There's no need to feel any guilt about calling this era a terrible mistake. Given how infrequently Bruce returns to any of it, with only a couple of songs being played from the combined 24 songs with any kind of regularity, you can be assured that you aren't alone in your displeasure. Bruce doesn't like this stuff either. I remember one night in Jersey...the 2nd show I think...Bruce played All Or Nothin' At All and some people around me went crazy. I stood there scratching my head, wondering what it was about this song that would make these people go insane. And then I realized...from Bruce's quote later in an interview (years later)...he is Santa Claus in New Jersey. He can do no wrong. A song like All Or Nothin'...utter dreck...
There was an interview on MTV after the opening night of a bunch of fans outside the arena....and you could see the look in the eyes of the fans who had been around for a while that they really wanted to be more excited about coming from a show...but they couldn't muster it. They offered praise...but there was so much missing.
Bruce had to do this. He had to go out on his own. I get it. I'm certain his depression had already reared its ugly head at this point in his life. Getting out on his own, away from the comfort of the E Street Band was a must. But let's not ever be so blind to believe that any of this music is any good. It's not. It's as simple as that.
You know, I would think that since he followed Sting's lead, he would do what Sting did and actually hire some outstanding musicians with whom to tour. Don't forget what an impact Sting had on Bruce on the Amnesty tour. But he couldn't. Think about who Sting hired to tour Dream of the Blue Turtles, and ...Nothing Like the Sun. Branford M., Kenny Kirkland, Davey S et al....among the very best musicians available on the planet. Virtuoso musicians. And to great effect. Bruce hired the Lone Justice guitarist (really? Lone Justice? wtf?), the B-52's drummer, and a bass player with little-to-no resume at the time, outside his work as a bassist in a Christian rock band. Woah. Overwhelming. Basically a bunch of guys he could "boss" around and do exactly what he wanted them to do. In other words, "fellas, play these notes, exactly as I tell you". You don't (and can't) tell Sancious, Kirkland, and Marsalis et al what to play, like you can tell Simms, Alford, and the kid with the long hair. And why would you want to? The idea of surrounding yourself with great musicians is to let them ADD to your music. Why have Tommy Simms play one note for an entire song? Why even have him on stage? Roy could play it on a pedal. My point is that Bruce took a chance in trying to maintain that kind of control...he had to get 2nd tier musicians...and the price was stale white bread. I give Crystal T. credit for having the balls to play sax on Born to Run. She was the only one on stage with any balls.
And if I ever hear that ridiculous introduction to 57 Channels again...