The Spirit Of Radio (3CD)

A three-CD set featuring legendary Bruce Springsteen radio broadcasts from the early 1970s. Although it wasnt until 1973 that the first Bruce Springsteen album was released, he had been a fixture on the New Jersey bar circuit for the best part of five years before that. In fact, so well known were the ensemble by the early 1970s - by which time the group were playing across the US - largely via word of mouth, Bruce and a couple of soon to be E Street band members were invited into Bostons WBCN FM to strum a few tunes and goof around a little even before their debut was in the shops. As can be heard on the first disc of this set, the results of this stopover are staggering and clearly illustrate the consummate performer of later years is ready to emerge when the time is right.

Next up is Springsteens first proper concert broadcast, simulcast from the infamous Main Point Ballroom in Philadelphia in Bryn Mawr just outside Philadelphia, in April of 1973. Discs two and three see things really hotting up as they contain the entire second Main Point gig that Bruce and the E Streeters played in February 1975, by which time the band had really found their feet, were as tight a rock unit as was playing anywhere in the United States and with the upcoming Born To Run album largely in the can and awaiting release in August, were justifiably in upbeat, confident mood. As they work through a number of Springsteen classics, a handful of which
are as new to the audience and indeed to those listening in at home as the remainder are familiar.