near-sellout crowd of 2,400.

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1976-04-01 - CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL, BUTLER UNIVERSITY, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Cancelled show, never rescheduled. Show was cancelled with a few days notice after the University were unable to procure the $5,000 fee in time. The student newspaper, The Butler Collegian, printed the news of the cancellation on the front page on March 31, going into some detail about the events. Mike Appel requested the fee upfront as a guarantee for ticket sales.

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1976-04-01 - MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, OHIO UNIVERSITY, ATHENS, OH

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE-FREEZE OUT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

Held at Ohio University's Memorial Auditorium, the gig was arranged with only a week's notice after the school received a call from Springsteen's promoter. Other events had to be re-scheduled, but this was not an issue due to Springsteen's popularity. Further research reveals that this show was a replacement for a date at Butler University's Clowes Hall in Indianapolis, which was cancelled with a few days notice after the University were unable to procure the $5,000 fee in time.

Tickets went on sale only three days before the show, and there was non-reserved seating, which caused mayhem leading up to the venue opening its doors. Indeed, the University's Post newspaper reported that the doors were literally torn off the building in the chaos. Springsteen's fee was $7,500, with profits from the show split 75/25 between the promoter and the Ohio University Pop Concert Committee (PCC). The listed setlist combines audience recollections with a review in the April 2 Post, which confirms the opening two songs. The paper presented a pro/con style review, with the "con" side offering the following conclusion: "Under the weight of his elaborate press releases, Springsteen fails as a genuine rocker. Dredging up tired imagery, Springsteen is a failed 'West Side Story', with Bruce himself replacing the Puerto Ricans in their street punk roles. Obviously, every cripple has his own way of walking and in this instance the audience is being played for a fool."

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1976-04-02 - MACAULEY'S THEATRE, LOUISVILLE, KY

IT'S MY LIFE / JUNGLELAND / FOR YOU / DETROIT MEDLEY / RAISE YOUR HAND
Incomplete setlist.

A contributor to the Greasy Lake website notes that the set includes "Jungleland".

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1976-04-04 - MSU AUDITORIUM, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST LANSING, MI

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / FRANKIE / MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Show features "Thunder Road" with a new piano introduction. 18-song set includes a rare version of "Meeting Across The River", which is the full-band version rather than a solo piano rendition previously used; the song won't be played again until 1978. Wonderful versions of "It's My Life" and "Frankie", the latter to overwhelming crowd response, just after performing "Born To Run". He sang "Frankie they're real crazy, let's run and hide, In the darkness there'll be hidden worlds that shine when all of the fury in this desperate land, will rise like raindrops in the palm of my hand…". Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an extended mariachi-style introduction and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. This is also one of the few known times that the whole of the Born To Run album is played.

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1976-04-05 - OHIO THEATRE, COLUMBUS, OH

TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / NIGHT / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Following "Backstreets", Bruce talks about the last time he was at the Ohio Theatre in December 1972, when he opened for Sha Na Na. This show was apparently rescheduled from late 1975 due to poor ticket sales. A complimentary review of the show was in a local Columbus entertainment newspaper called Focus, dated April 15–30, 1976. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" opens, and the set includes the first known "Pretty Flamingo" of 1976. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. First confirmed time on the Chickenscratch Tour that "It's My Life" is dropped from the set.

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1976-04-06 - RADIO STATION WMMS-FM, CLEVELAND, OH

Live interview broadcast hosted by Kid Leo, one of Springsteen's earliest and most supportive radio DJs. The exact structure and length of this interview program is unclear, as the audio does not appear to be circulating among collectors.

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1976-04-07 - ALLEN THEATRE, CLEVELAND, OH

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

Bruce skips the "and now in Zanzibar…" verse of "Blinded By The Light". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-04-08 - ALLEN THEATRE, CLEVELAND, OH

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". Set includes rare version of "When You Walk In The Room", only known to have been played once in 1976 and never again until 2009. Incomplete setlist is likely to be missing "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" and the encores.

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1976-04-09 - REID ATHLETIC CENTER, COLGATE UNIVERSITY, HAMILTON, NY

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

19-song set includes "Blinded By The Light". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an extended mariachi-style introduction and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. A surprise concert for the university students, arranged the week before and announced on April 5 with tickets going on sale the same day, just after students returned from Spring Break. Tickets were initially only available to Colgate students, an additional 600 tickets went on sale to the general public the night of the show. Held in Starr Hockey Rink at the University's Reid Athletic Center. Despite almost selling out, the event was a run at a loss for the University with Springsteen's $15,000 fee added to the costs of publicity, rented seats, and generators, since Colgate's facilities could not provide the power required for sound and lights. Total costs to the Social Committee was $20,000, the most ever paid out for a concert at Colgate at the time. According to the Colgate Maroon, committee officials felt the return justified the expense.

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1976-04-10 - PAUL MELLON ARTS CENTER, CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL, WALLINGFORD, CT

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY

A special concert played at the request of John Hammond, who was close friends with the family of a Rosemary Hall resident. As a result Springsteen performed for a substantially lower fee than usual. Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. A Springsteen show regular who attended has commented to Brucebase: "There was no advertising as far as I know. I used to call Mike Appel's office to get Bruce news and they told me. A few other diehards also learned of the show, so the first few rows were full of Springsteen dignitaries who got there plenty early. With my tickets I had Joe Kivak, Simon Montgomery and a female friend of his, a guy named Ernie and his friend, Ed Sciaky. Bruce was blown away when Sciaky showed up backstage. Also up front were Kennie Viola, founder of Thunder Road (fanzine), and some friends of his. Bruce seemed real pleased to see friendly faces at such a strange venue."

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1976-04-12 - CAMBRIA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL ARENA, JOHNSTOWN, PA

NIGHT / BLINDED BY THE LIGHT / FOR YOU / TWIST AND SHOUT
Incomplete setlist.

Listed very partial setlist known from the recollections of fans present. "Night" opens the set, "Twist And Shout" is the final encore. Venue had a capacity of 4,000 in its concert seating mode. A Brucebase reader who attended reports it was a near sellout, with Bruce dressed in a dark suit (no tie) and Clarence in a white "Panama" suit. Final tour performance for "Blinded By The Light", and the last full-band version until the 1999.

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1976-04-13 - REC HALL, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY PARK, PA

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE / TWIST AND SHOUT

The most frenzied ticket demand show on this final "Chicken Scratch" leg of the Born To Run Tour - people camped out overnight on the Penn State campus for tickets. Bruce slips a couple lines from "Talk To Me" into the introduction of "She's The One". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Following the show it was reported in the Daily Collegian that Springsteen's road manager Richard (Rick) Seguso was arrested and charged with harassment, simple assault and resisting arrest follow events at the concert.

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1976-04-15 - SYRIA MOSQUE, PITTSBURGH, PA

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / FOR YOU / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE / TWIST AND SHOUT

Final tour performance for "For You". The listed twenty-song setlist is courtesy of the best recollection of Brucebase reader Mike. See our Eyewitness tab for his comments about the perfect comic ending. A glowing review in the Beaver County Times corroborates these setlist recollections.

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1976-04-16 - CAMPUS CENTER, ALLEGHENY COLLEGE, MEADVILLE, PA

JUNGLELAND / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

The three songs listed are known to have been performed via a (not so complimentary) review of the show in the school's newspaper. During the finale Bruce was jokingly carried off the stage in a stretcher…only to return for one more song (likely "Quarter To Three", although the title is not mentioned). Photographs of the queues outside the venue as well as Bruce and the band in action on stage are featured in the 1976 Kaldron, Allegheny College's yearbook, alongside the tagline 'Long lines, loud music, and a great show'.

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1976-04-17 - LOUIS A. ALEXANDER PALESTRA, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, ROCHESTER, NY

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / QUARTER TO THREE

The listed setlist was sent to Brucebase following a plea for information on the Usenet newsgroup RMAS (rec.music.artists.springsteen). It came from someone who discovered their long lost setlist notes handwritten on the night. See our News tab for reviews of the show from the University of Rochester's student newspaper Campus Times, and the city's major daily, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

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1976-04-20 - FREEDOM HALL CIVIC CENTER, JOHNSON CITY, TN

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / BORN TO RUN / SHE'S THE ONE / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / DETROIT MEDLEY / RAISE YOUR HAND / QUARTER TO THREE
Incomplete setlist.

Setlist details are known via a following day newspaper review in the Johnson City Press-Chronicle. Johnson City is the home of East Tennessee State University. However there was no school affiliation with this event. Freedom Hall had a capacity of 8,000+ but this gig was presented in the venue's 3,500-seat "stage show mode", with half the auditorium curtained and chairs installed on the floor. Due to limited advertising the attendance was less than 1,000.

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1976-04-21 - KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, KNOXVILLE, TN

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SHE'S THE ONE / THUNDER ROAD / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND
Incomplete setlist.

The listed songs were definitely performed. The show opened with "Night". Like the previous evening's gig in Johnson City, this was another disappointing turnout, with only about 1,000 of the venue's 2,500 available seats sold. See Brucebase reader Mike's (who also noted the small crowd turnout) report on the Eyewitness tab.

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1976-04-22 - BURRUSS AUDITORIUM, VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY, BLACKSBURG, VA

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / TWIST AND SHOUT

A sellout, held in the 3,000-seat Burruss Auditorium. The listed 18-song setlist is likely to represent the complete show. A review of the show in the school newspaper (see our News tab) notes that "Detroit Medley" was played. However Bruce was not done yet - following "Detroit Medley" about half the crowd remained after everyone else had left, and the band returned to the stage for the tour's final known "Twist And Shout". "Frankie" makes its second-to-last confirmed appearance on this tour.

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1976-04-22 - TOWN HALL, BLACKSBURG, VA

After his concert at Burruss Auditorium Springsteen scooted over to a well-known club called Town Hall to see Nils Lofgren perform. Reports from those present state that Nils asked Bruce to join him on stage but he declined, stating that he was just there for a guitar lesson. Some eight years later Lofgren would join the E Street Band for the mammoth Born In The USA Tour. There are also hazy reports that Bruce (and Clarence) did jam with Nils, but this can't be confirmed.

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1976-04-24 - VARSITY GYMNASIUM, APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY, BOONE, NC

NIGHT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / BORN TO RUN / FRANKIE / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / QUARTER TO THREE
Incomplete setlist.

The listed nine songs are articulated in a post-concert review of this performance that appeared in A.S.U. Student Newspaper. There were an additional seven or eight songs performed, but the titles are not identified in the review, although it's likely they correspond to what was played at Virginia Tech two days earlier. This is the last verified live performance of "Frankie" for the tour; it won't be played again for 23 years, until 1999. The show was featured with color photographs and an enthusiastic review in the 1977 Rhododendron, the University's yearbook.

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1976-04-26 - SOLDIERS & SAILORS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, CHATTANOOGA, TN

TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / KITTY'S BACK / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

The listed 13-song partial setlist is the recollection of fans present, read their recollections on the Eyewitness tab. The setlist is notable for a rare "Kitty's Back", the only known performance of the song in 1976; it won't be played again for more than two years, until 1978. This gig was originally planned for the nearby (but smaller) Tivoli Theater, yet despite the change of location apparently less than 1,000 of the Memorial Auditorium's 3,850 tickets were sold. Springsteen and CBS publicist Glen Brunmen were interviewed the following afternoon by Nashville's Tennessean newspaper and Brunmen mentions the disappointing crowd turnout in Chattanooga. Bruce also jokingly mentions that their tour bus had traveled an hour out of Chattanooga on its way to Nashville when they had to turn around and go back - they'd forgotten Max Weinberg! Typically Bruce didn't let a small turnout affect his energy level.

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1976-04-28 - GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE AT OPRYLAND, NASHVILLE, TN

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / KITTY'S BACK / JUNGLELAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

This two-hour show took place at the Grand Ole Opry's 4,500-seat venue on the grounds of the then new Opryland U.S.A. Theme Park. Contrary to myth, this was not the first-ever rock show allowed inside the spiritual home of country music, with The Byrds having broken the ice in 1968 at the Opry's former Ryman Auditorium location. An article in the Nashville Banner the following day (which mentions "Growin' Up" as having been played) gave the concert a glowing review but reported a crowd turnout of only 3,000. A review in The Tennessean, which lists "Spirit In The Night", "It's My Life", "Thunder Road", "She's The One", "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)", and the "Detroit Medley" by name, also reports that seven of eight songs from Born To Run, three each from the first two albums, and a handful of oldies were performed: given this, the rest of the setlist most likely largely corresponded to the shows before and after. The remaining songs listed here are corroborated by an eyewitness attendee.

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1976-04-29 - ELLIS AUDITORIUM, MEMPHIS, TN

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with Eddie Floyd) / KNOCK ON WOOD - YUM YUM YUM (I WANT SOME) (with Eddie Floyd) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY

Excellent set features Eddie Floyd guesting on "Raise Your Hand" and tour one-off "Knock On Wood" (which includes the only known Springsteen rendition of "Yum Yum Yum (I Want Some)"). "Spirit In The Night" includes a line from "Stagger Lee" in the introduction. "She's The One" includes a brief intro rap with lyrics from "Talk To Me". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Final tour performance for "Incident On 57th Street". It's after this particular show that Springsteen and Van Zandt take a cab out to Graceland, and Bruce jumps the gate in an attempt to meet Elvis, who is actually in Lake Tahoe. Bruce is escorted off the grounds by security. George "GK" Klein, host of a weekly show on Sirius Radio's Elvis Radio channel and close friend of Presley, has stated that Elvis was aware of Springsteen at the time, and liked him "'cause he was a rock 'n' roller".

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1976-04-30 - BOUTWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, BIRMINGHAM, AL

No set details known.

Bruce's first ever appearance in Alabama. Held in the recently re-named, 5,000-seat Boutwell Auditorium (previously called Municipal Auditorium). Another very poor turnout, with less than 1,000 tickets sold. When Springsteen returned to Birmingham (and this same venue) on September 29, 1978 (this time to a full house) he recalled this 1976 gig and commented to the crowd: "We don't get down here too much… the last time we were down here you guys must've all been outta town."

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1976-05-03 - JOSEPH TAYLOR ROBINSON MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, LITTLE ROCK, AR

TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce's first ever appearance in Arkansas. Details from someone who taped the show: "The set (with a couple of songs I cannot identify) included those listed." Apparently the show only attracted 600 fans, and Bruce vowed never to return.

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1976-05-04 - MISSISSIPPI COLISEUM, JACKSON, MS

IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / BORN TO RUN
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce's first ever appearance in Mississippi. A glowing review in the Clarion Ledger states that "It's My Life," "Thunder Road," and "Born To Run" were played. It also states that attendance was around 2,000 - out of around 10,000 seats. When Bruce returned to Jackson two years later, he would play the smaller Municipal Auditorium to an almost full house.

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1976-05-06 - MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, SHREVEPORT, LA

BORN TO RUN
Incomplete setlist.

Legendary 3,200-seat venue, home of the Louisiana Hayride radio broadcasts and the place where Elvis Presley and Hank Williams attained early fame. Unfortunately a very poor crowd turnout for Springsteen, with only a few hundred tickets sold. A review in The Times mentions "Born To Run" as being played.

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1976-05-08 - LSU ASSEMBLY CENTER, LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, BATON ROUGE, LA

No set details known.

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1976-05-09 - MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM THEATER, MOBILE, AL

No set details known.

Please note that the Mobile Municipal Auditorium (now the Mobile Civic Center) is comprised of three different facilities; a theater, an arena and an Exposition Hall. This concert (and the next night) took place in the small ~2,000 seat theater.

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1976-05-10 - MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM THEATER, MOBILE, AL

IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / QUARTER TO THREE
Incomplete setlist.

"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Final confirmed tour appearance for "Quarter To Three".

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1976-05-11 - MEMORIAL COLISEUM, AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AUBURN, AL

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)
Incomplete setlist.

Three or four additional songs were likely performed. The concert is featured in the 1977 edition of The Glomerata, Auburn University's yearbook. Apparently, only 1500 of the 4700 available tickets were sold, but the concert was still considered by many to be one of the best the University had seen in recent years. "Night" opened the show, according to a review in The Auburn Plainsman, the Auburn University newspaper. This is confirmed by a glowing review in the Columbus Ledger of Columbus, GA that also adds "Growin' Up" to the setlist.

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1976-05-13 - MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM, NEW ORLEANS, LA

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / NEW ORLEANS / DETROIT MEDLEY

"She's The One" includes a snippet of "Talk To Me" in the introduction. The show includes an interesting arrangement of "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" featuring some wonderful interplay between Bruce and Clarence. Possibly the longest known version at nearly seven minutes. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing about a minute of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Also a tour one-off performance of the Gary U.S. Bonds early 60's classic "New Orleans" (incorrectly listed as "Mississippi Queen" by many sources).

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1976-05-27 - EISENHOWER HALL AUDITORIUM, U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT, NY

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY

Bruce sings the opening lines of Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee" as an introduction to "Spirit In The Night". Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-05-28 - HALSEY FIELD HOUSE, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, ANNAPOLIS, MD

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / PRETTY FLAMINGO / GROWIN' UP / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / BACKSTREETS / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / DETROIT MEDLEY / SEA CRUISE

First known performance of Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise" especially for the Naval Academy. Last show of the Chicken Scratch leg and final show of the Born to Run Tour. Although many setlists are not fully known, "Spirit In The Night", "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" may have appeared at every show of the Born To Run Tour – at least, there are no shows at which we can say with certainty that they were not played.

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End of the "Chicken Scratch" tour

End of the "Born to Run" tour


1976-05-30 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ

HAVING A PARTY (with Ronnie Spector, Lee Dorsey, Clarence Clemons, Steven Van Zandt, and Max Weinberg)

"It's the show that put Asbury Park on the rock 'n' roll map" according to the Asbury Park Press. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes record release show for their first album, I Don't Want to Go Home on Memorial Day at the Shore, hosted by Philadelphia radio station WMMR-FM, and broadcast on syndicated stations throughout the northeastern US, including WJLK-AM in Asbury Park. Their manager and producer, Miami Steve Van Zandt, was onstage playing rhythm guitar for most of the show. Bruce Springsteen joins for "Having A Party", the final encore.

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1976-06-07 - PUBLIC THEATER, NEW YORK CITY, NY

No set details known.

A private tenth birthday party for music magazine Crawdaddy. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes perform as "house" band for the evening at the Shakespeare Festival and towards the end of the show, at around 1am, Springsteen and most of the E Street Band hop onstage and perform half-an-hour of songs. It's their way to acknowledge Crawdaddy discovering Springsteen in the rock press and being his earliest champion by publishing Springsteen's first interview/profile in the magazine's March 1973 issue.

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1976-06-13 - SPRINGSTEEN APARTMENT, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Bruce takes part in a 23-minute phone-in interview with DJ "Father" Bill Ayres that was broadcast live on New York City's WPLJ-FM. Springsteen was at his apartment, Ayres at the radio station. Bruce talks about future plans.

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1976-06-21 - THE MAIN POINT, BRYN MAWR, PA

No set details known.

Two shows. Bruce turns up to watch Tone, a group headed by former E Street Band alumni David Sancious and Ernest "Boom" Carter. There are conflicting reports on whether Bruce took the stage during this evening, the confusion may stem from the fact that there were two shows on the night and Bruce may have performed at only one of them.

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In early 1976 Springsteen's manager Mike Appel had ambitious plans for Bruce. First, a live album to follow "Born To Run", and then a summer university tour with their own six-thousand capacity portable circus tent. However, Jon Landau convinced Springsteen that both concepts would be mistakes: too early in his career for a live album and the proposed tour would be a logistical nightmare. Springsteen wanted to work with both Appel and Landau while renegotiating his agreement with Appel, since Bruce required more equitable terms as well as complete control over his songs. However, Appel refused to renegotiate. In mid-June 1976 Bruce's representatives informed CBS that he was planning to enter the studio in August (without Appel) to start recording his fourth album, with Jon Landau serving as producer. Two weeks later, on July 2, Mike Appel responded with a letter informing Springsteen that no such recording sessions could take place; Bruce was subcontracted to Appel via Laurel Canyon Ltd., and the agreement that Springsteen signed obligated him to work with Appel and deliver his recordings to Laurel Canyon. On July 27 Springsteen filed a lawsuit in response, accusing Appel of fraud, breach of trust, and undue influence. Just two days later Appel countersued, alleging that Springsteen had breached his contract in a variety of ways. On September 15 a judge ruled that Springsteen would not be permitted to enter a recording studio until Appel's suit was resolved. His hands tied, Bruce had no choice - go back on the road.



1976-07-04 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ

NIGHT / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / KNOCK ON WOOD (with Southside Johnny)
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce and the E Street Band do an impromptu concert following a Southside Johnny gig. Many more songs were played according to the reader who submitted these details - concert included a break and started at around 12.30am. Brucebase reader Paul confirms that the set included "Knock On Wood", performed as a duet with Southside Johnny. Over the course of the same evening, the full E Street Band (minus Bruce) crossed the street to Mrs. Jay's, where they performed a lengthy set with The Cahoots, purportedly as a Van-Zandt-led ploy to help that band regain their slot at the Pony.

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1976-07-22 - CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL, LOS ANGELES, CA

THE FEVER / I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME

A CBS Annual Sales Convention promoted as 'The Family Of Music-1976' and featuring four artists from the corporate roster, each performing thirty to forty minute sets – Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (who opened), Starcastle, Dave Mason, and headliner The Jacksons (featuring Michael Jackson). Springsteen accompanied Miami Steve Van Zandt and the Asbury Jukes on their trip, making a guest appearance with Southside Johnny on guitar for "The Fever", and on duet vocals for "I Don't Want To Go Home". Needless to say, Bruce received a nicer reception from the reps at this convention than he had before (see July 27, 1973 listing).

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1976-08-01 - MONMOUTH ARTS CENTER, RED BANK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / SHE'S SURE THE GIRL I LOVE / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

The debut of the Miami Horns (line-up #1), featuring Carlo Novi (sax), Ed Manion (sax), Tony Pallagrosi (trumpet) and Rick Gazda (trumpet). The foursome were provided by Miami Steve Van Zandt, manager of the Asbury Jukes, when Southside Johnny fell ill with a throat infection and was unable to tour. The show features the world premieres of "Rendezvous" and "Something In The Night" - the latter in just piano and organ backing form with the first version of the lyrics. First time that The Dovells' 1963 hit "You Can't Sit Down" is played and the only known version of "She's Sure The Girl I Love". "She's The One" also features a new introduction with Bruce on harmonica and a tale about the origin of the "Bo Diddley beat", stretching the length of the song to over eight minutes. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)".

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1976-08-02 - MONMOUTH ARTS CENTER, RED BANK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

Same set as the night before except the encores. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the "Come A Little Bit Closer" introduction, Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)", and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-08-03 - MONMOUTH ARTS CENTER, RED BANK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / THE PROMISE / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

World premiere of one of Bruce's finest songs, "The Promise", with different lyrics to later versions (not least the chorus is "it's a loser" rather than "thunder road"). "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an extended mariachi-style introduction, Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)", and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-08-05 - MONMOUTH ARTS CENTER, RED BANK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

Same set as the previous show, apart from "Something In The Night" replacing "The Promise". "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-08-06 - MONMOUTH ARTS CENTER, RED BANK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-08-07 - MONMOUTH ARTS CENTER, RED BANK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns) / QUARTER TO THREE

"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features Roy playing a bit of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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Two days after his last show at the Monmouth Arts Center in Red Bank, Springsteen's lawsuit with Mike Appel begins, with the first hearing. Judge Arnold L. Fein awards a preliminary injunction against Springsteen, preventing him entering a recording studio with Jon Landau.



1976-08-21 - PALACE THEATER, WATERBURY, CT

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing a minute of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" from "The Well-Tempered Clavier" in the band introductions and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-08-22 - SPRINGFIELD CIVIC CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, MA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

Although only starting with Springsteen & The E Street Band on August 1, this would be the final performance of the Miami Horns Quartet (line-up #1), who must leave to re-join a recovered Southside Johnny on tour. The Jukes had been off the road while Southside recovered from illness. Steve Van Zandt, who had orchestrated "borrowing" the Horns for six shows, huddled with his players, getting recommendations for replacement musicians. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing a minute of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" from "The Well-Tempered Clavier" in the band introductions and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-09-04 - THE STONE PONY, ASBURY PARK, NJ

I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME / HAVING A PARTY

Bruce (along with Steven Van Zandt) guests at a Labor Day weekend Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes gig at The Stone Pony. Springsteen shares lead vocals with Southside on both songs listed, while Van Zandt plays guitar during the second set. George Theiss with Cahoots was the opening act.

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A second court hearing occurs on September 15, where Judge Fein's original injunction regarding Jon Landau is upheld. Unable to record, Bruce heads back on the road.


Start of "The Lawsuit" tour

September 26, 1976 - March 25, 1977

THE E STREET BAND
Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, harmonica)
Roy Bittan (piano, keyboards)
Clarence Clemons (tenor, baritone, and soprano saxophones, backing vocals, percussion)
Danny Federici (organ, accordion, glockenspiel, piano)
Garry Tallent (bass, percussion)
Steven Van Zandt (guitar, backing vocals)
Max Weinberg (drums)

John Binkley (trumpet)
Ed De Palma (saxophone)
Dennis Orlock (trombone)
Steve Paraczky (trumpet, flugelhorn)
See also Tour Statistics for show listing and songs performed.


1976-09-26 - ARIZONA VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM, PHOENIX, AZ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / BORN TO RUN / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / GROWIN' UP / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns)

First official show of the Lawsuit Tour and the debut of the Miami Horns Quartet line-up #2, featuring Ed De Palma (saxophone), John Binkley (trumpet), Steve Paraczky (trumpet), and Dennis Orlock (trombone). Though this Philadelphia-based foursome had never played with Southside Johnny's band, they were recruited (with help from line-up #1) and named by the Jukes resourceful manager, Miami Steve Van Zandt. The group would be a permanent fixture until tour end in March 1977, although they're only heard on a few songs each night. "Something In The Night" now features a trumpet accompaniment. "Backstreets" includes a version of the midsection 'Sad Eyes interlude' for the first time; this will greatly expand and become a fixture of performances of the song for the next few years. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes Roy playing about a minute of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-09-29 - SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SANTA MONICA, CA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

"The Promise" is performed for the second time ever, with major lyric changes since it's premiere in Red Bank on August 3. The chorus of "It's a Loser" is replaced by "Thunder Road", making it a somber follow-up to the optimistic opener of his third album. "Born To Run" follows it as the final encore. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes the lyric "I ain't no freak, 'cause my face has been on the cover of Time and Newsweek", along with Roy playing about a minute of Bach's "Prelude No. 1 In C Major (BWV 846)" and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. "Growin' Up" and "You Can't Sit Down" are each dropped from the set. The show is later the subject of a very complimentary review in Billboard magazine, which closes with the words "…this might be the best band on the road today."

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1976-09-30 - SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SANTA MONICA, CA

Soundcheck: THUNDER ROAD (multiple takes; instrumental)

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

"She's The One" includes a couple lines from "Talk To Me" in the introduction. "Growin' Up" features a story in the break for the first time (a short one, about Springsteen's signing with Columbia Records). "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-09-30 - THE ROXY THEATRE, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA

A TEENAGER IN LOVE

Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt make an unannounced guest appearance (on background vocals) during an encore at Dion DiMucci's second (late) show at The Roxy. Dion introduces the pair as "honorary Belmonts". Bruce had first met Dion in October 1975 while visiting a Spector-Dion recording session in LA. However Steven Van Zandt, while touring as a member of the backing band for '50s vocal group The Dovells, had actually played guitar in Dion's backing band at a show in Miami, Florida on December 31, 1972, that trip (according to Steve) being the original source of the nickname "Miami" Steve. Lee Foy, saxophonist with Dion's newly-assembled Streetheart Band, recalls: "Our opening show took place in Los Angeles at the Roxy Theatre. The show was well received. But because we were basically a new group it wasn't that polished. However, it wasn't terrible either. In fact Bruce Springsteen was in the audience and came backstage to offer some constructive criticism which we accepted and put to use."

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1976-10-02 - PARAMOUNT THEATRE, OAKLAND, CA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

The Modesto Bee lists a number of songs that were played, the only one not on the audience tape being "The Promise", which is played solo on the piano. A more detailed review in the State Hornet of California State University adds two more songs also not captured on tape, "Raise Your Hand" and "Born To Run", which gives us what is almost certainly the complete 16-song setlist. Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". "Growin' Up" includes a story about signing his first record deal. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-03 - LEAVEY CENTER, SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY, SANTA CLARA, CA

SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN
Incomplete setlist.

Held in the school's 5,000-seat Leavey Center. University Archives records indicate it contracted Springsteen & The E Street Band for this concert for just $7,000. A review by the Santa Cruz Sentinel indicates that attendance was around 3,500, and notes that "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" was played, while a second review in the school's Santa Clara adds the other songs listed, specifying that "Born To Run" was the closing song. A third review in the Palo Alto Times adds "The Promise" to the confirmed setlist. An extremely critical review ("Rude Gyrations Thrill Crowd") was printed in the Spartan Daily of San Jose University. Students objected to the negative tone of the review, which referred to the E Street Band as "degenerates," by sending a counterpoint to the paper's letters page a few days later.

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1976-10-05 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOWL, SANTA BARBARA, CA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / BORN TO RUN

Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-09 - ATHLETIC & CONVOCATION CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, SOUTH BEND, IN

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

Bruce's first ever appearance in Indiana. The venue is only about half full, as Springsteen sold just over 4,000 of the 7,000 tickets available. Despite this, the University of Notre Dame student union declared the gig a success. Later in the year it was voted concert of the year at Notre Dame by the student newspaper, The Observer. During the introduction to "She's The One", Bruce whispers a few lyrics from "Talk To Me". "Something In The Night" appears to have a slightly different arrangement; however only the second half of the song circulates. "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-09 - VEGETABLE BUDDIES, SOUTH BEND, IN

Bruce, the E Street Band and the Miami Horns went to see Otis Rush play at this club, called Vegetable Buddies, in South Bend after their own show earlier that evening, and everyone except Bruce and Miami Steve jammed onstage. Unfortunately we don't know what songs were played. Available details come from a fascinating interview (published in Backstreets magazine, issue 88) by Mike Saunders with Steve Paraczky, updated for the Backstreets website in late 2017, which gave an fascinating insight into the late 1976 and early 1977 tours.

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1976-10-10 - MILLETT HALL, MIAMI UNIVERSITY, OXFORD, OH

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN
"Night" is not absolutely confirmed.

Setlist is the same as the previous night. "She's The One" again features an intro snippet with a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes snippets of "Theme From Shaft" and "Hernando's Hideaway" in the midsection. See our News tab to view a set of interesting cuttings from the University's newspaper, The Student.

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1976-10-12 - RUTGERS GYM, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

"Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-13 - WILKINS THEATRE, KEAN COLLEGE, UNION, NJ

Soundcheck: SHE'S THE ONE / BACKSTREETS

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

During the introduction to "She's The One" Bruce whispers a few lyrics from "Talk To Me", some years before Springsteen and Southside Johnny would record the song in the studio. "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-16 - WILLIAM & MARY HALL, THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY, WILLIAMSBURG, VA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

The scheduled 8pm start was delayed by an hour due to a late soundcheck, but the crowd were entertained during the wait by a Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes tape. Set is identical to the previous four shows. Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. See our News tab to read extensive reviews of the concert in the school newspaper The Flat Hat, and The Bullet, from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg. Also notice the ticket has his name misspelled as "Springstein".

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1976-10-17 - McDONOUGH ARENA, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, DC

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns)
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce slips a few lyrics from "Talk To Me" into the introduction to "She's The One". "Growin' Up" features a version of the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-18 - McDONOUGH ARENA, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, DC

GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN
Incomplete setlist.

"Growin' Up" contains an (apparently) unique The Exorcist-inspired story, with Springsteen's '57 Chevy becoming possessed by a new Toyota and a "Tubular Bells" backing replacing the usual piano riff. The famous steps scene in The Exorcist was filmed in Georgetown, just a short distance from the University. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-22 - THE HANGER, HAZLET, NJ

NEW ORLEANS / DEAR LADY TWIST / TWIST, TWIST, SENORA / SCHOOL IS IN / QUARTER TO THREE
Incomplete setlist.

A discreet Springsteen turns up (apparently as just another paying customer) at a gig by one of his early '60s musical favourites, Gary U.S. Bonds. About half way through the show Bruce takes the stage, borrows a guitar and provides duet-background vocals for the rest of the show. According to Bonds, Bruce played for nearly an hour. This was the first time Springsteen and Bonds had ever met. Afterwards Springsteen invites Bonds to guest at his show on October 29. In an early 1980s interview Bonds commented: "I was playing down along the Jersey shore. One night the owner of the club came over to me during the show and mentioned that Bruce Springsteen was in the audience and wanted to come up and play. Bruce who? I didn't recognize the name! But the guys in my band did, so I said OK. When I introduced him the place went crazy… and I'm saying to myself, ‘gee, what on earth is happening here'? After the show Bruce gave me an invitation and about a week or so later I sang during one of his shows".

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1976-10-25 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / A FINE FINE GIRL (with The Miami Horns) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

Show features Bruce's earliest known cover of the Darlene Love-Phil Spector classic "A Fine Fine Girl". "Growin' Up" includes a version of the spaceman story featuring Ed Sciaky. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. This gig has traditionally been noted in books as Springsteen's first-ever large indoor arena concert as a headliner - however, in reality the Springsteen show at Vets Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on September 26 probably deserves that title. See our Gallery tab for some wonderful high-resolution photos, courtesy of Cliff Breining.

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1976-10-26 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

Show rescheduled to October 27 - according to press reports this was due to Clarence Clemons moving to California and being in transit the day of the show. Other reports state this was due to Clarence filming a cameo appearance for the film New York, New York.

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1976-10-27 - SPECTRUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / INCIDENT ON 57TH STREET / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / A FINE FINE GIRL (with The Miami Horns) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

This show was originally scheduled for October 26 - according to press reports this was due to Clarence Clemons moving to California and being in transit the day of the show. Other reports state this was due to Clarence filming a cameo appearance for the film New York, New York. "Something In The Night" features a rewritten last verse which is never used again. "Incident On 57th Street" returns to the set. Bruce again slips in a couple of lines from "Talk To Me" during the introduction to "She's The One", as he did on October 13. "Growin' Up" includes a story about a Catholic school teacher asking students, including Ed Sciaky and Bruce, what they want to be when they grow up. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. "It's My Life" is dropped from the set for the first confirmed time on the tour.

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1976-10-28 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / A FINE FINE GIRL (with The Miami Horns) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

First show of a six-night stand at New York City's Palladium. "Something In The Night" returns to the first version. "Growin' Up" includes a story about Catholic school. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-10-29 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / QUARTER TO THREE (with Gary U.S. Bonds) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

"Something In The Night" now arranged into third tour variation, with another rewritten last verse (utilized for the remainder of the tour). "Growin' Up" includes the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Gary U.S. Bonds, whom Bruce had met for the first time a week or so before, guests on a moving "Quarter To Three", which includes a bit of "Twistin' The Night Away" in the midsection.

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1976-10-30 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with Patti Smith and The Miami Horns) / A FINE FINE GIRL (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / RAISE YOUR HAND / THE PROMISE / BORN TO RUN

The only ever guest appearance by Patti Smith at a Springsteen concert, on a customized, one-off, arrangement of "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)". Brucebase reader Cliff comments: "I was on the floor taking pictures and saw a commotion in front of the stage… I don't think security knew who Patti Smith was. It took a minute or two before Bruce motioned to let her come up". Patti Smith rants/sings during a special interlude break in "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)", with the horns playing what sounds like the riff to "Shotgun" and Springsteen providing a "Land Of 1000 Dances" chant, as well as the usual "Theme From Shaft" snippet. "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story.

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1976-11-02 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / THE PROMISE / A FINE FINE GIRL (with The Miami Horns) / RAISE YOUR HAND (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / BORN TO RUN

Final performance of "The Promise" for the year. "Growin' Up" features a story about meeting Clarence - as a genie in a saxophone. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection.

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1976-11-03 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / A FINE FINE GIRL (with The Miami Horns) / BORN TO RUN

Last known version of "A Fine Fine Girl", and the premiere of Bo Diddley's "Mona" in a medley with "She's The One". "Growin' Up" features the spaceman story. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" includes a short section of "Be True To Your School" as an introduction and a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. "Raise Your Hand" is dropped for the first confirmed time on the tour.

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1976-11-04 - PALLADIUM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

NIGHT / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / IT'S MY LIFE / THUNDER ROAD / MONA - SHE'S THE ONE / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT (with Steve Paraczky) / BACKSTREETS / GROWIN' UP / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT (with The Miami Horns) / JUNGLELAND / ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT) (with The Miami Horns) / BABY, I LOVE YOU (with Ronnie Spector) / WALKING IN THE RAIN (with Ronnie Spector) / BE MY BABY (with Ronnie Spector) / 4TH OF JULY, ASBURY PARK (SANDY) / WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE (with Steve Paraczky) / BORN TO RUN

Final show of a six-night run in New York City is one of the best gigs of the year, if not all-time. Carl D'Errico (co-writer of "It's My Life") is in the audience and Bruce delivers one of his finest-ever performances of the song. A stunning cover of The Animals' "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" is also featured in a tour one-off, and to top it all off Ronnie Spector guests on three of her most famous Ronettes-era hits, all given inspired arrangements by the E Street Band. A pre-show bomb hoax results in Bruce jokingly asking the audience to look under their seats. "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features a snippet of "Theme From Shaft" in the midsection. Bruce recites a tiny section of Joe Tex's "Hold What You've Got" after "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out".

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End of the first leg of the "Lawsuit" tour


1976-11-06 - RADIO STATION WNEW-FM, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Bruce went up to WNEW-FM studios in New York the Saturday following his Palladium shows to sit in with DJ Richard Neer. It was an interview with Bruce picking out some records to play. The interview was very topical; reference was made to Bruce shaving his beard, wearing a suit at some performances, Clarence appearing in New York, New York, etc. Neer also asked Bruce if he would ever play larger venues and Bruce mentions the shows at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. They also talk a bit about Jon Landau which segues into the fact that Landau produced Jackson Browne's "The Pretender" which was released that week and Neer plays a cut from that. Studio cuts were segued into Bruce songs; "Bo Diddley" into "She's The One", "Mona" into "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City".

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1976-11-07 - D'ERRICO RESIDENCE, NEW YORK CITY, NY

IT'S MY LIFE
Incomplete setlist.

Bruce visits songwriter Carl D'Errico for a home-cooked dinner and a little impromptu jamming. Carl (co-writer of The Animals' 1965 hit "It's My Life"), along with his wife Didi, had been VIP guests at Bruce's November 4th Palladium gig, where Bruce had mentioned D'Errico to the audience prior to performing the song (it being a regular inclusion in Springsteen concerts at the time). According to interview comments by D'Errico, he and Bruce played a few things together when Bruce visited, including an acoustic rendition of "It's My Life" with Didi singing harmonies.

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1976-11-26 - THE BOTTOM LINE, NEW YORK CITY, NY

SLOWLY WALKING DOWN THE RIVER / MY CAR WAS INVISIBLE (CASE OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN) / PICTURE HANGING BLUES / WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REAL GOOD TIME TOGETHER / YOU CAN DIG IT / AIN'T IT STRANGE / MY GENERATION
Setlist may be inaccurate.

First of two separate admission shows. With Patti Smith. Bruce plays piano or guitar on all these tracks, a mixture of spoken word, poems and songs. "Slowly Walking Down The River" and "My Car Was Invisible (Case Of Bruce Springsteen)" are improvised, semi-spoken-word pieces performed by Smith with Bruce on piano. "Picture Hanging Blues" features Bruce on piano and Lenny Kaye on guitar. The full Patti Smith Group joins starting on The Velvet Underground's "We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together", which features Bruce on piano. He returned later in the show to play guitar on several more songs, believed to have been those listed here.

00Help-32.png If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.

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1976-11-26 - THE BOTTOM LINE, NEW YORK CITY, NY

LAND - NOT FADE AWAY / FREE MONEY / YOU CAN DIG IT / AIN'T IT STRANGE / GLORIA / MY GENERATION

Second of two separate admission shows. With Patti Smith. Bruce plays piano or guitar on all these tracks. A fan present recalls, "Bruce mostly played guitar since John Cale was on piano for most songs. A few of my photos do show Bruce at the piano however."

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1976-12-00 - COLUMBIA RECORDING STUDIOS, NEW YORK CITY, NY

Sessions for Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' work-in-progress second album This Time It's For Real (released April 2, 1977), produced and arranged by "Sugar Miami" Steve Van Zandt. Springsteen attended some of these December 1976–January 1977 sessions. According to Van Zandt, the two songs he composed with Springsteen, "Love On The Wrong Side Of Town" and "Little Girl So Fine", were written, at least in part, during the times Bruce attended these sessions. Springsteen may have participated musically in some of the recording sessions, but he is not found in the extensive liner notes composed by Van Zandt for the album.

00Help-32.png If you have any information (eg. setlist, memories, ticket stub or other images, as applicable) regarding this date please get in touch.

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