Album version
The screen door slams, Mary's dress sways
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain for a savior to rise from these streets
Well now I'm no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks
Oh oh come take my hand
Riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh oh Thunder Road, sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
Tonight we'll be free, all the promises will be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch they're gone on the wind, so Mary climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win
THUNDER ROAD is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and released on his 1975 album Born To Run. The above lyrics are for Bruce Springsteen's album version of THUNDER ROAD as released in 1975.
This fans favorite has been performed live in many different ways: full-band, stripped down, guitar solo, piano solo, slowed down, etc...
The album version of THUNDER ROAD was included on the Greatest Hits (1995 edition) compilation album, The Essential Bruce Springsteen (both 2003 and 2015 editions) compilation album, the Greatest Hits (2009 editions) compilation album, the Collection: 1973-2012 compilation album, and the Best Of Bruce Springsteen compilation album.
THUNDER ROAD underwent considerable evolution as it was written, with an early version titled "Wings For Wheels" and later versions titled "Thunder Road". The unreleased Born To Run outtake WALKING IN THE STREET contains lyrics that would end up in THUNDER ROAD.
It has long been assumed that GLORY ROAD was a very early version of THUNDER ROAD, but Bruce Springsteen handwritten lyrics sheets from the Born To Run period that surfaced in 2014 indicate that GLORY ROAD actually developped into BORN TO RUN, and not into THUNDER ROAD. See the early draft of THUNDER ROAD and the early draft of GLORY ROAD for more details.
The title phrase "Thunder Road" doesn't occur anywhere in the early version of the song, and is only used a couple of times in the middle section of the newer versions. Springsteen took the "Thunder Road" title from the Robert Mitchum 1958 movie Thunder Road. He declared that he was somehow inspired from the movie even if, as he said, "I never saw the movie, I only saw the poster in the lobby of the theater" (see the spoken intro for the live 19 Sep 1978 version). However, it is evidenced in his 1995 interview with Molly Meldrum that he did see the movie later on. He talks briefly about it and adds that he "was a big Robert Mitchum fan, [...] I wanted that band to sound like thunder, I wanted [...] to feel that sort of power."
The name of the girl mentioned at the beginning of the song was changed several times. It was "Angelina" (see the live 05 Feb 1975 version), then "Chrissie" (see alternate version #1 and alternate version #3), and then "Christina" (see alternate version #2) before Springsteen settled on "Mary". In a January 1999 interview for Mojo magazine, Mark Hagen asked Springsteen if Mary of THUNDER ROAD is "the same one who crops up in 'The River' and other places." Springsteen answered: "I couldn't say. Sometimes a name just comes out, I suppose there's all the interconnections that the songs make happen intentionally and unintentionally. A lot of the time you don't know a lot of what you're doing yourself."
Springsteen wrote in his 1998 book Songs: "'Thunder Road' opens the album, introducing its characters and its central proposition: Do you want to take a chance? On us? On life?"
The lyrics "We got one last chance to make it real / To trade in these wings on some wheels" echo Springsteen's make-it-or-break-it proposition. His first two albums had sold poorly (less than 90,000 copies), and the success of his third album Born To Run was crucial because Columbia Records was no longer enamored with the highly touted Springsteen.
Bruce Springsteen has always stated that Roy Orbison had a huge impact on his music. Orbison's influence is evident in many Springsteen songs, especially on the Born To Run album. In the first verse of THUNDER ROAD, he even name-checks him: "Roy Orbison singing for the lonely / Hey that's me and I want you only." Apparently this line is a reference to Orbison's 1960 hit ONLY THE LONELY. Springsteen declared in his 1995 interview with Molly Meldrum that he "tried to sing really full voiced and out of my chest because I was fanatically listening to Roy Orbison at the time, and his vocal power, there will never be a voice like that." In the liner notes of his 1995 Greatest Hits album, Springsteen wrote that he "Stole the title from the Robert Mitchum picture, the vocal sound from Roy Orbison (I Tried), the innocence of the tome was mine."
The full-band version of THUNDER ROAD that was initially intended to be released on the Born To Run album was more than seven minutes long. Jon Landau suggested shrinking it to about four, and moving Clarence Clemons's saxophone solo from the middle of the song to the end. Springsteen was so pleased with the final result that he hired Landau as co-producer of the album the next day. Nick Hasted writes in the November 2005 issue of Uncut magazine that "Landau fixed an edit of an early 'Thunder Road'. By April, he was co-producer, and signed up for two per cent of whatever the record made." This might indicate that THUNDER ROAD was one of the earliest recordings from the Mar-Jun 1975 sessions, and most probably recorded in the Mar-Apr 1975 period.
Springsteen envisioned Born To Run as a "day in the life" concept album, and at some point THUNDER ROAD was slated to appear twice, opening the album in an acoustic arrangement and closing it in a full-band take.
The album version of THUNDER ROAD opens with a quiet piano and harmonica introduction, meant, as Springsteen said years later in the Wings For Wheels: The Making Of Born To Run documentary, as a welcoming to both the track and the album, a signifier that something was about to happen. Eschewing a traditional verse-and-chorus structure, the song's arrangement gradually ramps up in instrumentation, tempo, and intensity. Finally, after the closing line there is a saxophone-and-piano duet in the instrumental coda. In his book Born To Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story, Dave Marsh wrote that "'Thunder Road' is a statement of purpose; in its way, it encapsulates the whole story of the album."
The track features Bruce Springsteen on vocals, guitar, and harmonica, Garry Tallent on bass guitar, Max Weinberg on drums, Roy Bittan on Fender Rhodes, glockenspiel, and background vocals, Clarence Clemons on saxophones, Mike Appel on background vocals, and Steve Van Zandt on background vocals. It was arranged by Bruce Springsteen, produced by Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Mike Appel, and recorded and mixed at The Record Plant in New York City, NY.
There are five studio versions of THUNDER ROAD in circulation, all recorded at The Record Plant in New York City, NY:
Alternate version #1, alternate version #3, and alternate version #4 have circulated for a long time on several bootlegs while alternate version #2 appeared for the first time in late 2005 on Sirius XM's E Street Radio channel. It should also be noted that there's a good chance that alternate version #4 is the same core recording as the album version, but simply a different mix. See each of these four versions for more details.
THE PROMISE, which was written in 1976 and considered for the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album, explicitly mentions THUNDER ROAD by name but reveals a far more pessimistic outlook on the narrator's life and future. He would later mention that when he wrote it, he was reflecting on "the flip side of 'Thunder Road'". During the February 2003 benefit solo acoustic shows for DoubleTake magazine, a fan asked Springsteen "what was 'The Promise' about?" He answered that "after Born To Run, I wrote that [the Promise] for Darkness I think. And I was reflecting on sort of the flip side of 'Thunder Road' I think. I was reflecting on the responsibilities that I thought came with my fortune at that time and how it sort of fitted into my life and... that's generally what I remember it, it being about in some fashion." See the live 19 Feb 2003 version for more details.
The Born To Run recording sessions can be divided into two phases: the 1974 sessions and the 1975 sessions. The first phase consisted of scattered sessions conducted between May and October 1974 at 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt, NY, while Springsteen and the band were still in the midst of The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour. When the lengthy tour came to an end in March 1975, the recording sessions continued at The Record Plant in New York City, NY, in March 1975 and lasted till July. 914 Sound Studios was Mike Appel's studio of choice, but The Record Plant was advised by Springsteen's friend and future manager Jon Landau. All tracks on the Born To Run album, except the title track, were recorded during these Mar-Jul 1975 sessions.
Born To Run was commercially released on Columbia Records 01 Sep 1975. Note that a small quantity of blank label, advanced promo copies (known as the "Script Covers") were issued to VIPs on or around 12 Aug 1975, and normal promo copies were sent to radio stations on or around 24 Aug 1975. The album peaked at #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It also reached #36 on the UK Album Chart. The album re-entered the Billboard 200 in the eighties, reaching #66 in 1980 and #101 in 1985. The 30th anniversary reissue reached #18 in 2005.
The album features 8 new Springsteen compositions and clocks at 39:26. It is produced by Bruce Springsteen, Mike Appel, and Jon Landau.
Greatest Hits (1995 edition) is a collection of some of Bruce Springsteen's hit singles and popular album tracks through the years, in addition to four previously unreleased songs, three of which were recorded with the E Street Band in 1995 — Springsteen's first release with his backing band since the late eighties. Some of the songs on Greatest Hits are shorter versions of the original album releases.
In 1994, Bruce Springsteen recorded an album with members of the 1992-1993 touring band. His manager Jon Landau wasn't a fan of the project and recommended shelving it and focusing more on a "career overview". This lead to the Greatest Hits sessions with the E Street Band in 1995. Springsteen called the band in early January to record some new songs for the album and they assembled for the recording sessions on 09 Jan 1995 at The Hit Factory in New York City, NY. The sessions, which lasted about ten days, were the band's first studio reunion in 11 years (since the Born In The U.S.A. sessions) and their first ever with Nils Lofgren.
Greatest Hits was released on 27 Feb 1995 on Columbia Records. It was commercially successful, debuting at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 where it stayed on the chart for 32 weeks. It also peaked at #1 in Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and many European countries. By 2008 the album had sold more than four million copies in the United States.
In 2013, Sony Music reissued the album in Venezuela as part of its Star Collection series, which was made exclusively for the Venezuelan market via Sony Music Venezuela in 2013. The album is titled after the series and features totally different artwork. Just like on Greatest Hits, the songs are shorter versions of the original album releases.
Though it never was a single, Springsteen felt it was important to include THUNDER ROAD on Greatest Hits because "it seemed central." He told Neil Strauss in an October 1995 interview for Guitar World magazine: "We didn't try to get into a 'best of' because everybody's got their own ideas. Basically it was songs that came out as singles. The only exception is 'Thunder Road', but it seemed central." According to Dave Marsh, what prevented THUNDER ROAD for being released as a single back in 1975 was that, along with most of the Born To Run album's tracks, it was not short enough.
The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released as part of Sony BMG'S (previously Sony Music Entertainment) series of "Essential" sets. According to Springsteen's liner notes comments, the collection was intended as an introduction to his music for new fans who attended shows on The Rising Tour.
The collection is fundamentally a 2-disc set (clocking at 153:37) compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Live In New York City release. A 3-disc limited edition (clocking at 201:04) was also released. It includes a bonus third disc comprising of a selection of rarities and previously unreleased recordings.
The Essential Bruce Springsteen was released on 11 Nov 2003 on Columbia Records. It debuted and peaked at #14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart where it spent 13 weeks. It also reached #28 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was awarded certified gold and platinum records by the RIAA on 16 Dec 2003.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Disc 3:
The Essential Bruce Springsteen was reissued on 16 Oct 2015, this time as a 2-disc set (clocking at 156:25) with an updated track list, compiling songs from all of Springsteen's studio albums to date plus his Greatest Hits (1995 edition) collection. This 2015 reissue features remastered tracks not found in that form on other Springsteen releases.
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
Greatest Hits (2009 edition) is a compilation album released by Columbia Records on 13 Jan 2009 in the United State where it was sold exclusively through Wal-Mart retailers. The album was also released (but non-exclusively) in Canada. Unlike the 1995 Greatest Hits release and The Essential Bruce Springsteen in 2003, this compilation was billed to "Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band" instead of just "Bruce Springsteen". The album contains 12 previously released studio tracks and clocks at 53:08.
On 01 Jun 2009, Columbia Records released a European edition of the compilation album with an alternative track listing to promote Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's European leg of the Working On A Dream Tour. The European edition was also released in Israel and Mexico, and in Australia in August 2009. The album comes in a standard jewel case, but a limited digipack edition was also released in Europe. Greatest Hits (2009 European edition) contains 16 previously released studio tracks and 2 live bonus tracks taken from the Live/1975-85 box set. It clocks at 79:03.
The album charted in several countries, but only made it to # 1 in Sweden. In general, the album did much better in Europe than in North America.
Collection: 1973-2012 is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released on Columbia Records in 2013. It was released on 08 Mar 2013 in Australia and 15 Apr 2013 in Europe. The compilation was not released commercially in the United States. Instead, a promotional version was given out exclusively to $1,500 ticket holders at the "MusiCares Person Of The Year" tribute event held in Los Angeles, CA, on 08 Feb 2013. The event honoured Springsteen for both his artistic achievements and philanthropic efforts. The compilation consists of 18 previously released studio tracks.
Best Of Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album released on Columbia Records on 19 Apr 2024. The album is collection of original songs spanning Springsteen's entire career, from 1973 to 2020. The release was officially announced on 01 Mar 2024.
Two variants of the album were released: the 18-track physical releases and an expanded 31-track download-only version. The physical releases include a single-disc CD and as a two-disc LP set. Four editions of the vinyl release were issued: a regular edition on black vinyl, an Atlantic Blue vinyl exclusive to Europe, a Highway Yellow vinyl exclusive to independent retailers, and a Jersey Devil Red vinyl exclusive to Amazon Music.
The album version of THUNDER ROAD can also be found on some Bruce Springsteen promo-only samplers and several various artists compilation albums.
Other versions of THUNDER ROAD were also officially released.
THUNDER ROAD is a classic rock staple, and is consistently ranked as one of Springsteen's greatest songs, and one of the top rock songs of all time. In 2004, it was ranked #1 in WXPN's list of "The 885 All-Time Greatest Songs". In 2004 Rolling Stone magazine placed THUNDER ROAD at #86 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time". The song came in at #226 in Q's list of the "1001 Greatest Songs Ever" in 2003, in which they described it as "best for pleading on the porch." It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998.
Julia Roberts, when asked which song lyric described her most accurately, chose THUNDER ROAD's "You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright." In an Esquire interview, when asked some top ten questions, Mary-Louise Parker notes THUNDER ROAD as a song that everyone must know the lyrics to. The song is featured in the book 31 Songs by British author Nick Hornby. In Hornby's novel High Fidelity, the protagonist Rob Fleming ranks THUNDER ROAD as one of his five best side one tracks.
THUNDER ROAD was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance". The 40th Grammy Awards ceremony was held on 25 Feb 1998 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY. Bruce Springsteen did not attend, and he lost to Bob Dylan's COLD IRONS BOUND.
During the 11 Sep 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the twin towers of the World Trade Center, Monmouth County, NJ, where Springsteen resides with his family, suffered one of the highest death tolls of any population center. Springsteen read some of the New York Times obituaries in which the deceased were identified as his fans; he wound up calling some of the families to express his condolences. There was a headline for one man, Jim Berger, that read "A Fan of the Boss". Springsteen called up his widow, Suzanne, and he even sent a pre-recorded tape of himself in studio performing a solo version of THUNDER ROAD to the family of James Berger. Berger was a senior vice president of the insurance company AON Consulting Group in the World Trade Center who helped people get out before he was killed when it collapsed. He was a big Springsteen fan and this was his favorite song. The special videotaped tribute was played during the victim's memorial service on 05 Oct 2001, which was attended by 1,000 people. Springsteen dedicated his performance to Berger's three sons. "I understand this was one of your Pop's favorite songs," he said. Then, with a harmonica in his mouth and a guitar in his hands, he began to play THUNDER ROAD. He also gave the boys the harmonica with which he recorded the song. THUNDER ROAD from the 30 Aug 2003 The Rising Tour show at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, would also be dedicated to the memory of Jim Berger.
The New York Times obituary for James Berger:
Jim Berger: A Fan of the Boss
In Jim Berger's car, there was only one kind of music: the raspy rock 'n' roll of the Boss. He grew up in Bruce Springsteen country along the Jersey Shore and never listened to anything else.
He knew the words to "Thunder Road" by heart, and often sang it for his passengers. "Every time you rode in Jim's car, Bruce was on, whether you liked it or not," said his wife, Suzanne.
At 6-foot-3, Jim, 44, an Aon executive, was a gentle giant who devoted his weekends to his three young sons, Nicholas, Alex and Christian. He was grooming them to be fans of the Giants, the Yankees and the Rangers. And he made sure they listened to Bruce, too. After a prayer service at church on Friday, his family and friends gathered at his home in Yardley, Penn. They poured wine, made a toast, and sang aloud to "Thunder Road." "He would have loved it," Suzanne said. "He taught us all a lesson in unconditional love."
SECTION NOT YET COMPLETED
THUNDER ROAD is known to have been performed at least 5 times during what is considered The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour (September 1973 to March 1975). Some of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates during The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour.
THUNDER ROAD is known to have been performed at least 60 times during the Born To Run Tour (73 know dates / 81 known shows, July to December 1975). Some of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song must have been played on some more dates during the Born To Run Tour. At the beginning of the tour, the song was played in a full-band arrangement but then changed to a slower arrangement featuring Roy Bittan on piano and Bruce Springsteen on harmonica and vocals from mid-August 1975 onwards. It was also played in a solo acoustic arrangement at least on one occasion (on 29 Oct 1975 in Sacramento, CA). The live 18 Oct 1975 version (early show) of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Live/1975-85 box set in 1986. The live 18 Nov 1975 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Hammersmith Odeon, London '75 album and home video in 2005. The live 24 Nov 1975 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the London 11/24/1975 official live download in 2020. The live 31 Dec 1975 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975 official live download in 2015.
THUNDER ROAD is known to have been performed at least 21 times during the so-called Chicken Scratch Tour (35 know dates, March to May 1976). Some of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song must have been played on some more dates during the Chicken Scratch Tour; it may have been a stable number during the Chicken Scratch Tour. On this tour, the song was played in a full-band arrangement featuring a new piano introduction by Roy Bittan.
THUNDER ROAD is known to have been performed at least 57 times during what is known as The Lawsuit Tour (62 know dates, August 1976 to March 1977). Some of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song must have been played on some more dates during the Lawsuit Tour; it may have been a stable number during the tour. On this tour, the song was played in a full-band arrangement featuring a piano introduction by Roy Bittan. The live 07 Feb 1977 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Palace Theatre, Albany 1977 official live download in 2017. The live 08 Feb 1977 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977 official live download in 2017.
In preparation for the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour, THUNDER ROAD is known to have been practiced on 19 May 1978 at Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, during the only known/confirmed private rehearsal prior to the tour's start.
THUNDER ROAD is known to have been performed at least 106 times during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour (111 dates, May 1978 to January 1979). A few setlists from that period are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song must have been played on some more dates during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour; it may have been a stable number during that tour. The live 01 Jul 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Berkeley, July 1, 1978 official live download in 2021. The live 07 Jul 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on The Roxy July 7, 1978 official live download in 2018. The live 09 Aug 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on The Agora, Cleveland 1978 official live download in 2014. The live 19 Sep 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the September 19, 1978 official live download in 2019. The live 20 Sep 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ September 20, 1978 official live download in 2017. The live 30 Sep 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the September 30, 1978 official live download in 2020. The live 08 Dec 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010. The live 15 Dec 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Winterland 12/15/78 official live download in 2019. The live 16 Dec 1978 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Winterland 12/16/78 official live download in 2019.
In preparation for The River Tour, THUNDER ROAD is known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place over the period of four nights in late September 1980 in Lititz, PA, prior to the tour's first leg.
THUNDER ROAD is known to have been performed at least 136 times during The River Tour (138 dates, October 1980 to September 1981), missing only two dates, both in May 1981 in Europe: the 08 May 1981 show in Stockholm, Sweden, and the 13 May 1981 show in Manchester, England. On the tour's opening night, 03 Oct 1980 at in Ann Arbor, MI, THUNDER ROAD was performed twice, the second being the show closer on which Bob Seger joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band onstage. See the live 03 Oct 1980 version for more details. The live 05 Nov 1980 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set in 2015. The live 29 Dec 1980 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 12/29/80 official live download in 2019. The live 31 Dec 1980 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980 official live download in 2015. The live 05 Jun 1981 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Wembley Arena June 5, 1981 official live download in 2018. The live 09 Jul 1981 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena 1981 official live download in 2020.
Setlists for the Born In The U.S.A. Tour rehearsals are unknown, but THUNDER ROAD was played on 08 Jun 1984 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, during a warm-up gig for the tour. That was the first gig for Nils Lofgren with the E Street Band. See the live 08 Jun 1984 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 156 times during the Born In The U.S.A. Tour (156 dates, June 1984 to October 1985); that is each and every one of the tour's regular dates. The live 05 Aug 1984 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984 official live download in 2015. The live 06 Aug 1984 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena August 6, 1984 official live download in 2020. The live 20 Aug 1984 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena, NJ August 20, 1984 official live download in 2015. The live 27 Sep 1985 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Sept 27, 1985 official live download in 2019.
THUNDER ROAD was performed twice during the 67-date-long Tunnel Of Love Express Tour, in Oslo and Barcelona, the latter being the tour finale. Note that the song was reported to be have been sound-checked earlier in the tour, on 09 May 1988 in Bloomington, MN, but was not played during the show.
In preparation for Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour, THUNDER ROAD was practiced on 01 Sep 1988 at Wembley Stadium in London, England, during the only known/confirmed private rehearsal prior to the tour's start.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 13 times during the 20-date-long Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour. The setlist for the 14 Oct 1988 show in Mendoza, Argentina, is unknown, and therefore the song may have been played on one additional date. However, this is very unlikely since the song did not appear on any of the other setlists in the October part of the tour.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 97 times during World Tour 1992-1993 (104 dates, June 1992 to June 1993). The 24 Jun 1993 show in East Rutherford, NJ, was billed as "Concert To Fight Hunger" (see the live 24 Jun 1993 version). On this tour, the song was played in its acoustic arrangement. The live 25 Jul 1992 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Meadowlands July 25, 1992 official live download in 2019. The live 13 Dec 1992 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Boston 13/12/92 official live download in 2021. The live 24 Jun 1993 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey June 24, 1993 official live download in 2018.
THUNDER ROAD was sound-checked prior to the 08 Nov 1996 show in Freehold, NJ, (as far as it's known) but it was not performed on any of The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour's regular shows. On 22 May 1997, after playing a show at Teatro Augusteo in Naples, Italy, Springsteen performed THUNDER ROAD from the theater's balcony. See the live 22 May 1997 version for more details.
In preparation for The Reunion Tour, THUNDER ROAD was performed during both of the tour's two public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in March 1999 in Asbury Park. The song is also known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place in March 1999 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg, and during the private rehearsal that took place in April 1999 in Barcelona the day before the tour kicked off in Spain.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 132 times during what is known as The Reunion Tour (132 dates, April 1999 to July 2000); that is each and every one of the tour's regular dates. The song was played in a full-band arrangement. The live 25 Sep 1999 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the First Union Center, Philadelphia September 25, 1999 official live download in 2020. The live 30 Sep 1999 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Chicago September 30, 1999 official live download in 2018. The live 23 Oct 1999 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Los Angeles October 23, 1999 official live download in 2019. The live 27 Jun 2000 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Madison Square Garden, New York 06/27/2000 official live download in 2021. The live 01 Jul 2000 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Madison Square Garden, New York 07/01/2000 official live download in 2017. The live 27 Jun 2000 / 01 Jul 2000 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Live In New York City home video in 2001.
In preparation for The Rising Tour, THUNDER ROAD was performed during one of the tour's five public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in July and August 2002 in Asbury Park and East Rutherford.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 59 times during The Rising Tour (120 dates, August 2002 to October 2003). The live 16 Oct 2002 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Live In Barcelona home video in 2003. The live 16 Jun 2003 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Helsinki June 16, 2003 official live download in 2018.
THUNDER ROAD was performed once during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005), on 12 Oct 2005 in Minneapolis, MN. The song was performed solo piano. See the live 12 Oct 2005 version for more details. Note that the song was also sound-checked prior to the 03 Aug 2005 show in Grand Rapids, MI, but was not performed on the regular show.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 28 times during the Magic Tour (100 dates, October 2007 to August 2008). On 14 Mar 2008 in Omaha, NE, the song featured a guest appearance by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes (see the the 14 Mar 2008 version). On 08 April 2008 in Anaheim, CA, the song opened the show for the first time with the E Street Band since early on the Born in The U.S.A. Tour. On 14 Jun 2008 in Cardiff, England, the song was dedicated to the late Tim Russert. The 30 Aug 2008 performance was during Harley-Davidson's 105th Anniversary Celebration — the song was played while the stage screens displayed a series of images of Springsteen riding his motorcycle over the years. The live 23 Aug 2008 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO 8/23/2008 official live download in 2017.
In preparation for the Working On A Dream Tour, THUNDER ROAD was performed during the first of the tour's two public warm-up rehearsal shows that took place in March 2009 in Asbury Park. The song is also known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place in March 2009 in Asbury Park prior to the tour's first leg.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 49 times during the Working On A Dream Tour (83 dates, April to November 2009). Among these 50 performances, Jay Weinberg played drums 14 times on THUNDER ROAD. The 30 May 2009 performance was during Pinkpop festival and featured a guest appearance by Brandon Flowers of The Killers who shared lead vocals with Bruce Springsteen. See the live 30 May 2009 version for more details.
In preparation for the Wrecking Ball Tour, THUNDER ROAD is known to have been practiced during at least one of the private rehearsals that took place between January and March 2012 in Fort Monmouth, Trenton, and Asbury Park prior to the tour's first U.S. leg, during the private rehearsal that took place in on 12 May 2012 in Seville, Spain prior to the tour's European leg.
In preparation for Springsteen On Broadway, THUNDER ROAD was performed during all of the tour's three known private rehearsal shows that took place in September 2017 in West Long Branch, NJ, and New York City, NY, and during both of the tour's known private rehearsal shows that took place in June 2021 in New York City, NY.
THUNDER ROAD was performed 268 times during Springsteen On Broadway (268 dates, October 2017 to December 2018 and June to September 2021). On this tour, the song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. The live July 2018 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Springsteen On Broadway album in 2018.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 12 May 1977 and 13 May 1977 at Monmouth Arts Center in Red Bank, NJ, with The Asbury Park All-Star Revue. The song was played in a full-band arrangement featuring a piano introduction by Roy Bittan. See the live 13 May 1977 (early show) version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 13 Sep 1977 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, with with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. The song was played in a full-band arrangement. See the live 13 Sep 1977 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 03 Jun 1979 at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA, during the wedding party for Marc Brickman (Springsteen's lighting director) and June Rudley (Springsteen's travel agent). Springsteen, along with members of the E Street Band, joined Ricky Lee Jones and Boz Scaggs for a three hour celebration, playing a mixture of classic covers and Springsteen originals.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 21 and 22 Sep 1979 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, during the MUSE Concerts For A Non-Nuclear Future. The live 21 Sep 1979 version and the live 22 Sep 1979 version of THUNDER ROAD were released on the No Nukes 1979 official live download in 2018.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 16 Nov 1990 and 17 Nov 1990 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, during the benefit shows for the Christic Institute. The song was played solo on grand piano. The live 16 Nov 1990 version and the live 17 Nov 1990 version of THUNDER ROAD were released on The Christic Shows, November 16 & 17, 1990 official live download in 2016.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 22 Sep 1992 at Warner Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles, CA, during the taping of MTV Unplugged. That performance was released on the In Concert / MTV Plugged home video in 1992 and the corresponding audio album the following year. See the live 22 Sep 1992 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 15 Feb 1995 at Brooklyn Academy Of Music in New York City, NY, during the taping of Melissa Etheridge's episode of MTV Unplugged. The song was played in an acoustic arrangement as a duet Melissa with Etheridge. See the live 15 Feb 1995 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 21 Feb 1995 at Tramps nightclub in New York City, NY, during a reunion gig with the E Street Band. See the live 21 Feb 1995 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 05 Apr 1995 at Sony Music Studios in New York City, NY, during a gig with the E Street Band to promote the release of the Greatest Hits album. This live 05 Apr 1995 version of the song was officially released on the Hungry Heart EP in 1995. See the live 05 Apr 1995 (Sony Music Studios) version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 09 Jul 1995 at Cafe Eckstein in Berlin, Germany, during a gig with Wolfgang Niedecken and Leopardefellband to tape the HUNGRY HEART music video. The song was played in a solo electric arrangement. See the live 09 Jul 1995 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 05 May 1997 at Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, during the Polar Music Prize awards ceremony. The song was played in a solo acoustic arrangement. See the live 05 May 1997 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 31 Jan 1998 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, during the "Come Together: Jon Bon Jovi & Friends" benefit concert. See the live 31 Jan 1998 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 18 and 19 Oct 2001 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, during The Alliance Of Neighbors Concerts. The song was also performed acoustically during a public sound-check held on the afternoon of 18 Oct 2001 at Count Basie Theatre. These shows were fundraisers for the families from Monmouth County, NJ, that were affected by the 9/11 tragedy. The 19 Oct 2001 show was broadcast on cable television. See the live 19 Oct 2001 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 26 Jul 2002 at Sonny's Southern Cuisine restaurant in Asbury Park, NJ, when Springsteen played an intimate acoustic set for contest winners who were at the warm-up gig for The Rising Tour that took place on the afternoon of the same day at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park. Patti Scialfa joined Bruce Springsteen on harmony vocals for THUNDER ROAD.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 29 Aug 2002 at Hayden Planetarium in New York City, NY, during an open air convert filmed for the MTV Video Music Awards. See the live 29 Aug 2002 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 04 Oct 2002 at Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in Boston, MA, during the bridge opening ceremony. The song was played in a solo acoustic arrangement. See the live 04 Oct 2002 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 19 and 20 Feb 2003 at Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA, during the DoubleTake Magazine benefit shows. The song was played solo acoustic. See the live 19 Feb 2003 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 29 Apr 2003 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, during "The Hope Concert" benefit. The song was played in a full-band version, with Bruce Springsteen backed by the Max Weinberg 7, plus Bobby Bandiera on guitar, and joined by Jon Bon Jovi on guitar and vocals. See the live 29 Apr 2003 version for more details. The song was also practiced the previous day at Count Basie Theatre during the concert's rehearsals.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 04 Apr 2005 at Rechnitz Theater in Red Bank, NJ, during the taping of Bruce Springsteen's episode of VH1's Storytellers television series. The song was played solo on grand piano. An edited version of the concert was released on the VH1 Storytellers home video in 2005. See the live 04 Apr 2005 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 09 Nov 2007 at Pier Sixty in New York City, NY, during the fifth annual Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation benefit. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar. See the live 09 Nov 2007 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 07 May 2008 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, during a benefit show for the historic theatre. The complete Born To Run album was played that night. See the live 07 May 2008 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 18 Jun 2008 via statellite from The Netherlands, during a televised memorial service for Tim Russert which was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. See the live 18 Jun 2008 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 17 Nov 2009 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY, during the "Concert For Autism Speaks" event. The song was played in a solo acoustic arrangement. See the live 17 Nov 2009 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 09 Mar 2012 at Apollo Theater in New York City, NY, during the Sirius Satellite Radio 10-year anniversary celebration. The song was played with the E Street Band. The live 09 Mar 2012 version of THUNDER ROAD was released on the Apollo Theater 03/09/12 official live download in 2014.
THUNDER ROAD was performed off-tour on 15 Mar 2012 at Moody Theater in Austin, TX, during the South By Southwest music festival. The song was played with the E Street band.
Bruce Springsteen performed on four election rallies for U.S. presidential candidate senator John Kerry in 2004. THUNDER ROAD was performed during one of the four rallies. The song was played in a solo acoustic arrangement. See the live 01 Nov 2004 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed on all of the four Barack Obama 2008 election rallies on which Springsteen appeared. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar and harmonica. See the live 04 Oct 2008 version for more details. THUNDER ROAD was also performed on 16 Oct 2008 at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, NY, during the "Change Rocks" benefit show for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. See the live 16 Oct 2008 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed on two of the seven Barack Obama 2012 election rallies on which Springsteen appeared. The song was played solo on acoustic guitar.
THUNDER ROAD was performed on one (of only one) Hillary Clinton 2016 election rally on which Springsteen appeared. The song was played in a solo acoustic guitar and harmonica arrangement. See the live 07 Nov 2016 version for more details.
Bruce Springsteen has been performing on almost all the annual Stand Up for Heroes benefits since 2007. THUNDER ROAD was performed during the first (2007) and second (2008) annual benefits. The song was played in a solo acoustic guitar and harmonica arrangement. See the live 07 Nov 2007 version for more details.
Since 2002, Springsteen has been playing private benefit shows for schools and colleges that his kids attended ─ Rumson Country Day School of Rumson, NJ, and Ranney School of Tinton Falls, NJ, and Boston College of Chestnut Hill, MA. THUNDER ROAD was performed at 7 of these fundraisers, always at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. On the first two of these shows (in 2002), the song was played in an acoustic arrangement with Springsteen on guitar and vocals and Patti Scialfa joining him on vocals. On the third of these shows (in 2008), the song was played solo on electric guitar. On the last four of these shows (in 2009, 2010, and 2011), the song was played solo acoustic. THUNDER ROAD was also performed on 22 May 2010 during a benefit gala for Gateway School held in New York City, NY. The song was played in an acoustic arrangement with Springsteen on guitar and vocals and Patti Scialfa joining him on vocals.
Bruce Springsteen appeared at a total of six Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers concerts at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2010, 2011, and 2014. THUNDER ROAD was performed on 04 Nov 2010, 05 Nov 2010, 03 Nov 2011, and 04 Nov 2011. The song was the closer of each of these four shows and was played in an acoustic sing-along arrangement. Joe Grushecky joined Springsteen on lead vocals on THUNDER ROAD on the 04 Nov 2011 show. See the live 04 Nov 2010 version, the live 03 Nov 2011 version, and the live 04 Nov 2011 version for more details.
THUNDER ROAD was performed during the eleventh (2011), twelfth (2012), fourteenth (2014), and fifteenth (2015) annual Light Of Day benefits. The song was played at the end of the shows, in a sing-along acoustic arrangement. See the live 15 Jan 2011 version and the live 14 Jan 2012 version for more details.
Bruce Springsteen's album version of THUNDER ROAD appears in two movies.
At least 72 artists have recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's THUNDER ROAD.
With the title taken from the Bruce Springsteen song, Thunder Road magazine was founded in 1976 by Lou Cohan and Ken Viola. It was the first Springsteen fanzine, and it published only 6 issues, the last one being actually a double issue (#6/7 - Fall 1982).
Bruce Springsteen and THUNDER ROAD are mentioned in THE RING, a song by the New York alt-country band The Hangdogs, available on their 1998 album East Of Yesterday.
And hey, while you're looking, maybe you could have a glance at this Springsteen bootleg circa 84, was playing "Thunder Road" the night I rode out for the promised land, now I found her and I don't need it no more.
THUNDER ROAD and many other Springsteen references appear in SPEED, as song by Canadian group Bran Van 3000, available on their 2001 album Discosis.
See Mary dancing across the porch she put her rolled up Ziggys in her rock and roll jersey Jersey, she was born to run she was the spirit of midnight she was blinded by the light she was holed up in jungleland straight up the rock and roll big boss turnpike down by the river of desire just off Thunder Road where you catch her in the tenth avenue freeze out she was lost in a flood Mary, queen of Arkansas dreaming of a Cadillac ranch with a hungry heart but most of all she was born in the USA Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Thanks Charissa for the contribution. Thanks Carlo Bondi for the Storia E Musica Rock: Bruce Springsteen cassette tape scan.
Most of the recording info on this page is taken from Brucebase. Some of the info and scans for the above Bruce Springsteen official releases are taken from the Lost In The Flood website. Info and scans for some of the above Bruce Springsteen tribute albums are taken from the Nebraska website.
I'm not sure that I mentioned all the existing official releases that include Bruce Springsteen's THUNDER ROAD, and I don't have the complete info and scans for all of them. You can help by sending additions, corrections, better scans, or comments at , or by using the below form. If you'd like to add a cover to the list, please send artist name, album title, cover art, format, country and original year of release, label and catalog number.
List of available versions of THUNDER ROAD on this website:
THUNDER ROAD [Album version]
