Bruce Springsteen’s musical journey is filled with unexpected turns and reinterpretations, even of his own work. While we often celebrate his insightful choices, his early foray into “Dancing in the Street” with Steel Mill is a head-scratching moment for many fans. Arranging Martha and the Vandellas’ iconic dance anthem as a sprawling Steel Mill guitar jam seems like an improbable idea, yet it happened.
The original “Dancing in the Street,” a Motown masterpiece by Martha and the Vandellas, dominated the summer of 1964, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its infectious energy and call to unity made it an instant classic. Many artists have since attempted to capture its spirit, from The Mamas & The Papas to Van Halen, and even the legendary David Bowie and Mick Jagger in a notable collaboration. However, the original Motown version remains the gold standard, a song so culturally significant it’s preserved in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.
In his formative years, a young Bruce Springsteen, barely 20, took on “Dancing in the Street” as an unlikely opener for Steel Mill shows throughout 1970. Fortunately, a recording from a legendary Steel Mill performance in a Richmond, Virginia parking deck captures this early experiment.
Alt text: Black and white candid photo of young Bruce Springsteen passionately singing and playing guitar during a Steel Mill concert at a Richmond parking deck, capturing the raw energy of his early performances.
“Dancing in the Street” might seem like a perfect high-energy start for a concert, especially if you’re a band geared towards dance music. Steel Mill, however, was not your typical dance band. They were a powerhouse jam band, prioritizing extended instrumental explorations over concise, dance-oriented tunes. This characteristic defined their rendition of “Dancing in the Street.”
True to their jam band ethos, Steel Mill stretched “Dancing in the Street” far beyond its original pop song structure. Performances routinely exceeded ten minutes, transforming the Motown hit into a vehicle for improvisation and instrumental virtuosity.
Shortly after the parking deck performance, Bruce expanded Steel Mill’s vocal dynamic by inviting local singer Robbin Thompson to join as a co-vocalist. In the band’s final months before disbanding in January 1971, they further evolved their “Dancing in the Street” performances, often mashing it up with Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary,” creating extended medleys.
The following clips, offering much clearer audio than the parking deck recording, showcase Bruce and Robbin trading lead vocals in an almost thirteen-minute epic jam. These performances highlight Bruce’s impressive, albeit not particularly danceable, lead guitar work, showcasing the band’s improvisational approach.
When Steel Mill dissolved in January 1971, “Dancing in the Street” largely disappeared from Bruce Springsteen’s setlists.
Alt text: Action shot of Bruce Springsteen and Robbin Thompson sharing a microphone and singing together during a dynamic Steel Mill performance, emphasizing their vocal collaboration in the band’s later period.
However, the song wasn’t entirely forgotten. Bruce has occasionally teased lines from “Dancing in the Street” during other songs throughout his career. Listeners paying close attention to the thirteen-minute jam mentioned earlier might recognize familiar guitar chords around the 10:30 mark. These chords foreshadow Bruce’s later creation, the “Detroit Medley,” a masterful and much more fitting Motown cover that became a staple in his live shows.
Dancing in the Street Performance History with Steel Mill:
- First Performance: December 31, 1969 (Big Sur, CA)
- Last Performance: January 22, 1971 (Asbury Park, NJ)
In conclusion, Bruce Springsteen’s Steel Mill rendition of “Dancing in the Street,” while unconventional, offers a fascinating glimpse into his early musical explorations. It highlights his willingness to experiment and push boundaries, even with beloved classics. This jam band interpretation, though far removed from the danceable spirit of the original, demonstrates the raw energy and improvisational talent that were hallmarks of Steel Mill and foreshadowed the legendary career to come.
