Springsteen on "Street Hassle"

[abcdefz]

Springsteen does a spoken word bit on a Lou Reed song circa 1978. Other than some geographical proximity, I'm just curious to figure out how these two hooked up.

...does anybody know how this came about? It just always seemed so unlikely.

Especially at that point in their respective careers.

[MC Moot]

I suspect Andy Warhol or Patti Smith may have built that bridge....

[abcdefz]

I can't find any information on it. Which is just... weird. Someone should have an anecdote or something, but I don't find one.

And, of course, he was uncredited right from the start, which may or may not suggest something. Very weird.

[MC Moot]

And, of course, he was uncredited right from the start, which may or may not suggest something. Very weird.

hmmmm....contractual obligation,I'd wager.....I want to hear it......makes me think that just last week I realized that it's Allen Ginsberg rasping on the Clash's "Ghetto Defendant"....(y)

[abcdefz]

...I wouldn't have recognized Ginsberg's voice if it hadn't been credited on the lyric sheet.

You haven't heard "Street Hassle," huh? It's pretty epic, pretty squalid. Yikes. There's even a part about a girl overdosing that says something like "You know when a girl turns that blue/That bitch will never fuck again."

Then Springsteen comes an and adds his two cents, kind of mumbling a sort of takeoff from "Born to Run." Then part three of the song comes on and it's just beautifully aching stuff. Amazing.

[MC Moot]

[QUOTE=abcdefzThere's even a part about a girl overdosing that says something like "You know when a girl turns that blue/That bitch will never fuck again.".[/QUOTE]

holy christ,that's a hard lyric....he's written many in his time....

"You see her walkin' on down the street
Look at all your friends she's gonna meet
You better hit her"

I think I'll put on "Rock and Roll" for some balance.....;)

[abcdefz]

Yeah -- Lou can be rough. That's one of the more shocking things he's written, I think. Almost as hard as "The Blue Mask."

But the whole of "Street Hassle" is really amazing. It's about 16 minutes long. Hugely recommended.

If you saw the Squid and the Whale, you've already heard a chunk of it. Noah uses it at the end as the boy is running to the musueum -- that chugging cello part.

[MC Moot]

I haven't seen the movie...recommend it?....did you happen to catch him with The Racounteurs doing "White Light/White Heat" at the MTV VMA's this year? Perhaps the most unappreciated performance heard by a live audience I have ever seen...damn youth...the kids are not allright!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS2oMO_msr4

[abcdefz]

I haven't seen the movie...recommend it?....did you happen to catch him with The Racounteurs doing "White Light/White Heat" at the MTV VMA's this year? Perhaps the most unappreciated performance heard by a live audience I have ever seen...damn youth...the kids are not allright!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS2oMO_msr4


The movie's pretty great. Horrifying/funny family divorce stuff.

I didn't know about the Reed/Raconteurs thing -- thanks for the link (y)

[abcdefz]

Huh. That's a bit of a mess, mix-wise, and then it's over. I can see people being a little stunned.

Benefit of the doubt. :D

[MC Moot]

Huh. That's a bit of a mess, mix-wise, and then it's over. I can see people being a little stunned.

Benefit of the doubt. :D

yeah true,but that was the "house band" for the entire show,no respect I tell ya!...:rolleyes:

[abcdefz]

Seriously? Okay -- that's pretty weird.

I had imagined that an appearance by the Raconteurs was announced, anticipated, they show up and do this and that's it; it's over. But if they were the house band, that's a weird reaction.