Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon London 75

Hammersmith Odeon 75 captures the first visit by Bruce Springsteen to the UK in 1975 after Born To Run was released.

The retrospective Live 1975 – 85 is a very comprehensive collection of Springsteen live but fans were critical because it was a live performance compilation.

Hammersmith Odeon is how long-standing fans really want to hear Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play live – a complete concert that captures the excitement and passion of a Springsteen gig.

Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon 75 Overall Rating – 29/30

Bruce Springsteen hammersmith odeon 75

Set List Rating – 10/10

This is a great set list from Bruce Springsteen’s first three studio albums. My only wish is that he’s started playing 3.5 hour sets back then and we could have enjoyed even more. I guess I’m just greedy when I get to the good stuff.

Disc One

  1. Thunder Road – 5:50 (From the album Born To Run)
  2. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out – 3:50 (Born To Run)
  3. Spirit in the Night – 7:35 (Greetings from Asbury Park)
  4. Lost In The Flood – 6:15 (Greetings from Asbury Park)
  5. She’s the One – 5:23 (Born To Run)
  6. Born to Run – 4:16 (Born To Run)
  7. The E Street Shuffle – 12:51 (The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle)
  8. It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City – 5:27 (Greetings from Asbury Park)
  9. Backstreets – 7:22 (Born To Run)

Disc Two

  1. Kitty’s Back – 17:14 (The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle)
  2. Jungleland – 9:35 (Born To Run)
  3. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) – 9:51 (The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle)
  4. 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) – 7:03 (The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle)
  5. Detroit Medley – 7:02 (Devil With A Blue Dress On, Jenny Take a Ride, Good Golly, Miss Molly and C.C. Rider)
  6. For You – 8:26 (Greetings from Asbury Park)
  7. Quarter to Three – 6:44 (regular cover performed by Springsteen at gigs)

What a set list!

Four songs from Greetings From Asbury Park, four long songs from The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle and six from the newly released Born To Run.

I’d have loved to have some of the missing tracks included in this 1975 live album but I really shouldn’t moan. I’m just so glad that this recording of the London 1975 gig has been released as a CD. The DVD of the concert was included in the 30th Anniversary version of Born To Run and I had to buy that too.

Performance Rating – 10/10

Hyped as “the future of rock’n’roll”, the London audience was sceptical of “the Boss” but when you hear this, you’ll know that any doubts about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band didn’t last for long.

This is what a live rock album should be all about – energy, enthusiasm, excitement, passion and a marvellous group of songs.

The more you listen, the more you appreciate what a great songwriter Springsteen is and what an incredible backing group the E Street band are.

Whatever the style, whatever the mood, they can play it as if their lives depend on it.

I love this album.

The album songs are used as the basis for the tunes but it’s only the starting point. This is how a live band should perform, excited to toy and experiment with their own songs rather than trying to reproduce the album sound live in concert.

Here are some videos of Bruce Springsteen in London in 1975.

Jungleland.

Lost In The Flood

Atmosphere & Authenticity Rating – 9/10

It hurts me to knock even one point off this superb live recording but if I could ask for a perfect Springsteen live album, it would be recorded in front of his adoring fans in New Jersey.

That would be authentic.

One show. Perfect.

The sound quality is terrific.

It’s beautifully paced, speeding up, slowly down. Bruce was in total control. This is one of the problems with Live 1975 – 85 which never plays or feels like a Springsteen concert because the songs are in a rough chronological order.

Total Rating For Bruce Springsteen Hammersmith Odeon 75 – 29/30

You will find it extremely difficult to find a live album that is better than Hammersmith Odeon 75.

It stands up there with The Who Live At Leeds, The Rolling Stones Brussels Affair, James Brown Live At The Apollo and Deep Purple Made In Japan.

This fully deserves to be towards the top of the all time greatest live albums lists.

Sadly it won’t be recognised by many because Springsteen took 35 years to release it. What a waste.

If you loved Live 1975 – 85, you need to hear this album and you’ll really appreciate Bruce Springsteen when he was young, ambitious and trying to make his reputation. It’s the same with Live In New York City because you’ll hear a jazzy, soulful Springsteen combined with the epic rock songs

This is exactly how he did it with storming live performances. It’s a lesson in how to put a concert together.

What Others Say About Hammersmith Odeon 75

This doesn’t feature in any big greatest live album list I’ve seen.

They are wrong although to be fair, many lists were completed before this album was released.

Plenty of critics and people voting in best live album surveys recommend both Live 1975 – 85 and Live In New York City.

Reviewers at Amazon are very positive as you can see.

%%CUSTOMERREVIEWS%%

Buying Hammersmith Odeon London 75 by Bruce Springsteen

If you’re still reading this then you’re obviously interested in Bruce Springsteen

And that means you need this album. You’ll love it.

To help you to find the album quickly and easily, I’ve given you the following links::

What Do You Think About Hammersmith Odeon London 75?

I’m interested to know if you agree with me and love this album?

Or do you think it is overrated?

Is it the best Bruce Springsteen live album

What Are The FIVE Best Bruce Springsteen LIve Albums? (Click on the links to go to the reviews)

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

What Are The Best Live Albums Ever?

Please help me to find the best live albums by taking part in my best live album polls:

best classic rock live albums

What Are The FIVE Best Classic Rock Live Albums? (Click on the links to go to the reviews)

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Because there are so many excellent classic rock live albums I have split the poll into two and you may find some of your favourites in the second division. Albums will be promoted when they get enough votes.

What Are The FIVE Best Classic Rock Live Albums (SECOND DIVISION)? (Click on the links to go to the reviews)

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

You may be interested in the polls for other classic rock artists like Bad CompanyThe Beach BoysThe Beatles (group & solo)Dave Matthews BandDavid BowieDire StraitsBob DylanElton JohnFleetwood MacJethro TullPink FloydQueenRushSting & The PoliceThe Rolling StonesBruce SpringsteenThin LizzyU2The WhoWishbone AshNeil Young

You may also be interested in the best singer songwriter live albums poll.

You can see the complete list of readers polls at Live Album Polls

If You Like This…

If you like Bruce Springsteen, I think you’ll like Van Morrison, Graham Parker, Bob Seger, Southside Johnny, Bob Dylan, Thin Lizzy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.