Springsteen Performs After ‘Blinded By the Light’ Premiere

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Southside Johnny and Bruce Springsteen at the Asbury Park Convention Center, August 7, 2019

The new coming-of-age film, Blinded By the Light, which features many Bruce Springsteen tracks, had its premiere last night (August 7) in Asbury Park, NJ, and not surprisingly, the Boss was in attendance. The film, which drew wide acclaim at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, arrives August 14 via New Line Cinema. The original motion picture soundtrack includes 12 Springsteen songs including the long-sought-after studio recording of “I’ll Stand By You,” as well as two live rarities. (Listen below.)

After the screening, Springsteen joined longtime pal, Southside Johnny, for several songs at the Asbury Park Convention Center.

Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings will release the soundtrack CD on August 9; the double LP arrives August 30.

Watch Springsteen and Southside perform the Sam Cooke song, “Having a Party” on August 7

The album includes Springsteen performances of such favorites as “Badlands,” “Prove it All Night” and “Because the Night.” Also included: the debut live performance of “The River” (from No Nukes ’79 – Madison Square Garden, NYC – September 21, 1979) and an acoustic solo performance of “The Promised Land” (Concert for Valor – The National Mall, Washington DC, November 11, 2014).

The soundtrack also includes period tracks and dialog from the film and premieres “For You My Love,” a new song written for the film by soundtrack composer A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire).

Watch Springsteen and Southside perform “Sherry Darling” at the Asbury Park Convention Center on August 7

[Thanks to Marty Jablow for the videos.]

Inspired by a true story (Sarfraz Manzoor’s Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock N’ Roll) and the words and music of Springsteen, Blinded By the Light, directed by Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham), follows Javed, a British teen of Pakistani descent, growing up in Luton, England in 1987. His turbulent life amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times is transformed when he is introduced to the music of Bruce Springsteen.

“As a lifelong Bruce fan, I am delighted how this soundtrack takes you through the experience of watching my movie with Springsteen music complemented by the other tracks, including very personal tracks—from my dad’s favorite song to a British Bhangra anthem,” said writer-director-producer Chadha. “Growing up, Sarfraz and I could never have imagined a universe where all these songs would be on one soundtrack reflecting our lives.”

Listen to the previously unreleased “I’ll Stand By You”

The film has been hailed by critics as “a delirious and romantic rock ‘n’ roll parable…[an] incandescent ode to the life force of pop music” (Variety) and “pure, ingenuous joy” (Entertainment Weekly). The New York Post wrote, “Guaranteed to make you feel better than any other film this year.”

Blinded By The Light Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Track List
Ode To Javed/Javed’s Poem – A.R. Rahman
It’s a Sin – Pet Shop Boys
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – a-ha
“The Boss Of Us All” (dialogue)
Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
“You Should Be Listening To Our Music” (dialogue)
“I Never Knew Music Could Be Like This” (dialogue)
*The River– Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (Live at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY – September 21, 1979) (previously unavailable on an album)
“Number One Paki Film” (dialogue)
Badlands – Bruce Springsteen
Cover Me – Bruce Springsteen
Thunder Road– Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (Live at The Roxy Theater, West Hollywood, CA – October 18, 1975)
Get Outta My Way Fascist Pigs – Amer Chadha-Patel
“Do It For Me” (dialogue)
Prove It All Night – Bruce Springsteen
Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen
“You, Me…and Bruce” (dialogue)
Because the Night – Bruce Springsteen
Maar Chadapa – Heera
*The Promised Land – Bruce Springsteen (Live on The National Mall, Washington, D.C. – November 11, 2014)
Blinded By The Light – Bruce Springsteen
Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen
*I’ll Stand By You – Bruce Springsteen (previously unreleased studio recording)
*For You My Love – A.R. Rahman (new original song for film)

* previously unavailable on an album

Related: Our review of Springsteen’s new studio album, Western Stars

Best Classic Bands Staff

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