40 Years of 'Born in the U.S.A.' — Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan Look Back at Bruce Springsteen's Biggest Moment
Digest
This episode of Rolling Stone Music Now celebrates the 40th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA album with interviews with keyboardist Roy Bittan and drummer Max Weinberg. The episode begins with a discussion of the album's creation, which began with efforts to make full band versions of the songs from Springsteen's 1982 solo acoustic album, Nebraska. Bittan and Weinberg discuss the transition from the Nebraska sessions to the Born in the USA sessions, including the introduction of synthesizers and the shift in the band's sound. They also discuss the recording process for specific songs, including "Born in the USA," "Dancing in the Dark," and "Downbound Train." The episode concludes with a discussion of the album's legacy and the band's continued success. The episode ends with a call to action for listeners to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the episode and its focus on the 40th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA album. It also mentions the upcoming interview with Stephen Heiden, author of "There was Nothing You Could Do" Bruce Springsteen's Born USA.
40 Years of Born in the USA
This Chapter features an interview with Roy Bittan, keyboardist for the E Street Band. Bittan reflects on the 40th anniversary of Born in the USA and the band's continued success. He discusses the transition from the Nebraska sessions to the Born in the USA sessions, including the introduction of synthesizers and the shift in the band's sound.
Max Weinberg's Perspective
This Chapter features an interview with Max Weinberg, drummer for the E Street Band. Weinberg discusses his memories of the Born in the USA recording sessions, including the first rehearsals at Roy Bittan's house and the transition from the Nebraska sessions to the Born in the USA sessions. He also discusses the recording process for specific songs, including "Born in the USA," "Dancing in the Dark," and "Downbound Train."
Max Weinberg's Experience in Sunderland
This Chapter features Max Weinberg describing his experience playing drums in Sunderland, England, during a performance where the weather conditions were challenging due to freezing rain and wind. He describes the drums being covered in water and the difficulty of playing in such conditions.
In the Red Clay Podcast
This Chapter is an advertisement for the podcast "In the Red Clay", which tells the true story of Billy Sunday Bert, the most dangerous man in Georgia history. The advertisement highlights the podcast's captivating and addicting nature, encouraging listeners to binge seasons one and two.
Candy Valentino Show
This Chapter is an advertisement for the podcast "Candy Valentino Show", hosted by Candy Valentino, a founder and entrepreneur with over two and a half decades of experience in building, scaling, acquiring, and exiting businesses. The advertisement highlights the show's focus on sharing knowledge, mistakes, and wisdom gained through Valentino's journey, with new episodes released every Monday and Thursday.
Keywords
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He is known for his powerful vocals, poetic lyrics, and energetic live performances. Springsteen is considered one of the most important rock musicians of all time, and his music has been praised for its social commentary and its ability to connect with a wide range of listeners. He has released 20 studio albums, including Born in the USA, which is one of the best-selling albums of all time. Springsteen has won 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Born in the USA
Born in the USA is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on June 4, 1984, by Columbia Records. The album was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. It spawned seven singles, including the title track, "Dancing in the Dark," "Glory Days," and "I'm on Fire." The album was praised for its powerful vocals, poetic lyrics, and energetic live performances. It was also praised for its social commentary, which addressed themes of war, poverty, and the American Dream. The album was a major turning point in Springsteen's career, and it helped to solidify his status as one of the most important rock musicians of all time.
Nebraska
Nebraska is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on September 14, 1982, by Columbia Records. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered one of Springsteen's most personal and introspective albums. It was recorded in a spare, minimalist style, with Springsteen playing most of the instruments himself. The album's songs are largely based on Springsteen's own experiences and observations, and they explore themes of poverty, loneliness, and the American Dream. Nebraska is a stark and powerful album that has been praised for its honesty, its emotional depth, and its musical beauty.
E Street Band
The E Street Band is an American rock band that has been Bruce Springsteen's backing band since 1972. The band is known for its energetic live performances and its ability to create a powerful and emotional sound. The E Street Band has released 20 studio albums with Springsteen, including Born in the USA and Nebraska. The band's members have changed over the years, but the core members have remained the same: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar), Roy Bittan (keyboards), Max Weinberg (drums), Garry Tallent (bass), Steven Van Zandt (guitar, vocals), and Nils Lofgren (guitar, vocals). The E Street Band is considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and its music has been praised for its social commentary and its ability to connect with a wide range of listeners.
Roy Bittan
Roy Bittan is an American keyboardist who is best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He has been a member of the band since 1974 and has played on all of Springsteen's studio albums, including Born in the USA and Nebraska. Bittan is a highly skilled and versatile musician, and he is known for his ability to create both powerful and delicate sounds on the keyboard. He has also worked with other artists, including Bob Dylan, Cher, and Stevie Nicks.
Max Weinberg
Max Weinberg is an American drummer who is best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He has been a member of the band since 1974 and has played on all of Springsteen's studio albums, including Born in the USA and Nebraska. Weinberg is a highly skilled and energetic drummer, and he is known for his ability to create a powerful and driving sound. He has also worked with other artists, including Conan O'Brien and the Saturday Night Live Band.
John Landau
John Landau is an American music manager and record producer who is best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen. He has been Springsteen's manager since 1972 and has been a close friend and confidant of the singer-songwriter. Landau has played a key role in Springsteen's career, helping him to achieve both critical and commercial success. He has also produced several of Springsteen's albums, including Born in the USA and Nebraska.
Steve Van Zandt
Steven Van Zandt is an American musician, actor, and songwriter who is best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He has been a member of the band since 1975 and has played on all of Springsteen's studio albums, including Born in the USA and Nebraska. Van Zandt is a highly skilled and versatile musician, and he is known for his powerful vocals and his ability to create both bluesy and rock-and-roll sounds on the guitar. He has also worked with other artists, including Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, and he has had a successful acting career, appearing in shows such as The Sopranos and Lilyhammer.
The River Tour
The River Tour was a concert tour by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in support of their 1980 album The River. The tour began on February 14, 1981, in Tempe, Arizona, and ended on September 14, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. The tour was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to solidify Springsteen's status as one of the most important rock musicians of all time. The tour was known for its long setlists, which often included songs from Springsteen's previous albums, as well as songs from The River. The tour was also known for its energetic live performances, which often featured Springsteen interacting with the audience and playing for extended periods of time.
Sunderland
Sunderland is a city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the north-east coast of England, on the River Wear. Sunderland is known for its shipbuilding industry, its football club, and its cultural attractions. The city has a rich history and culture, and it is a popular tourist destination. Sunderland is also home to the University of Sunderland, which is one of the largest universities in the north-east of England.
Q&A
What was the transition like from the Nebraska sessions to the Born in the USA sessions?
The transition from the Nebraska sessions to the Born in the USA sessions was marked by a shift in the band's sound, with the introduction of synthesizers and a more upbeat, rock-and-roll feel. Roy Bittan, the keyboardist, introduced a Yamaha CS80 synthesizer, which initially met with some resistance from the band, but ultimately helped to broaden the musical landscape for Springsteen's lyrics. The band also began to work on new material that was different from the Nebraska songs, and the Born in the USA sessions took on a life of their own.
How did the recording process for "Born in the USA" differ from the recording process for other songs on the album?
The recording process for "Born in the USA" was particularly spontaneous and came together very quickly. Max Weinberg, the drummer, recalls a late-night session where the band tried different arrangements for the song before settling on the final version. The song's iconic drum sound was achieved by taking the drums out of the drum booth and placing them in the middle of the studio, which created a more reverberant and powerful sound.
What was the significance of the "Dancing in the Dark" video?
The "Dancing in the Dark" video was a major turning point in Springsteen's career, as it helped to introduce his music to a wider audience and solidify his status as a pop icon. The video was shot at a concert in St. Paul, Minnesota, and it featured a young actress named Courteney Cox, who was later known for her role in the TV show Friends. The video was a huge success, and it helped to make "Dancing in the Dark" one of Springsteen's most popular songs.
What was the band's dynamic like during the Born in the USA sessions?
The band's dynamic during the Born in the USA sessions was one of intense creativity and collaboration. The members of the E Street Band were all highly skilled musicians, and they were able to feed off of each other's energy and ideas. Springsteen was also very open to suggestions from the band, and he was willing to experiment with different sounds and arrangements. The result was an album that was both musically innovative and emotionally powerful.
What was the significance of the Born in the USA tour?
The Born in the USA tour was a massive success, and it helped to solidify Springsteen's status as one of the biggest rock stars in the world. The tour was known for its long setlists, which often included songs from Springsteen's previous albums, as well as songs from Born in the USA. The tour was also known for its energetic live performances, which often featured Springsteen interacting with the audience and playing for extended periods of time. The tour was a major turning point in Springsteen's career, and it helped to solidify his status as one of the most important rock musicians of all time.
What was Max Weinberg's experience playing drums in Sunderland, England like?
Max Weinberg describes a challenging experience playing drums in Sunderland, England, where freezing rain and wind made the conditions difficult. He mentions the drums being covered in water and the difficulty of playing in such conditions.
Show Notes
E Street Band legends Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan look back at the making of Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. on its 40th anniversary in exclusive new interviews with host Brian Hiatt
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