Confession time: When The River first came out, I didn’t like it very much. It’s an unusual reaction for me (there’s one other exception, which I’ll get to a few albums from now) as Bruce’s material nearly always manages to resonate in one way or another. I dunno, maybe I was expecting Darkness Part II, with more loud guitars and searing solos. More likely is that this young music fan was just not ready to embrace the wide range of styles offered up on the album.
As the years went by, The River grew to be one of my favorites. It’s populated with some of Bruce’s saddest and happiest songs. Recorded with the E Street Band gathered in a single room, it’s also one of his liveliest recordings.
Now when I hear those clanging guitar chords that open “The Ties That Bind” (as I did on Song #2 of the initial Hartford show on the Magic tour), I’m ready to take in all of that music that I had such a hard time getting my arms around. From the jangling guitar arpeggios, to the hard snap of Max’s drums to Clarence’s enthusiastic solo, this song gives just a hint of what’s to follow.
Up next: Sherry Darling
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