Since forming in 1972, the band's members have changed; however, core members include saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan and, of course, guitarist/singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt joined the band while recording Born to Run and made this record at least possible. He became one of the most honored and most influential members.
Other musicians important to the band include guitarist Nils Lofgren (who stepped in after Van Zandt quit); guitarist/singer Patti Scialfa (who is also Springsten's wife); and pianist David Sancious and drummers "Mad Dog" Vini Lopez and Ernest "Boom" Carter, who all had left the band prior to Born to Run. Also, The Rising tour saw the official addition of violinist Soozie Tyrell.
In 1989 the band split up, after the massive success of the Born in the USA tour and the quieter Tunnel of Love tour. However, in 1999, the band reunited and embarked on a rather successful 18-month reunion tour - the "E-United Tour" - and now were powered by three guitars (Springsteen, Van Zandt and Lofgren, with Scialfa usually playing a fourth, acoustic guitar).
Following the events of September 11, 2001, Springsteen and the Band embarked on their first studio recordings (excepting a short recording session for Springsteen's 1995 Greatest Hits album) since 1984's Born in the U.S.A. The band recorded The Rising in 2002, and then hit the road for another marathon, two-year tour.
After The Rising, Springsteen recorded two more albums without the E Streeters followed by "Magic", released in October 2007 and featuring the hit single "Radio Nowhere". Magic was followed up by a traditionally strong tour throughout 2008, during which original band-member and friend Danny Federici passed away. Federici had already been temporarily replaced by Charlie Giordano, with whom Springsteen played the year before during the Seeger Sessions. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rounded the 100-show tour at Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration.
On January 27, 2009 Springsteen's twenty-fourth album "Working on a Dream" will be released. According to the official press release, Working on a Dream was recorded with the E Street Band and features twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks. It is the fourth collaboration between Springsteen and Brendan O'Brien, who produced and mixed the album. A new tour for 2009 is expected to be announced soon. Springsteen and the E Street Band will play The Super Bowl halftime show on February 1, 2009.
Saturday 27th July 2009 saw Bruce and the E-Streeters played The Glastonbury Festival, England. This was the band's first-ever UK festival performance, a total of 135,000 people watched an epic, two-and-a-half hour headlining set.
Current members
* Bruce Springsteen - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
* Garry Tallent - bass guitar, tuba
* Max Weinberg - drums, percussion (joined September 1974)
* Roy Bittan - piano, synthesizer (joined September 1974)
* Steven Van Zandt - lead guitar, mandolin, backing vocals (officially joined July 1975 after playing in previous bands; left in 1984 to go solo; rejoined in early 1995) Steven Van Zandt
* Nils Lofgren - guitar, pedal steel guitar, backing vocals (replaced Steven Van Zandt in June 1984; remained in group after Van Zandt returned)
* Patti Scialfa - backing and duet vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion (joined June 1984; became Springsteen's wife in 1991; they have a daughter and two sons)
* Soozie Tyrell - violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals (joined 2002, occasional appearances before that)
Former members
* Vinnie 'Mad Dog' Lopez - drums (inception through February 1974, when asked to resign)
* David Sancious - keyboards (June 1973 to August 1974)
* Ernest 'Boom' Carter - drums (February to August 1974)
* Suki Lahav - violin, backing vocals (September 1974 to March 1975)
* Danny Federici - organ, electronic glockenspiel, accordion, other keyboards (on medical leave of absence from late November 2007, temporarily replaced by Charles Giordano) (Danny passed away on April 17, 2008 after a battle with cancer.)
* Clarence Clemons - saxophone, percussion, backing vocals, larger-than-life persona and Springsteen foil (died 2011)
Kitty's Back
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She left to marry some top cat, ain't it the cold truth
And there hasn't been a tally since Sally left the alley
Since Kitty left with big pretty things have got pretty thin, yeah, yeah
It's tight on this fence since them young dudes are muscling in
Well, Jack Knife cries 'cause baby's in a bundle
She goes running nightly, lightly through the jungle
Cat somehow lost his baby down on Bleecker Street
It's sad, but it sure is true
Cat shrugs his shoulders, sits back and sighs
Ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Catlong lies back bent on a trash can
Flashing lights cut the night, dude in white says he's the man
Well, you better learn to move fast when you're young or you're not long around
Cat somehow lost his kitty down in the city pound
So get right, get tight, get down
Well, who's that down at the end of the alley?
She's been gone so long
(Here she comes, here she comes, here she comes, here she comes)
Yeah, like that, yeah
(Here she comes, here she comes, here she comes, here she comes)
Kitty's back in town (here she comes, now)
Kitty's back in town (oh, oh, all right)
Kitty's back in town (here she comes, now)
Kitty's back in town (oh, oh, all right)
Kitty's back in town (here she comes, now)
Oh, Kitty's back in town (oh, oh, all right)
Kitty's back in town (here she comes, now)
Kitty's back in town (oh, oh, all right)
Now, cat knows his kitty's been untrue
And that she left him for a city dude
But she's so soft, she's so blue
When he looks into her eyes
He just sits back and sighs
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right
Ha ha, da, da, da, da, da (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, all right, ooh, all right) all right
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, all right, ooh, all right)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, all right, ooh, all right)
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, all right, ooh, all right)
(Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right, whoa, all right)
(Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right, whoa, all right)
(Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right, whoa, all right)
(Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right, whoa, all right)
(Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right, whoa, all right)
(Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right, whoa, all right)
"Kitty's Back" by Bruce Springsteen is a story about a man named Cat who has recently lost his lover, Kitty. The lyrics describe how Kitty has left him for someone else, and Cat is left alone and heartbroken. The song starts with Cat holding Kitty's black tooth and feeling sad about how she has left him for a "top cat". The lyrics also mention Sally leaving the alley, and since then things have gotten pretty thin.
As the song progresses, we learn that Kitty has gone to be with a new man, and Cat is trying to move on. However, he feels helpless and sighs "what can I do?" repeatedly throughout the lyrics. The second part of the song talks about how Cat is sitting on a trash can when he sees flashing lights in the distance. A man in white claims to be the "man" and warns Cat to move fast and stay sharp. The song ends with Kitty returning to town, and Cat is happy to see her but also realizes that she has been unfaithful to him.
Overall, "Kitty's Back" is a ballad about heartbreak and lost love. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is struggling to move on and find happiness again. Despite his sadness, he still yearns for the love of his life and cannot help but feel hopeful at the sight of her return.
Line by Line Meaning
Catlong sighs holding kitty's black tooth
Catlong is sorrowful as he holds a memento of his former lover, Kitty, who has moved on to a wealthier partner.
She left to marry some top cat, ain't it the cold truth
Kitty abandoned Catlong to wed a wealthy and prominent individual, leaving him behind with the harsh reality of the situation.
And there hasn't been a tally since Sally left the alley
Ever since Sally, another woman, left the neighborhood, there hasn't been any count of what's going on.
Since Kitty left with big pretty things have got pretty thin, yeah, yeah
Things got worse when Kitty left Catlong for another man, and all the luxuries she brought with her vanished.
It's tight on this fence since them young dudes are muscling in
The competition for resources and opportunities is getting more challenging due to the influx of new, younger people in the area.
Well, Jack Knife cries 'cause baby's in a bundle
Jack Knife, a friend of Catlong and Kitty, is mourning because his partner is pregnant.
She goes running nightly, lightly through the jungle
Kitty often wanders through the city at night without a care in the world.
And them tin cans are exploding out in the ninety-degree heat
The noise of gunpowder exploding in the heat is becoming more and more common in the neighborhood.
Cat somehow lost his baby down on Bleecker Street
Catlong has lost his lover or something precious to him when he was on Bleecker Street.
It's sad, but it sure is true
The reality of the situation is harsh and melancholic.
Cat shrugs his shoulders, sits back and sighs
Catlong's response to his loss is to let out a heavy sigh and give a shrug of his shoulders.
Ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Catlong asks himself in despair what he can do to make things better.
Catlong lies back bent on a trash can
Catlong is seen resting on a trash can while he contemplates his situation.
Flashing lights cut the night, dude in white says he's the man
A police officer flashes his lights in the darkness and approaches Catlong, claiming authority.
Well, you better learn to move fast when you're young or you're not long around
The young people in the neighborhood remind Catlong that he has to act fast to survive in such a competitive and fast-paced environment.
Cat somehow lost his kitty down in the city pound
Catlong has lost Kitty, his feline companion, who was probably picked up by the authorities and placed in the animal shelter.
So get right, get tight, get down
Catlong decides that he needs to pull himself together and get serious about his situation.
Well, who's that down at the end of the alley?
Catlong notices someone at the end of the alley and wonders who it could be.
She's been gone so long
Catlong hasn't seen Kitty in ages and is surprised to see her after so much time.
Kitty's back in town (here she comes, now)
Kitty has come back to the neighborhood after a long absence.
Kitty's back in town (oh, oh, all right)
Catlong is very happy and excited that Kitty has returned.
Now, cat knows his kitty's been untrue
Catlong realizes that Kitty has not been faithful to him.
And that she left him for a city dude
Kitty has abandoned Catlong for a richer, more successful man who lives in the city.
But she's so soft, she's so blue
Catlong can't stay mad at Kitty because she is so beautiful and charming despite her infidelity.
When he looks into her eyes
Catlong finds comfort and solace in Kitty's gaze.
He just sits back and sighs
Catlong is content to take in Kitty's presence and relaxes with a heavy sigh of relief.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what can I do?
Despite Kitty's unfaithfulness, Catlong still loves her and feels helpless and hopeless to do anything about it.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, all right
Catlong expresses his joy and contentment that Kitty has returned to him with an exclamation of happiness.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom Fremont Official
Gary Tallent ... Clearly the most underrated bass player of history and maybe one of the best
Tom McConville
Agree, Garry Tallent is one of the all time great bass players, fantastic technique, fingering, with great runs up and down the keyboard.
Bradley Hovious
Agree
DailyBrusher
He has played some really, really great stuff, and I have NEVER heard any rock player talk about him - never!
Leif Granberg
What about Sid Vicious🤣
Tom Fremont Official
@Leif Granberg 🤣😂🤣😂
Vincent Memoli
Glad they kept showing Gary.He is seriously underrated!Bruce is showing the rock and roll world on how it's done!!
Fran Santiago
He's the Boss!!!
Mike Brison
Loved these huge Springsteen opus-type songs. Ever-changing stories that grabbed us by the throat. Amazing performance.
Mike McHugh
So much emotion in a band and this performance and Yes, Gary's bass lines were something that you just could not ignore. They moved, they grooved. A night for the history books for sure.