Hammersmith Odeon, London '75

I am a long time Springsteen fan. I have pretty much all of the “official” albums on CD and vinyl...yes I’m that sort of fan! However, I had hesitated over buying this because to my mind it was, essentially, a 40+ year old bootleg and I was wary of just how good a recording it could be. Fast forward to September 2020, and like many other Springsteen fans I got myself caught up in the 45th anniversary of Born to Run and so dug out my 30th anniversary CD box set which contains the DVD of this show. I’d never watched it before and wow, I have to say I was blown away with the gig, the picture quality and crucially the sound quality! This was no bootleg! So, I took the plunge and bought the CD...and yes, it was worth it!

I am a great fan of the early Blue Skies & E SB when their music was quirky and full of a range of influences. This 2CD set captures this superbly tight and disciplined band live from their first UK visit, being showcased at the mighty Hammersmith Odeon in 1975. As an avid reader of many music papers there was a buzz about BS and there was a definite air of expectation about what we were about to receive following much hype from their management ! The 16 tracks performed that night crackle with excitement, clearly recorded and demonstrated what all the fuss was about. This set is testimony to why they too can be considered as the ‘ best rock n roll band ‘

I was 25 years old and had just emigrated from the USA to live in the UK. A few months after I'd moved here, I heard about Bruce. Turns out, he was brought up not far from my own childhood homes. Anyway, got a ticket and turned up. For the first few numbers, the crowd was very subdued. Clap Clap and all seated - no shouting or standing in the aisles (the ushers at the Odeon were fierce). But it got better - Clarence turns up on the top of the speaker stack. FREAKING AWESOME and the place went nuts. The rest is history. An epic show.I shall treasure this!

A great Live Album on Bruce's very first trip to the UK.A superb rendition of Thunder Road stripped back musically that allows his voice and the pure emotion of the song to shine through. The E Street Shuffle is brilliant, just sounds like the band having real fun jamming together, my second favourite track. All backed up by many, many other great tracks too. It captures the gig very well and sounds great on vinyl.I originally had this gig on DVD which was part of the special CD box set of Born to Run so when I saw it available on vinyl, I just had to buy it. One of my top 5 Springsteen albums.

Its difficult to write a impartial review on anything this man does as im such a fan but here goes . I purchased this cd as i have all the modern bruce stuff and started looking at the early releases . This is bruce at the very early , raw stage , yet if you have been to any bruce gig or concert in your life you will hear the man setting off on a journey that you will of been part of at some point . Even in these early days the energy the power the passion of a Bruce set is already there , I really enjoyed this cd as its a testament to bruce and his collection showing that the man , the boss , the all action leader of e street has always been unique in his ability to write and perform from his heart from day 1 !

Purchased the 4 LP vinyl version. Have to confess I love Bruce but am normally prone to listening to his output from Born to Run onwards. Received this today and was a little sceptical as not heavyweight 180gm vinyl (but not a "flex-disc" either). Very happily surprised with the sound quality but also completely blown away by the setlist and concert itself. It felt like I was there and has opened my eyes to many songs on the first two albums which I'd previously left by and large unplayed. Can't recommend highly enough. For those of you who are interested in the packaging, comes in a single cover with 4 coloured inserts. Bought for £22 and absolute bargain as far as I'm concerned - came with a free digital download which was an added bonus.

As a fan of Bruce since Born to Run, I didn't finally get to see him til '85, when by then he was a superstar. This concert is from a different world, where a young and hungry E Street band had everything to prove. This is the type of album I love. You can trace many a band's career back to their 'raw best' phase, and this is a classic example. The latest offering by Queen at the Rainbow is another. Neither will appeal to fans of the later stadium rock, but to the true cognoscenti this is as good as it gets.

Wow! I have been waiting for this type of release ever since acquiring the first three Springsteen/E Street Band releases. I love teasing my friends who don't know early Springsteen (the name alone offends them...) let them listen in amazement and then let them in on the secret.This is Springsteen at his overactive prime and he takes his excellent, if somewhat clean (on album) tunes and transforms them into raw, anthemic songs of passion.It's clear that both he, and the audience are being transported somewhere else in time and space. If you've ever seen footage of Springsteen at the time you'll recognize the anticipation and hysteria of all involved.At times, the hysteria causes the songs to lurch into almost breakneck speed (though always unbelievably tight) and the slower songs (Sandy)to be slightly OTT and rigid (where on album they're just right).Nevertheless, this is the hands-down holy grail re-issue of 2006.

Se lo compré de regalo para mi sobrina y le encanta!!

Concerto del boss e la sua mitica band al Hammersmith odeon di Londra nel 1975.l' intensità di questo concerto,unito all'ecclettismo dei musicisti lo fanno andare al top dei concerti di Bruce.💯

Was so glad that this album came out in vinyl, I have all his albums and rate this one in my top five, It is like you are there in person listening to this album,also bought it on record store day and did not want to open that copy.so this one a great buy!!

Alors que l'Europe vit à l'heure du disco et que Londres s'apprête à surfer sur la vague punk, voilà que débarque notre Américain pour son premier concert sur notre vieux continent pour nous en mettre plein (la vue et surtout) les oreilles! Et quelle claque! Aux prémisses de leurs carrières, Bruce Springsteen et son fabuleux E Street Band sont bien décidés à nous offrir toute l'étendue de leurs talents. Du rock n' roll, de la soul, du rythm n' blues, tout est excellent dans ce live. Un magnifique Thunder road épurré suivi des survoltés 10th avenue freeze-out et Spirit in the night puis d'un émouvant Lost in the flood: on sait que le meilleur est à venir. Un E street shuffle de 12' méconnaissable et ralenti nous délecte les oreilles avec en prime la magnifique guitare slide de Miami Steeve. Puis arrive la cerise sur le gateau, la perle, le diamant brut: le sublissime Kitty's back de 17' ! C'est maintenant, pour moi, le meilleur morceau live de Springsteen car tout y est: du rythme, de l'émotion, de la sincérité. Chacun des membres nous gratifie d'un solo aussi beau les uns que les autres. des superbes percus accompagnent la basse de Tallent et les claviers de Fédérici, Roy bittan justifie son surnom de Professor et on comprends pourquoi Clarence clémons est LE big man, sans oublier le duel à la guitare entre Steeve et Bruce. Et comme si ça ne suffisait pas, notre bande remet le couvert avec Jungleland et Rosalita avant de retourner à l'émotion pure avec un sublime For you puis de s'envoler à nouveau pour un bon vieux et vrai rock n' roll. Ce live est a absolument posséder pour tout fan du boss et en complément du coffret célébrant les 30 ans de Born to run. Il va même vous faire oublier le formaté live 75/85 qui nous a pas révélé le véritable talent de ce groupe d'exception.

Live im "Hammersmith Odeon 1975" war der erste Auftritt von Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band in London. Mit meinen 55 Jahren habe ich den "Boss" von seinen ersten Tagen an in mein Herz geschlossen. Meine erste LP die ich mir von diesem Ausnahmemusiker kaufte war "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" aus dem Jahr 1978. Da war dann der Bann gebrochen und ich kaufte mir die vorhergehenden Aufnahmen. Auf langen einsamen Autofahrten schob ich eine Kassette nach der der anderen in meinen Kassettenrecorder und begann dann wieder von vorn. Sicher Springsteen ist auch heute noch eine Klasse für sich, aber die frühen Aufnahmen haben es mir angetan. Die Alben "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." (1973), "The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle" (1973) und "Born to Run" (1975) sind die musikalischen Zutaten für das Konzert in London 1975.Ein Kracher nach dem anderen wird hier live zelebriert. Und, wie wir alle wissen, ist der Meister gemeinsam mit seiner Band live besonders grandios. Bei diesen Aufnahmen kommt eine unglaubliche Spielfreude aus den Boxen. Einzelne Songs brauche ich nicht hervorzuheben, da sich auf dieser Doppel-CD absolut keine Ausfälle befinden. Dennoch möchte ich meine persönlichen Highlights dieser Aufnahme kurz nennen:Da wäre zunächst der Opener, nämlich das unverwüstliche "Thunder Road"."Spirit In The Night" als frühes Livedokument ist einfach traumhaft. Ab ca. 5 Minuten Spieldauer flüstert er unter spartanischer musikalischer Begleitung seinen Text ins Publikum.Der vierte Song "Lost In The Flood" ist eines meiner Lieblingssongs auf dem Album. Einfach ergreifend und stimmgewaltig."Born To Run" darf natürlich nicht fehlen und wird hier mit einem gewaltigen Drive vorgetragen."It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City" ist definitiv mein Lieblingsstück dieses Albums. Nach 2:06 Minuten überschlägt sich seine heiser klingende Stimme so wunderbar. Ich könnte diese Stelle immer wieder hören.Die Aufnahme von "Backstreets" hier zu unterschlagen, wäre eine Schande. Es ist ein Wahnsinn, wie Springsteen hier seine Stimmbänder quält.Mit dem längsten Song des Albums beginnt die zweite CD. "Kitty's Back" dauert 17:15 Minuten. Hier hat die E-Street Band mit ausführlichen Instrumentalparts ihren großen Auftritt. Ein Hochgenuss!"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" ist ja gerade als Livestück hinlänglich bekannt. Es darf aber dennoch nicht bei meiner Auflistung fehlen."4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" von dem ersten Springsteen Album ist eine sehr gefühlvolle und intensive Ballade. Zum Träumen schön!Das letzte Stück "Quarter To Three" ist denn dann auch der Rausschmeißer dieses Konzerterlebnisses und ist so richtig schön fetzig, dass kein Bein still bleiben kann.Der Satz, dass dieses Album ein Muss für jeden Springsteen Fan ist, wird ja so oft inflationär benutzt. Hier ist er aber absolut angebracht. Meinem Erachten nach, ist "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75" für jeden Springsteen Liebhaber ein Pflichtinvestition. Es ist ein außerordentlich gelungener Livemitschnitt und von der Tonqualität her gut. Sicherlich gibt es heute Tontechnisch mehr Möglichkeiten, aber man bedenke aus welcher Zeit die Aufnahmen stammen. Hier sind wieder fünf Sterne in der Bewertung selbstverständlich.