Cover Song Spotlight: "Suzanne" by the Castiles

Today, we're reaching way back in Springsteen's career to 1967, spotlighting his cover of "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen.  Even though I'm part of the Internet generation, there's still part of me that's in awe of the Internet's power to preserve rare performances such as the one above.  I have wasted hours just digging through YouTube and finding pre-E Street Band Bruce performances (as well as watching old Mr. Show skits).

And, yes, since this song is about a woman, I'm tying it into our very-very-loosely-themed Women's History Month that we've had going on here.

Gave It A Name - The Best Band Names from Bruce's Past

Band names have always been an obsession of mine.  Thinking of the different names I would use for my fictional band helps me take a step forward into achieving my fantasy of being a rock star, without the heavy lifting involved in learning how to play an instrument.  In my down time, when I'm not wasting it thinking of band names, I do something more productive - analyze other band names.

A good band name is simple and memorable, and "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band" fits the criteria effectively.  However, when Bruce began his career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he bounced around between a variety of oddly named musical groups.  What follows is a ranking of my personal favorite pre-E Street Band names, with the sole criteria being my own arbitrary opinion.  

Missed the cut: Child, Sundance Blues Band.  Honestly, I have no idea what to make of those names.

5. The Bruce Springsteen Band

Formed in 1971, Bruce clearly didn't strain himself too hard when coming up with this name.  Not only is it boring, it is too pretentious.  While he is "The Boss", Bruce has always been a man of the people.  He saves accolades such as "pants-dropping" and "booty shaking" for his band, not himself.  Plus, it reminds me of The Dave Matthews Band, which is never a good thing.

4. Earth

From the late 1960s, it was in this band where he acquired the nickname "The Boss".  This name seems to be a product of its time, as other hippy-esque bands were forming using "Earth" as well, such as Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Earth, Wind, and Fire.  But, part of me would like to see Bruce open a show with a Will-Smith-in-Independence-Day greeting: "Welcome To Earth!"

3. The Castiles

Way back in 1967, when Bruce was just 17, he was part of The Castiles.  Look at those young boys up there!  Like the name would indicate, they were trying to replicate The Beatles clean-cut image (and pop sound, as heard in the video above).  Part of me wishes to see the alternate reality where The Castiles were a bigger hit.  Could you imagine Bruce writing more Beatles-stylized pop songs and wearing coordinated outfits?  (Side note: it's pronounced kah-steels right?  I usually mispronounce words that I only read - I pronounced "superfluous" as "SUPERfluous" for an embarrassingly long time) 

2. Steel Mill

This is Bruce's most significant pre-E Street Band group, as it featured Vini Lopez, Danny Federici, and Steve Van Zandt.  You can find tons of there lengthy jam sessions on Youtube, and they are definitely worth checking out.  But forget the noise, what about the name?  There's something very 70s rock about this name, mainly about a) it is two words that sound similar and you'd be unable to pronounce it drunk and b) it sounds vaguely homoerotic.  Deep Purple and the fictional Stillwater also fit this description.  

1. Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom

Really, was there any other choice?  Far be it for me to criticize Bruce's career decisions, but not sticking with Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom is a huge mistake.  It not only fits Bruce's personality to a tee, it is instantly memorable.  I'd argue that he'd be even more popular today had he been known to everyone as "Dr. Z" over "The Boss".  Now, indeed, being called "Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom" may undercut the emotions of songs like "Devils & Dust" or "Lost in the Flood", but it is a small price to pay for having one of the greatest names in rock and roll history.  

Sadly, we are where we are with the E Street Band.  But, the good news is that the title of Dr. Zoom is still vacant in the world.  I would highly encourage any young musician to keep this name in mind, and anyone with the last name "Zoom" to enroll in medical school.

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen - National Constitution Center Exhibition

Currently on display at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen, a transport of the celebrated collection from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.  The exhibition is running through September 3.  The Legends of Springsteen gang took a road trip out to the city of brotherly love this past weekend and got to experience the magic firsthand.  It was worth every mile we drove.

Chronicling Bruce's rock 'n roll career from his days as a teenager in a garage band through near-present day, the exhibit is a treasure trove of memorabilia for Bruce fanatics.  While it may not offer a wealth of surprises for the most devoted fans, it offers complete and utter immersion in Boss-mania.  The biggest surprises are likely found when you first enter the exhibit and are face with the teenage Springsteen, a floppy-haired Flower Child who played in bands like Dr. Zoom and the Sonic Boom and sported psychedelic attire.  In addition to the photos and promotional posters, a listening station offers never-released tracks from The Castiles, Bruce's high school band.  An original song called "That's What You Get For Loving Me" is a peppy tune with traces of Bob Dylan and The Everly Brothers that is almost worth the price of admission alone.  You can also hear covers of "Purple Haze" and "Eleanor Rigby", but those are better left in your imagination.

In terms of memorabilia, there is a large variety of his outfits with everything from funky '70s garb to the t-shirt, jeans, and cap he wore for his Born in the U.S.A. album cover shoot.  Vehicular enthusiasts will delight in seeing Bruce's 1960 Chevy Corvette that he bought after Born to Run and the Harley-Davidson he rode across the Southwest following the Tunnel of Love tour.  Truthfully, neither of them appealed to me as much as seeing his Oscar for "Streets of Philadelphia".  A few of the quirkier knick-knacks on display include an award from Blistex for the "Boss-est Lips" and an OJ-styled carton of "Bruce Juice" - a promotional item from a radio station.  Both of these pieces illustrate the degree to which Bruce saturated pop culture in the late '80s.

Scattered throughout the exhibit is an overwhelming number of notebook pages containing Bruce's handwritten lyrics.  Along with the chance to inspect his penmanship (which was beautiful in my opinion), you can see his scribbles and cross-outs.  Scouring these pages will reveal a few fun nuggets, like alternate opening lyrics to "For You".  There's also something deeply personal about seeing Bruce's handwriting that makes the lyrics resonate all the more profoundly; reading the lyrics to "Walk Like a Man" almost brought me to tears.  Also on display is the small table at which Bruce wrote the majority of his early songs.  I'd always envisioned Bruce sitting on a rocking chair with his feet propped up on a windowsill doing his writing, but the shabby, circular table is characteristically pedestrian.

For the passing fan, the exhibit offers a number of engaging access points such as video monitors with interviews and performances, blown-up posters showcasing lyrics to his most popular songs, and a PostSecret-esque wall inviting visitors to contribute a post-it with the song that means the most to them.  I left my mark with "Happy".

The exhibition's layout is its only weakness.  After stepping into Bruce's early days, the rest of the exhibit adheres less to chronology and more to thematic groupings of objects, which comes off as a bit scatter-shot.  The gift shop also leaves much to be desired.  All three Legends of Springsteen editors were ready to waste some serious cash but with a limited selection of overpriced coasters and mugs, we had to settle with matching magnets.  But these are both minor quibbles.  We strongly recommend anyone within driving distance of Philadelphia to make a visit to this shrine to Springsteen as soon as possible.