Customer Reviews
If only all his albums could be recorded live - By: The Dice man, 18 Jan 2008 
After listening to the River off this albumin my mates car I decided to buy my first springsteen record.
Im now a avid fan of the great man . Most of his classics are on the these 3 CD's . From the haunting tracks like Thunder road & Racingin the streets to rocking classics like Born to run & Rosalita.
If theres only one album you get then it sould be this one
Magnificent catalogue of the first half of Bruce's career - By: , 23 Nov 2003 If you're interestedin Springsteen, or even justin good rock music, this three-disc collection belongs on your shelves ... you will not find a more diverse, better sounding or more astutely performed catalogue of live music. For lovers of Bruce, it's all here - from a poignant piano-only version of Thunder Road, thumping accounts of War, Cadillac Ranch & Seeds, the anthemic Born to Run, & the softer but profound tracks from the Nebraska album which comprise a mellow hiatus during the second CD. Like one of Springsteen's concerts, the energy & poignancy of the numbers jump & fade, bothin terms of his vocal delivery & the superb musicianship of the band. Bruce also does his share of talking between tracks, notably personal anecdotes about his parentsin the middle of Growin' Up & just before The River - these give the set character (not that it needed any.) An interesting way to listen to this collection is the follow the dates of the recordings & to hear how both Bruce & the E Street band developed over time; their performances seem more earthy & unrefined, though no less entrancing, backin the 1970s. However you choose to listen to this triple-set is up to you - just get it, & listen to it, because you won't be sorry.
AWESOME ROCK POWER - By: Pieter, 10 Oct 2003 This is an absolutely brilliant live set that captures all of the raw power & the beauty of Springsteen at his best. The performances are awesome & the atmosphere is electric. What makes the album special is hearing songs like Because The Night (a hit for Patti Smith) performed by Bruce himself & songs like Nebraskain full rock mode. The rock instrumentation lends Nebraska new depth & poignancy although I love the acoustic version too. Another favourite is Fire, tender, anguished & passionate with amazing vocals. Born To Run is a real tour de force, gaining lots of energy by the live ambience & the enthusiastic applause. Jersey Girl, made famous by Tom Waits, provides another highlightin its wistful delivery with the achingly beautiful organ & Bruce’s voice taking a tender turn. This song is pure poetry with its gripping images & wailing sax. Promised Land & Born In The USA also deserve special mention & of course Bruce’s wonderful version of Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, but there are no bad moments & the whole Live album is one captivating listening experience.
Essential Springsteen - By: mitchgibbo, 30 May 2003 If you only own one Bruce Springsteen album, then this should be the one. When John Landau claimed to have discovered the future of rock 'n' roll way backin the early 70's he was foreseeing the rise of the most influential singer / songwriter of the century, bar Bob Dylan.
Live 75-85 captues The Boss at his absolute best, & on the later shows, at the peak of his commercial appeal. Thunder Road remains a modern classic, but to hear it live leaves you breathless. Cover versions are here & Bruce adds his own twist, with venom on the anthemic "War" & with subtlety on Tom Waits beautiful, under-rated "Jersey Girl".
When Bruce sings "We bursted outta class, had to get away from those fools,/ we learned more from a 3 minute record than we ever didin school" on a superbly re-arranged "No Surrender", you believe every last syllable!
Springsteen for me, is the quintessential American songwriter, knowing just how to tap into the feelings of everyday blue-collar America (and you & I)and carry you along at a breathtaking pace, taking you to highs & lows & leaving you with a feeling of sheer exaltation. Seeing Springsteen livein these heady days was not a concert, it was a religious experience, with the Rev. Bruce earnestly preaching to his captive flock.
The man exudes charisma from every pore on his body, & on stage he makes the most of it. This record compiled personally from 10 years on the road is the closest you will ever get to being there.
With a relatively quiet 90's, commercially speaking, & the creative well seeming to dry a little, The Boss bounced back withy his post-9/11 album "The Rising" which sees a return to the flag waving, standard bearing form shown on Live 75-85, but never again will he be as good as this. Truly a remakable record & a must for every serious music fan,
Good. Could've been great - By: Docendo Discimus, 17 Apr 2003 
The most amazing thing about this 3½-hour set is that it was actually about the length of Bruce Springsteen's concertsin the mid-eighties.
"Born To Run" is here, a super live rendition of "Thunder Road" (way better than the album version, especially Springsteens vocal delivery), "Darkness On The Edge Of Town", "Born In The USA", "Badlands", "Hungry Heart", "The River" (complete with a long monologue which is either pathetic or touching, depending on your point of view)....
There is no faulting what is here (although a few "minor" songs could've been left off with no great harm done). But where the hell are "Dancing In The Dark" & "Glory Days", & why didn't he take the opportunity to include such gems as the fiery "Sherry Darling" & the never-released "From Small Things Big Things Come" & "Pink Cadillac", three of his best rock songs?
Anyway, this is really good live album. The songs are ragged but mostly right, & the atmosphere is great. It's just a shame that the man from Freehold & Columbia Records missed the opportunity to make the greatest live albumin rock n' roll history. With Springsteen's back catalogue to draw from, they sure had the opportunity.
