Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band - Blood Brothers
by Ernie Fritz

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DVD Reviews of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band - Blood Brothers

DVD Review: reality show: 7 days in the studio with Bruce & the band
Summary: 5 Stars

If you are interested in what really goes on during a studio taping and mixing of music, and about behind the scenes decisions, you will love this. People interested in the business end of the entertainment industry will enjoy seeing the interaction between the producer and the manager and the musicians. If you are a big fan of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band you will love it, of course, that goes without saying.

I am not a musician and am ignorant about the process of making music, but this movie gave me some insight. We see Bruce telling the band what his vision for the songs is, how he wants the mood, his raw ideas, and then the feedback of the musicians and the businessmen. We see discussion of whether the music is overpowering the lyrics, whether the music is really setting the tone of the message of the song, etc. We see the band members composing their own parts to the songs. We hear debate about which version of the song is the best, which invokes the proper mood and message. We see a meeting with an outside consultant who remixed "Secret Garden" with some string instruments and we see the band vote for their favorite version (it is not unanimous). We see Bruce tired and working hard, and in one scene he looks as if he just woke up from a nap with "bed head". We see them out on the streets with fans calling their names and asking for autographs and asking Bruce for a kiss on the cheek (which was refused).

Springsteen brought up the Greatest Hits project idea on a Thursday and recording began a few days later. The whole project was done in a week. What a whirlwind. Because this was the first time the band had officially studio-recorded in 11 years, and 7 years since performing together, there were some interesting dynamics going on and band members were commenting about their emotions and happiness at being together again.

After watching this I have more respect for musicians than I used to. As a consumer and listener of the final product I hadn't really been exposed to all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. It is apparent throughout the film that Bruce, the band, the other artists and the business people worked very well together but still I could appreciate the hard work and difficulty of it all. As with other types of projects, there is the dream and the original conception, there is the path along the way where others give input, compromise is made, different things are tried, and one final thing results, which does not always please everyone. The looming deadline is there and impacts the project.

I also was left completely in awe of all it takes to write great lyrics, to compose music, and then to get it to the end product. This film helped me realize just a slice of what goes on behind the scenes and to appreciate all it takes to put out a studio recording. What talent each musician must have to be able to do this work! I was left with the feeling that to be musical, it is an inborn talent not something that is easily learned. I also realized the true dedication of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band. It was very clear to me that Springsteen cannot help but write and perform, it is in his blood, it is a calling, it comes natural and it cannot be suppressed. Musicians must make music, writers must write, you cannot stop them! And to Bruce and the E Street Band I beg: "Don't stop!"

My one complaint was the spoken part of the track seems to be a lower volume than the music. I was straining to hear some of the mumblings and fast-talking and then when the music came on it was blasting! As I watched it I took out my copy of the Greatest Hits CD and compared it with the final songs that made the cut, the photograph of the band we saw being shot, and one inside shot was a proposed cover, which was shot down. And of course as a huge fan I wished the film were longer, and that I could have such a bird's eye view of their work process more often!

Description of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band - Blood Brothers

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