Bruce Springsteen and the Most Important Gig Review in History
Transcript of Bruce Springsteen and the Most Important Gig Review in History
Bruce Springsteen and
the most important gig review in history
22 May 1974: Number 29 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of rock music
o The Observer, Sunday 12 June 2011
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in concert. Photograph: Andre Csillag / Rex Features
Jon Landau was a music writer who'd failed as a producer, and who was wondering about
his place in the world. Bruce Springsteen was on his second album for CBS, but far from a
star. The coming together of the two was their making. "Last Thursday, at the Harvard
Square theater, I saw rock'n'roll past flash before my eyes," Landau wrote in a confessional
review for the Boston alternative free sheet the Real Paper. "And I saw something else: I
saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen. And on a night when I needed
to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time." Landau's
endorsement was critical for Springsteen's standing with CBS – the "rock and roll future"
line became a key part of the Springsteen mythology. More importantly, it led Springsteen
to seek out Landau as a sounding board for his ideas as he prepared his next album. Born
to Run made Springsteen a star, and Landau's contribution was so great Springsteen
decided he would be the man to guide him through his career as manager, producer, consigliere – not just his right-hand man, but his right hand.
Available At: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jun/12/bruce-springsteen-gig-review
Retrieved, February, 3, 2013.