FAINT WAVES

This week, we go back to 1992 and we spend some time with The Boss himself. While it may not be the biggest song in his catalogue, it’s a personal favorite and I’d argue its quintessential Springsteen. This is Song of The Week: “Roll of the Dice” by Bruce Springsteen, from the album ‘Human Touch’.

From the moment the song opens, you’re reminded who you’re dealing with. Almost exactly 20 years into his professional recording career at this point, Bruce shows himself to still be that spirited, scrappy, every-man that so many of us can relate to, the musician so capable of tapping into stories of life, love, horror, and heartbreak. The opening piano notes are classic Bruce, or more specifically, classic E-Street. Roy Bittan is the only E-Street Band member on the recording and you can absolutely tell its him, because there’s a sonic through-line between songs off Born To Run/Darkness On The Edge Of Town/The River and this “solo” Bruce tune. Bruce makes the most of Roy’s presence, top-lining an anthemic piano performance like only he could. The resulting tune, from an instrumental standpoint, is pure (uptempo) Springsteen. The lyrics themselves, taken at face value, are about gambling; this probably struck people as silly at the time or made it feel like Bruce had crossed into caricature, but we’re talking about the man who made “Cadillac Ranch” in his prime. This is absolutely pure Bruce. Naturally too, it’s not actually about gambling; Bruce is using gambling as a metaphor for taking chances at love and romance, and never giving up no matter how many times it (inevitably) goes south.

It’s a lovely tune with such a rollicking, vigorous attitude of hope; I’m disappointed the song was never released as a single in the U.S and that it didn’t become a hit. The album this is on (Human Touch) was released in tandem with Lucky Town almost exactly 34 years ago (at the time of this writing), Human Touch had mixed reception and was generally disliked by Bruce Springsteen fans, while Lucky Town fared a bit better. I find that unfortunate, because Human Touch has got some gems. If you know me though, I’ve never been one to adhere to the majority or kowtow to popular opinion, I like what I like. I like both records but Human Touch has this tune we’re talking about, “Roll Of The Dice”, so that immediately makes it the stronger record in my eyes. This tune, the titular “Human Touch”, “Real World”, and “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)” are all terrific. Bruce entered the 90’s as only he could: being himself. Even with the things that he incorporated from the 70’s and 80’s, Bruce has always veered closer to timeless than dated, and that’s still mostly true of his 90’s work. It fits the era, it makes sense, but it transcends it musically (or lyrically) too. Bruce Springsteen has always excelled at emotive, resonant music that appeals to human success, struggle, and strife, it’s always been his greatest strength as a writer and singer. Regardless of whatever sounds are incorporated along the way, it makes his work functional and relatable in whatever time period its being listened to, because humanity has not and hopefully will never change in such a way that Bruce is no longer relatable.

Here’s to rolling the dice.

Thanks for reading.

~ FW.