Springsteen covers Suicide

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So last night, Bruce Springsteen sat down behind his pump organ to play one last song, something I'd never heard him do before but which nonetheless sounded half familiar. Turns out it was "Dream Baby Dream," a Suicide single from around the time of their second album!

Who woulda thunk it?

(Earlier in the evening he played "I'm On Fire" on banjo. Very cool, actually.)

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I would like to hear this.

― d'ngullberry (noisemeltdown), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Bruce has been name-dropping Suicide since the late '70s, and said Nebraska was partly inspired by them. "I'm On Fire" is kind of Suicide-ish too, now you mention it.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

He's always loved Suicide. "State Trooper" is basically a tribute.

x-post

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

this is awesome. people totally should scream for "Frankie Teardrop"

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Bruce has been name-dropping Suicide since the late '70s, and said Nebraska was partly inspired by them.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have a link to an interview where he talks about this?

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

If he did in fact do "Frankie Teardrop" -- WITH the screams -- I would suddenly unreservedly love the man, partially because I want to hear the audience reactions.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I can definitely imagine a scream-free Bruce version of "Frankie Teardrop" where he sings the whole thing in a hoarse whisper (well, more so than usual) over forceful, minimal strumming on an acoustic guitar ... along the lines of Elliot Smith's "Needle in the Hay".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Bruce and Suicide were recording records at the same studio way back when and vibed each other out. Last time I saw Suicide, Vega said "Velvet Underground, Stooges, Springstein ... that's what we're all about, man."

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

In the Rolling Stone interview included with their two-volumne collection (this was the Born in the USA cover story) he talks about how Suicide and "Frankie Teardrop" in particular influenced "State Trooper."

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Bowie met Springsteen sometime mid-seventies as well, now imagine if Suicide had been there too.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The fact that Springsteen loves Suicide and the Ramones is the only reason I'd spare his life if I had a gun to his temple.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:30 (twenty-one years ago)

hm, maybe i should give another listen to suicide then? (i couldn't get into them when i first tried.)

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

amusing xpost

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Vega's solo stuff gets heavy into the Boss, yeah.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm imagining some court of Crimes Against Music with Alex in Judge Dreddish gear staring coldly down at a pallid and shaken Bruce in the dock, with Alan Vega mumbling testimony for the defense.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, didn't "State Trooper" (I think that's the track I'm thinking of) borrow some of "Frankie Teardrop"'s screams, too? Anyway, more on the Suicide/Springsteen connection here:

"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen -- who really enjoys this overproduced crappy glop?

― xhuxk, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

There are yelps in "State Trooper." Not quite screams, but they do have that echoey back-of-the-speaker effect.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

xp: I hadn't noticed Mark's post, and didn't know about that Rolling Stone interview. But as I say on that other thread, the connection never seemed far-fetched to me (ditto Springsteen/Dictators)

― xhuxk, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

"State Trooper" is the scariest song Springsteen ever recorded.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno, "Hey little girl is your daddy home" is a pretty creepy opener. I've always thought that was kind of a serial killer song. "Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby, edgy and dull, and cut a 6-inch valley through the middle of my skull" -- not exactly date music, is it?

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

i dunno, but that's a really good description of a headache

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i wish he still wrote lines like that

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

>not exactly date music<

Well, maybe if you are Hasil Adkins it is.

― xhuxk, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Most of what I know of BSpringsteen is how much he dug Suicide

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh and how he has a nice cock according to many chicks who like this one pic of him w.it rambling round his jeans

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't forget Springsteen's cameo on "Street Hassle".

― Huk-L, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

"nice" cock?

― Frogm@n Henry, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Like unfailingly polite?

― Frogm@n Henry, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

*doffs penile hat* "How do you do? I am the generative organ of Mr. Springsteen."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

No I think they meant big and such

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe it was actually his penis that recorded his LPs ca. 1975-1987

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

MY SO UNCOMFORTABLE

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah his Street Hassle GUESTSHOT is fantastic

― Bad Luck (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I must say that I kinda dug that he did that "London Calling" cover.

― The Mad Puffin, Thursday, 12 May 2005 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I keep thinking this says "Springsteen commits Suicide"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 12 May 2005 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

"Sometimes it's like someone took a knife baby, edgy and dull, and cut a 6-inch valley through the middle of my skull" -- not exactly date music, is it?

I saw Six Organs of Admittance do an incredibly scary version of this a few years ago

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 12 May 2005 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

the guanabatz do a nice version too....

― m0stly clean (m0stly clean), Thursday, 12 May 2005 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

alex in nyc's comment kinda gave me the chills!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 13 May 2005 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

There's not a sacred cow in the herd that Alex In NYC, bless his cotton socks, would hesitate to slaughter.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 13 May 2005 02:03 (twenty-one years ago)

i know alex is kidding but still sometimes his violent fantasies kind of creep me out too

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Part of Alex's overall appeal is that he's really NOT kidding.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:47 (twenty-one years ago)

no, he is. at least that's what he tells us!

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 13 May 2005 04:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Exactly.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 13 May 2005 05:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I looked last night and it wasn't the Rolling Stone interview I was thinking of. But I do remember it very clearly, maybe it was the SPIN cover around the same time. I was way into Springsteen then and I remember reading it and thinking, "This Suicide band makes music like Nebraska? I have to check that out!" Then heard the first record a couple years later and was like, "What the fuck is this horrible shit?" Then I heard it a few years after that and liked it a lot.

― Mark (MarkR), Friday, 13 May 2005 11:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I think theres some notes in one of the Suicide reissues (the second album 2CD set I feel sure) about Bruce.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 13 May 2005 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"state trooper" is my favourite broooce song by far. i'm happy to learn there's a good reason for it

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Friday, 13 May 2005 11:57 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

So this is now on a 10" along with the original. Anyone buy this?

― van smack, Sunday, 18 January 2009 17:49 (seventeen years ago)

How great is this cover?

http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/2/1/1/1/12031112-12031115-slarge.jpg

― Mark, Sunday, 18 January 2009 18:29 (seventeen years ago)

xpost. I didn't buy it but my friend did and I thought it was pretty awesome.

― Women can be captains too, you know? (jim), Sunday, 18 January 2009 18:36 (seventeen years ago)

the ten minute live version on youtube is really nice.

i contemplated buying the 10 inch for future ebay selling, but i didn't. the copy at the record store is already the SECOND edition of the ten inch and they are in editions of, like, 6000. so, boss fans are definitely buying them.

― scott seward, Sunday, 18 January 2009 18:40 (seventeen years ago)

More of those Suicide/Vega eps coming out too. Spiritualized and Grinderman are supposed to be released soon.

― van smack, Sunday, 18 January 2009 19:59 (seventeen years ago)

Isn't the version from the 10" the live one where Vega was in the audience?

― Mark, Sunday, 18 January 2009 20:24 (seventeen years ago)

this is so awesome

― rizzx, Sunday, 18 January 2009 21:16 (seventeen years ago)

a couple of these are on emusic. the bruce one is ok but i don't love it. quite like the primal scream one..

― Cooking From A Stovetop (electricsound), Sunday, 18 January 2009 22:52 (seventeen years ago)

I got it. I think he does a really good job with it. Lydia Lunch's 'Frankie Teardrop' is worth hearing as well. Dunno if I want to risk the Primals one tbh

― Pescetarian Reich (DJ Mencap), Sunday, 18 January 2009 22:59 (seventeen years ago)

vasgereben (2 weeks ago) 0 Reply | Spam
i love his deep connection with Suicide.. Nebraska is just as beautiful as all Suicide works or vice versa..

― Plaxico (I know, right?), Sunday, 18 January 2009 23:00 (seventeen years ago)

Dream Baby Dream

― van smack, Sunday, 25 January 2009 05:21 (seventeen years ago)

He really sells it as a Springsteen song. But I find it kind of boring without the neat keyboard bassline stuff going on.

― Joe Bob 1 Tooth (Hurting 2), Sunday, 25 January 2009 05:59 (seventeen years ago)

Springsteen covered "Dream Baby Dream"? LOLOLOL

― Prog Rock Goths (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Sunday, 25 January 2009 06:27 (seventeen years ago)

I am listening to this again. It's as beautiful as I remember.

― Women can be captains too, you know? (jim), Sunday, 25 January 2009 06:45 (seventeen years ago)

I just feel like he gets it entirely. Not even just when he's doing the number.

― Women can be captains too, you know? (jim), Sunday, 25 January 2009 06:47 (seventeen years ago)

it is awesome. the primal scream one is one of the worst things i have ever heard.

― stirmonster, Sunday, 25 January 2009 08:36 (seventeen years ago)

Agree with Stir, the contrast between the Springsteen and the Primal Scream versions shows that one of them is a smart and intelligent and the other is a bunch of chancers who really need to give it up.

Oh and that rolling stone cover looks like this

http://flickr.com/photos/castlekay/2052842087/

― Sandy Blair, Sunday, 25 January 2009 09:29 (seventeen years ago)

five years pass...

He covers the Saints "Just Like Fire Would" on his new album and says "We recut it mid-tour at Studios 301 in Sydney along with "Just Like Fire Would," a song from one of my favourite early Australian punk bands, The Saints (check out "I'm Stranded").

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ4a_tgJp4I

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 7 November 2014 14:08 (eleven years ago)

Just how many other early Australian punk bands is he into?

― R. Stornoway (Tom D.), Friday, 7 November 2014 15:52 (eleven years ago)

How many are there?

Radio Birdman, um.....

― Mark G, Friday, 7 November 2014 15:56 (eleven years ago)

have always loved JLFW but it ain't the punkiest of their songs, that's for sure

― john wahey (NickB), Friday, 7 November 2014 15:58 (eleven years ago)

not a bad version really, though i do miss the swooping strings. glad that this'll make chris bailey some $$$$

― john wahey (NickB), Friday, 7 November 2014 16:05 (eleven years ago)

How many are there?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BvLFU1C-L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 7 November 2014 18:08 (eleven years ago)

was gonna say - hope fungus brains is next on brucey's list

― john wahey (NickB), Friday, 7 November 2014 18:13 (eleven years ago)

it's not really surprising, given darkness on the edge of the town, that bruce was listening to the punkers in the late 70s

― I dunno. (amateurist), Friday, 7 November 2014 19:05 (eleven years ago)

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