Kitty's Back (Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London '75)

[@sparkspark2314]

That’s my Springsteen… that’s what roped me in…that music…that energy…speaking about a life I knew about..about people I knew…that’s what captivated me. The first 3 records. Nothing like it.

[@brianwade879]

Pulled me in, and never let me go ! 🎸🪄🎷✨

[@bigtony2499]

Nobody can touch 1975-1985 live Bruce. Nobody. No band was a tighter sound than them. Nobody had the energy. They brought it all, every show. They were the best. Still the best. Will be tough to beat them.

[@marting4597]

1973-1988 I'd say. He's the boss

[@stichyface]

Frankly 1999-2003 reunion - rising tour are just as good as he’s ever been

[@danniwilder2198]

@@stichyface nothing can touch 1978

[@KevinJRogers]

I caught him at the Rochester War Memorial in December 1980. They OPENED with 'Born to Run'. And then they took off from there. I'm amazed the damn walls didn't come down.

[@christianbriancon108]

Amen to that my friend

[@rk4492ABC]

For a rocker to shuffle and swing like this is a rare breed. For 50 years, I’ve asked myself, which is better, “Kitty’s Back” or “Rosalita”? Whichever one I watch or hear, that’s the better one. I can’t decide. They’re both so great and fun. Your choice?

[@Peksisarvinen]

Kitty's Back is one of the best songs ever made. That's all, that's the end of it.

[@lizzielorman2158]

I agree

[@anthonymarino8999]

Peksi Sarvinen I agree and this version is on fire!!!

[@hannahthompson6215]

This version is pure magic. I wish I could have been there

[@allpdmusic]

Agreed!

[@iacopogiusti7932]

La mia preferita di Bruce specie in questo tour.

[@eddiemunster8634]

Danny just nailed it, miss you dude

[@pmanglano]

Just for the record: these guys were 25 years old at the time. Amazing talent!

[@elvakaffe]

Saw him live in Gothenburg yesterday,age 73 and still’s rockin’ and blow the audience away! Rip Danny Federici and Big Man.

[@royalsfan]

Big Man was about 30

[@gracegracegracee]

Tallent*

[@tomgribbin9531]

Turn on the way- back machine poindexter to 1975 and visit Bruce and the E Street Band at the absolute height of their powers ! Incredible concert !

[@VonJanskerkhof]

One of the best live performances in HISTORY.

[@Beersson0]

Avec Pearl Jam et Nirvana Unplugged ouais

[@bcal4877]

@@Beersson0lol, good one

[@klarson27]

What blows me away is that they left this concert feeling like it sucked!! Pure magic!

[@TonyWud]

Most under rated rhythm section in rock. Mighty Max and Gary Tallent

[@budibausto]

trully amazing moment for them. Mr. Tallent is so gifted

[@noahsmith1726]

Agree

[@mooseman3567]

E STREET BAND IS AND WAS NEVER underated ... You are f#ckin crazy ..... JERSEY PRIDE !! 🎸🎷 ☝🌅🎵🤟✌

[@TonyWud]

@@mooseman3567Relax, man.

[@brianwade879]

Gary W. Tallent

[@paulkweiner6577]

Thank You God. Thank you for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Thank you for their performance of “Kitty’s Back” from London ‘75. One of the greatest live Rock n Roll performances of all time. If not the greatest.

[@michelemichele3375]

Such a poet! Notice the lyrics are all cat-related: tin cans, alley, kitty, top cat, fence, Catlong, trash can, city pound, so soft, etc. Genius! And the sound! Meow! 😸✨🤪

[@skontch1]

16 minutes and it wasn't near enough. sublime

[@TerranceTT]

There’s many other kitty’s back performances from 1975 that go way over 20 minutes 🙏

[@paulkweiner6577]

Off the charts, out of this world cosmic greatness !!! My eternal thanks to BRUCE and the EZ STREET fabulous musicians !!! 👏👏👏

[@blabberwocky]

Favorite live performance by any artist ever. It’s just perfect.

[@themistoklestheodosopoulos6253]

Its top 5 imo for sure. Depending on your cup of tea of course but aside from Zeppelin on a few occassions and a Lynyrd Skynyrd show in California where they played Free Bird at some 4th of July type thing. Aside from those, this is the best live performance ever for a rock act.

[@bcal4877]

#1 for sure…only thing close to this is Prove it all Night at Passaic 1978, and Tom Joad at the R&R HoF, and a bunch of Junglelands….

[@mizzo9]

I saw Bruce open for Chicago at MSG in maybe ‘76. Most didn’t know who he was but he won the crowd. Saw him again in the early 80’s and he gave the best performances I’ve ever seen. I’m a dead head, stones, talking heads in their times but early Springsteen and E Street band kicks ass!

[@brianwade879]

That's saying something !

[@brianregal9899]

And that is how you play rock'n'roll keyboards.

[@shaserv]

Look, Max’s was holding it down on this song. The fills the beat the rhythm. Lady’s and Gentlemen that’s what they call swing. 2 thumbs up.👍👍🤘

[@valentinagesini6513]

So young and so talented...lirycs are a novel, can imagine the scenes like a movie....Bruce, the greatest ever

[@yvonnemendez3075]

They don't call him the boss for nothing Jersey must be proud

[@TheMagicRat]

Damn this performance is tight! Danny is effortless, Roy is in full blues mode (throwing a little Moondance in there for good measure), Max and Garry fleshing out a beat so solid you could walk on it, Steve duelling Bruce like a champion guitar fencer, Clarence sounds like an entire horn section on his own, and Bruce... Bruce is the Boss!

[@JJJZANESVILLE2]

For sure, yep, you know it, sure, it shows to go, farkin' yes, what else is new?

[@JJJZANESVILLE2]

Everyone has their opinion, man. And that is what is great. There are so many great performances and Bruce knows it. I would think that he rates others over his, by far. He is a fan.

[@patrickkelly2451]

What a fuckin HOT performance!Unbelievable the E Street Band is on Fire here!I'm on an El train in 2024 Philly with headphones on and this performance makes this smelly sardine can on wheels bearable to be on.Matter fact for seven minutes I felt like it was 1975 andI was witnessing The Boss introduce England to what only The Boss a future legend could do and That's give you every ounce of Passion and joy in his soul for hours performing his masterful Rock n Roll!

[@bstevenson8516]

No better way to get the blood flowing in the morning than to dance around the house to “Kitty’s Back”!

[@brianwade879]

It's how I started my morning 🌄

[@deeg8849]

If anyone can’t see and feel Bruce’s utter love for the best of soul music, you ain’t alive

[@montysano]

The amount of tension they build up over 16 minutes is just amazing, and when that moment comes.....POW!

[@hippiesmile2851]

This, my friends is musicianship to the highest level.

[@yvonnemendez3075]

Hell yeah we had the music and all their talent not like the crap that will be gone and not remembered

[@johndoyle325]

Bruce played this in Buffalo last week and it still stands up as one of his best!

[@easyed-guywholovesmusic8915]

Bruce Springsteen, one of the greatest rock and roll stars to have ever lived and is still kicking. NUFF SAID!! He’s way greater than the way people write him off as, he IS a true talent that still continues to inspire others.

[@yvonnemendez3075]

Absolutely one of Jerseys best😮😊❤

[@yvonnemendez3075]

Foreign the Boss🎉😂❤

[@bridgettstephens5582]

A song inspired by a cat turns out to be a jam second to none; genius. And this is why I refuse to listen to Springsteen outside of this time. When The Boss rightfully earned the title. Bruce Juice squeezing it to the rim💯

[@MegaTurkeylips]

I still listen to this almost every day when I drive to work. First listened when I bought the cassette way back when.

[@yvonnemendez3075]

Me too 2024 still one of his all-time best yes The Bosd🎉❤

[@bonesc7201]

After all these decades... Still gives me cold chills!!! This is music kiddies... Soul, Rock and Jazz combined seamlessly... all the while telling a story that's worth listening to...

[@onemadgnome]

Fuck yeah !!

[@user-fn5mr4oz4j]

Same here!

[@patrickkelly2451]

Nice musical analysis!They Kill it!!!!

[@misterninetyseven2898]

This is probably Bruce's best song ever.

[@Jessica_Roth]

And yet completely unplayed for *20 years* , squeezed out of the set by "Jungleland" and "Backstreets". When I saw Bruce in Foxboro in 2016, he was doing the songs in chronological order to an extent, so this came after "Lost in the Flood", which I had also never heard live before. I was so overjoyed that I wouldn't have cared if Bruce played nothing but songs from "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town" the rest of the night. (Which, for me, is saying a LOT.) Magic and Perfection. Perhaps never done as well as this time.

[@iacopogiusti7932]

Per me lo è.

[@louisjouvet4548]

Wow! What a band! How creative they were and how poetic and powerful their music was and still is. How I envy the people who were there on that magic night... music at it's best.

[@kenmckenzo9465]

This is the stuff legends are made of. And justifiably so.

[@MikeSTUDIO-fg8wj]

You forgot how great of a guitar player Boss is. That 53 Blackguard was at its sonic peak probably still had the original frets…. Mother Fuckin Best Tele sound ever

[@michaelward8880]

Mighty Max holds this awesome song together so damn tightly

[@pmanglano]

Max's bass drum foot is just amazing. The tightness and groove!

[@LanceBoos]

Bluesiest thing in the whole catalog. Danny's solo is on a whole other level!

[@bosstime2010]

Holy crap! Im practically speechless. What an amazing performance! I agree with others who said this may be the best live performance ever!

[@flarrfan]

I like this version with horns, kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGetfYqjnt55aqs ... but I agree this is better...

[@arbackhaus]

I think this is the greatest live performance they ever put on. It's incredible. There is an entire chapter in Bruce's book devoted to it.

[@dapperdementor3332]

kim pantyhose the performance

[@brianmathew09]

maybe the best 16 minuets ive ever spent..man they had it together!!!

[@user-fn5mr4oz4j]

Only Bruce, Gary Steve, Roy and Max left with us from this lineup.

[@bcal4877]

Wow, super shocking that 48 years later that only half the band is still there….

[@markhudgins2010]

Only Danny and Clarence gone. That's pretty amazing actually

[@joz991]

Man, Roy's tone on the piano is fantastic, was really only present on the '75 tour.

[@jjfoster7732]

Yesssssss!!

[@bigtony2499]

His tone on this whole record is fantastic. Max’s drumming is also impeccable

[@GrouchoPunim]

He’s got the a Steinway there. Versus Yamaha later.

[@bcal4877]

Only this tour……sure…..and the 48 years since then too….

[@olderendirt]

Is that a little "Year of the Cat" I'm hearing in the piano solo?

[@LilianTheNinkasi]

Wow the bass tone is so clean on this one. You can hear it being the heartbeat of the whole song... Truly awesome

[@raldenvcs]

The bass makes the song. Brings all the brilliant solo performances together

[@bcal4877]

Garry is so underrated. If you look at his book of music, hard to beat. This…his bass line in Racing Or Jungleland or Jackson Cage, just epic. I could list about 50 more, without watering down his mastery

[@chasequeen9962]

....one of the best piano sets ever recorded, IMO...all top-notch musicians playing on this great piece.....

[@bcal4877]

Agreed !!! But….might not be Roy’s best Kitty, never mind his best ESB performance

[@ricardoacain1391]

The Boss proving it all night during his early struggling days. I remember standing at the radio in amazement when I heard “ New York City Serenade” being played. Who whispers into the mike like that?

[@marcobezzio6037]

The "here she comes" part is just too good to be real

[@TerranceTT]

It used to be even longer. Listen to the kitty’s back from August 14, 1975 or October 11th, 1975. It’s worth the listen!

[@TenthAvenue94]

Together with BTR and Tenth Avenue this is my favourite Springsteen song. To watch him perform this live in Ferrara this year (also my first Bruce concert) was a DREAM come true. Kitty's back!

[@deeg8849]

Perfection. Show me a better live performance by any band. Impossible

[@stichyface]

The only things that come close are OTHER BSESB performances

[@Gumbo72203]

You should check out anything from the midnight set from Big Cypress by Phish. 2nd day of a 2-day festival. 3 sets the day before, then on 12/31/99 they did a main afternoon/evening set and then played from midnight to sunrise non-stop to begin the new millennium. 7 hours straight. That set has some of my all-time favorite versions of many songs. You may find their takes on the Velvet Underground “Rock and Roll” and Talking Heads “Crosseyed and Painless” particularly rousing. For me, it’s the Down With Disease and the sublime psilocybin grooves of Twist, Bathtub Gin and the Drowned (Who) -> After Midnight Reprise jam. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZivmZeZrr53p9k

[@bcal4877]

By Phish, lololol. Hhhhaaaaahhhhaaaaa, f’n haha, ok

[@Gumbo72203]

@@bcal4877 Responses like this are so lowest-common-denominator, you don't know what you're talking about. You hate them and are judging them, without even knowing them. I was the same way - hating them, just because that was "cool" and part of someone's identity to hate them. But then I listened. Bruce played with them, as well. So if they're good enough for him, perhaps you should give the show i referenced an honest, critical listen. Here are 2 highlights - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIKYpXp8rNmgkJY And - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rInUYXdvraujaKc I know you won't listen, because your response tells me you're one of "those people". But on the off chance you try to take an adult approach to it, you'll see.

[@bcal4877]

@@Gumbo72203 you know nothing about me, but ok, you know I'm one of "those people" My sincerest apologies, butt hurt guy. But yes, I watched the link, actually pretty good.

[@thelatenightbar]

Roy Bittain looks like a damn muppet back there banging on those keys.. Fantastic !!

[@mikewenholz8423]

With millions of options of live performances, this is one in consideration of "best" in my opinion - both the concert as a whole and this song. The jam here is blow away!

[@thelatenightbar]

Hearing and watching a young Bruce and E Street Band perform this song, is like a damn time machine to some alternate universe .. Amazing !

[@ΠαναγιώτηςΠαπαγεωργίου_66]

imho this was musically the highlight of the 2023 tour ! (says someone who lived the concert in Manheim with tears in the eyes, in most songs)

[@joelemma402]

Thank you for all the great music Katie's back

[@mattrubock]

Cat knows his kitty’s been untrue, and that she left him for a city dude, she’s so soft, she’s so blue, just sits back and sighs, says “oh what can I do?”

[@marting4597]

Such an amazing lyrics. What a f poet he is.

[@zeppelinfighter3281]

Rock, jazz, and an urban story!

[@randypeeples9870]

PROFESSOR!!!!

[@deeg8849]

14:40. Talk about a band in the pocket! Might be the greatest band ever that night

[@bcal4877]

So true….and so many other nights !!!

[@kevingross4141]

The tour where I first saw him. The jazz influence the label made him leave behind. From an incredible album.

[@bcal4877]

Greatest album of all time

[@egangriffith]

All these sweet, young faces... 2 gone way too soon. Love this!!

[@purplemoore9295]

best❤

[@CenTexTom]

Gives his heart on every show..Great Performer, saw him on the Nebraska Tour...

[@bcal4877]

So true…as Jon Stewart said “he empties the tank, EVERY time”

[@seanbuckley1367]

Love this version . Unbelievable ❤

[@joewexler9568]

Dam it doesn't get better than that rock funk jazz best live band nothing more to say prove me wrong you can't the boss and east street band go head been seeing them live scene 1977 long live east street

[@yvonnemendez3075]

Ain't that the truth luv them Jersey Boys

[@glenanderson3578]

This video was great 45 years ago and it's still GREAT. Raw power of rock & roll with his great band all firing on all cylinders.

[@shaserv]

Shit, I think the had a couple extra cylinders on this.

[@halfdbsr3454]

I love this live version

[@yvonnemendez3075]

Yes she and this one of Jerseys forever best hail to the Bosd😂😂😂❤❤❤❤

[@mojogypsy]

THIS is how it’s done.

[@marksullivan6427]

This one made my day!

[@bram3205]

this whole concert and this song in particular has been boggling my mind for over a year now. its constantly on repeat. im so addicted, i wake up with an urge to dance to this shit. My mind and body need it very badly

[@markg8211]

Unbelievable live performance! Man i am jumping through the roof!

[@GratefulJim49]

Still going 50 years later. Bruuuuuce!

[@JaxStone-fd3qx]

As I told my nephew's teenage kid: Leadbelly/Seger/Guthrie Dylan Springsteen Petty Waits Lou Reed and everyone else

[@justanaverageguytoday]

Great solos by Danny, Clarence, Max and Roy , Gary pumping great musicians all with a poet at the helm well you are going to get some jamming times

[@michelemichele3375]

Bruce a poet! Yes. Just commented how the lyrics are all CAT-related: tin cans, alley, top cat, kitty, trash cans, city pound, tooth, fence, so soft, etc. Genius. 😸 Meow. ✨🤪

[@JaxStone-fd3qx]

Aw crap BLEECKER STREEEEEET!!!!😂

[@JaxStone-fd3qx]

The Boss Still rocks on

[@donalmurray7859]

Wow. Been watching this for a while now. Just wow

[@frontier6937]

His peak - a music style not definable - it's own - one off - one of a kind - not rock, not bach, not jazz, not soul - like I said, one of a kind.

[@frankzandkuijl917]

So much variation on The wild, the innocent and the E-street shuffle and this is a lovely version of a great song

[@m-pierrerousseauboileau9343]

BOSS a real treasure

[@michelemichele3375]

Looking right. Sounding tight. ✨🤪

[@41259mike]

Genius....once in a life !

[@yankeespy3]

Everyone is exhausted after this.

[@temosolome]

Everyone except the E-Street Band :-)

[@rockyrovere2526]

If there’s one thing for sure, we are proud,ever since he fronted Steel Mill and Dr. Zoom,but everyone can burst with pride because that’s the way they make you feel. Peace, Rocky

[@yvonnemendez3075]

One of his best and that's why he's the Boss forever

[@francismallett5755]

I was there, having waited two years since buying an imported copy of his first album. Still probably the best live gig I've ever seen. 5 rows back, the energy was totally extraordinary. His best years and arguably anybody else's!

[@john67498]

Jealous. Always wanted to talk to someone there.

[@francismallett5755]

@@john67498 Hi John, I'd bought the first album as an import after I heard Noel Edmonds Sunday show play Blinded By The Light, then loved his second album. There was huge delay for Born To Run which you probably know about so really few people here knew about him. My friend and I were at college in London so I quickly bought tickets for the gig at the HO once it was announced. We were the first night and were about five or six rows back. The CD and DVD really do capture the energy. I'd never seen anything like it! best, Francis

[@MartinBraonain]

amazing after all thise years

[@imfrcd]

To think I had to drag my friends to see this guy for his first two tours. Then it was too late.

[@HeyNoww]

The Boss!

[@JaxStone-fd3qx]

So many brilliant poets changed their sound to avoid getting confused with their mentor

[@mattrubock]

I’ve been waiting 10 plus years for video to come out from this show... it was worth the wait my god... here she comes!!!

[@lizzielorman2158]

It's available on DVD also. This entire concert

[@mattrubock]

Name me a better pianist than Roy Bittan holy fricking hell what a G

[@kevinlee149]

David Sancious

[@garlandhogan3158]

Um...Chick Corea. Glen Gould. Even Bob James. Isn't your point that none of those guys could ROCK like Bittan, who is quite likely the best-ever "rock and roll pianist"? I would second THAT nomination!

[@chuckcreen1084]

David Sancious

[@themistoklestheodosopoulos6253]

This is the absolute greatest rendition of the E Street band. Best lineup, best time period for that line up. It was just a special special time for them. They were great until 78 but around then they changed a bit. Still great but not quite as great.

[@eurydicejones]

It was all downhill after Nebraska

[@bartdegraaf2161]

Insane performance . By far the best live gig i ever heard .A bounce of guys played an outstanding over the moon master Piece . The Boss and his mates are next level musicals. The best in this world

[@olleronn616]

The pause at 8:52 is *chefkiss* perfection

[@J.A.Hansen]

I love it, like this song turned into a jam,super exellent🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎼👌

[@sheiladuckworth180]

Thank you Bruuce

[@randypeeples9870]

TRUE THIS ALL!!!! SWEET MERCY PEEPLES!!!!!

[@deeg8849]

15:13 play it big man

[@frankquezada5490]

Wow, fantastic version of Kittys Back. First time hearing it.

[@victorjensen2858]

This song fuckin rules