For You (Bruce Springsteen song)
| "For You" | |
|---|---|
| SinglebyBruce Springsteen | |
| from the albumGreetings from Asbury Park, N.J. | |
| A-side | "Spirit in the Night" |
| Released | January 5, 1973 |
| Recorded | June 22, 1972 |
| Studio | 914 Sound Studios,Blauvelt, New York |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 4:40 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Bruce Springsteen |
| Producer(s) |
|
| Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.track listing | |
9 tracks Side one
Side two
| |
"For You"is a song written and recorded byBruce Springsteenin 1972 for his debut albumGreetings from Asbury Park, N.J.,released in 1973. It was later included on the compilation albumThe Essential Bruce Springsteen.The song has been covered byManfred Mann's Earth Band,The Format,andGreg Kihn.
Lyrics and music
[edit]"For You" was recorded at914 Sound StudiosinBlauvelt, New Yorkon June 27, 1972, the same day as the rest of the album except "Blinded by the Light"and"Spirit in the Night".[1]Musicians participating in these sessions included futureE Street BandmembersDavid Sancious,Garry TallentandVini Lopez.[1]It is a climactic,percussion-driven song. Unlike many other songs on Springsteen's debut album, it takes the time to pace and build.[2] The lyrics[3]are about a woman who has attemptedsuicide.[4][5]She does not need the singer's "urgency" even though her life is "one long emergency" as Springsteen sings in the chorus (along with "and your cloud line urges me, and my electric surges free" ). The singer is committed to doing anything to save her, and admires her ability to hang on.[4]
In many live concerts, includingHammersmith Odeon, London '75,Bruce transformed the song into a tender piano ballad without accompaniment.[citation needed]
Cover versions
[edit]Greg Kihn version
[edit]| "For You" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyGreg Kihn | |
| from the albumGreg Kihn Again | |
| Released | 1977 |
| Recorded | 1977 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length |
|
| Label | Beserkley |
| Songwriter(s) | Bruce Springsteen |
| Producer(s) | Matthew King Kaufman |
The song was also covered byGreg Kihnon his 1977 albumGreg Kihn Again.[6]Kihn's cover received favorable comments from Springsteen.[6]It was also included on the compilation albumBest of Kihn.[7]
Manfred Mann's Earth Band version
[edit]| "For You" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyManfred Mann's Earth Band | |
| from the albumChance | |
| Released | October 10, 1980 |
| Genre | |
| Length |
|
| Label | Bronze |
| Songwriter(s) | Bruce Springsteen |
| Producer(s) | |
Like "Blinded By The Light" (onThe Roaring Silence) and "Spirits in the Night" (onNightingales & Bombers), this song was covered byManfred Mann's Earth Bandfor their albumChance.[8]As with Manfred Mann Earth Band's previous Springsteen covers, they used a more forceful, rockier sound in "For You" than Springsteen did.[8]The Earth Band version built from a more temperate beginning to an explosion of sound in thebridge,and incorporates five guitars and a keyboard solo byManfred Mann3/4 of the way into the song.[8]The song was also included on the compilation albumsThe Best of Manfred Mann's Earth BandandBlinded by the Light & Other Hits.[8]However, the single release did not achieve the success of their other Springsteen covers.
Other cover versions
[edit]This song was also covered byThe Formatfor the Springsteen tribute albumLight of Day.[9]This version was also included on theirB-Sides & Raritiesalbum.
In 2005The Disco Boysproduced a dance version of the song, sampling the Manfred Mann's Earth Band cover.
Personnel
[edit]According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[10]
- Bruce Springsteen – vocals, acoustic guitar
- Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez– drums
- Garry Tallent– bass
- David Sancious– piano, organ
Technical
- Mike Appel– producer
- Jim Cretecos – producer
- Louis Lahav – recording engineer
References
[edit]- ^ab"BruceBase Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J."Retrieved2015-05-10.
- ^Humphries, P. (1996).The Complete Guide to the Music of Bruce Springsteen.p. 6.ISBN0-7119-5304-X.
- ^"For You Lyrics".Retrieved2012-08-02.
- ^abSawyers, J. (2006).Tougher Than the Rest.pp. 8–9.ISBN978-0-8256-3470-3.
- ^Rob Kirkpatrick (2007).The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen.pp.16–17.ISBN978-0-275-98938-5.
- ^ab"Greg Kihn Again".allmusic.Retrieved2009-05-28.
- ^"Best of Kihn".allmusic.Retrieved2009-05-28.
- ^abcd"For You".allmusic.Retrieved2009-05-28.
- ^"www.lightofday.org".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-04-09.Retrieved2012-09-09.
- ^Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2020).Bruce Springsteen All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track.London:Cassell Illustrated.p. 34.ISBN978-1-78472-649-2.
