Tuesday Tunes 315: Bride

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I teased in this week’s Song Lyric Sunday post that I would be offering a companion piece to last week’s Tuesday Tunes, and here it is. After playing a set of wedding songs last Tuesday, this week is about an important part of the big day: the bride. Not as many to choose from for this but I’ve found five that I like, so here goes.

For someone of my vintage this is the obvious place to start, and it’s a great video:

Nick Lowe released his version of I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock And Roll) on his The Rose Of England album in August 1985. Although he wrote the song his was actually a cover version, as it had already been a hit for his friend Dave Edmunds, whose version had reached #26 in the UK in 1977. Nick’s album didn’t make the UK chart, though it did get to #119 in the US. The track was released as a single to coincide with the album, but only made #130 in the UK, It did get to #26 in Australia, though, and peaked at #27 on the US Mainstream Rock Airplay listings. It’s funny, but for a song which I know so well I’m really surprised that it didn’t perform much better in chart terms – but I bought the album nonetheless!

Something a little gentler to follow that up:

Kate Rusby released Sweet Bride on her 1999 album, Sleepless, and reworked it for an updated compilation album, 10, in 2002. Neither album made the charts, though Sleepless did win the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award 2000 for best album. It is typical of Kate’s style, and as I love just about everything she has released I was never leaving this one out!

This next one is an album outtake, so I’m a bit limited in my choice of video for it:

Bruce Springsteen recorded this acoustic version of Child Bride during the sessions for his solo album Nebraska, which was released in September 1982. Seventeen tracks came out of that session but only ten made the final cut: this was one of the seven that missed out. But Bruce hadn’t forgotten about it: he went back into the studio with his full band and re-recorded several of the songs. With partly rewritten lyrics this track emerged as Working On The Highway on his next album, a little thing called Born In The U.S.A, of which you may have heard. I rather like this lower key version of the song, and am a little surprised that it has never been included on one of the plethora of compilation albums by The Boss.

My penultimate bride song is from a favourite band, and is one of those songs that tells a story. I like those, and I’ll take any chance to play the wonderful voice of Natalie Merchant:

10,000 Maniacs first released Gold Rush Brides on their fifth album, Our Time In Eden, which came out in September 1992 and peaked at #28 in the US and #33 in the UK. It has been a long term seller, and has gone 2x Platinum in the US for sales of more than 2m. The version I am playing today is from their live album, MTV Unplugged, which was released in October 1993, reaching #13 in the US and #40 in the UK. Again, it has done well in the US, going 3x Platinum for 3m sales. The intro to the song is Natalie reading a passage from Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel, which is based on the diaries of five women who made the journey to California between 1849 and 1862. These were hard times, as the song’s lyrics describe:

“In miners lust for gold, a family’s house was bought and sold, piece by pieceA widow staked her claim on a dollar and his name, so painfullyIn letters mailed back home her eastern sisters they would moan as they would readAccounts of madness, childbirth, loneliness and grief”

I wonder if those history books will be allowed to survive the current purge of America’s past by cultural cretins?

Having gone through a few that might be new for you, I’m closing today with one I think you’ll know:

Kiss The Bride was a track on Elton John’s album Too Low For Zero, which was released in May 1983 and peaked at #7 in the UK and #25 in the US, though it fared best in Australia and New Zealand, reaching #2 in both. It went Platinum in both the US (1m sales) and the UK (300,000), though, plus 5x Platinum in Australia for 350,000 copies. This was the third single taken from the album, in October 1983, and it got to #20 in the UK and #25 in the US. Despite the upbeat tune it is actually a rather sad tale of a man attending the wedding of a former lover, with whom he is still in love. Presumably not written from Reg’s own experience (yes, I know he writes the music, not the lyrics, ok?).

That’s all for today, though I leave you with my usual reminder of where I’m sharing this post. Firstly, at Esme’s Senior Salon Pit Stop, and then at Cathy’s Monday’s (On Sundays) Music Moves Me. Apologies to Cathy for not playing with her theme of ‘sandwiches’ but hey, sandwiches might be part of the wedding buffet, so maybe I’m not too far off? Do pop over and take a look, though.

I’ll see you again soon. Until then stay well and hydrated: it’s getting hotter again here. Take care 😊

42 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 315: Bride”

  1. All of these songs are introductions which isn’t a huge surprise. You always seem to do this. 🙂 I would’ve figured Springsteen and Sir Elton’s picks would’ve made it to my ears but nope. Although, I was a Child Bride, truly was just 17, my favorite of these has to be Elton’s “Kiss The Bride”. I’m sorry for the late dance. It’s just been a hectic week. Thanks for joining the party. Have a boogietastic day, Clive!

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  2. I’m a little bit behind this week, Clive. My wife was in the hospital for four days, but she’s home now. Debilitating case of vertigo which left her unable to move without getting sick. She’s slowly getting better each day.

    As far as the music, I would say Elton’s song is my favorite, although Springsteen and 10,000 Maniacs are close runner-ups.

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    • No need to apologise, Pete, it’s good of you to drop in when your wife has been ill. I’m pleased to hear she’s making a recovery and hope that continues. Wish her well for me please.

      I’m glad you enjoyed some of these too 👍

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  3. I had meant to come back to your post and comment and forgot.
    Your first song brought a big smile! Hadn’t heard it for years and yes, it was played at my wedding reception. 😂😂
    And it should come as no surprise that I loved the second song and video and Happily Ever after endings. 🙂

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    • Thanks for returning! That’s a great song to have at your wedding reception: I hope Brad didn’t end up with his face in the cake!

      No surprise on the second: I’m glad you liked it so much 👍

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  4. Fine choices Clive. It’s a while since I’ve heard Child Bride and I agree with your feelings that it loses something in the transition to Working On The Highway. The upbeat version also makes it questionable it terms of it’s theme, I’ve heard it said on a Bruce fan podcast it strays closer to paedophilia due to the throwaway nature of its tone. That may be a matter of opinion, but the slower version feels different and honest. But melodically it reminds me a lot of Highway Patrolman and in some moments Stolen Car from The River, both songs I love. I adore Nebraska, wouldn’t change a track.

    Sorry, I’ve banged on a bit there haven’t I? Enjoyed 10,000 Maniacs particularly, and remember fondly the Elton and Nick Lowe tracks.

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    • Thanks, Paul, I’m glad you liked them. And it’s good to know we’re on the same wavelength re. The Boss. I’ll always play 10,000 Maniacs given the chance, as Natalie Merchant has such a wonderful voice, and bookending with the two 80s tunes seemed like a plan!

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  5. Clive, “Child Bride” is a powerful story about marrying too young and crossing state lines. One of Springsteen’s better songs about teen pregnancy and early weddings is “The River.” I have long felt this song needs to be played in a Sex Education class. Keith

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  7. I didn’t know any of these songs. I run hot and cold on Bruce Springsteen – love some his catalog, dislike some of it. Elton John’s song was good but the one I enjoyed the most (especially the ending of the video) was I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock and Roll. I hope the groom enjoyed the cake! Alana ramblinwitham

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  13. The Lowe and Reg Dwight songs definitely have that bold, polished 1980s sound. Contrarily, the Springsteen song is typical stripped-down Nebraska-era. Not my fave album by the Boss, but he deserves credit for bucking the trend (his own and others’).

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  14. Oddly, I didn’t know many of your picks today, except for Elton’s song and the Snow White clip, which was the same as the classic movie scene with different music. I loved the first song and vid by Nick Lowe, probably my fave of the whole lot. Always appreciate new music, Clive …. something you often bring to the table. Thanks!

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  17. Your choices are all far better than the one from the dim dark past that made me cringe even as a naive kid: Julie Rogers, ‘The Wedding.’ Sweeter and more treacly than a three tiered wedding cake. OK, it doesn’t mention ‘bride’ but it is totally from a besotted bride’s impossibly perfect perspective.
    Sorry Clive, even as a kid I suppose I wasn’t destined to be a hopeless romantic?
    Bruce has one hell of a repertoire if he could just put this one off to the side or the backburner.

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    • You’re a week late! But I’d have rejected that one anyway, for the reasons you mention.

      Bruce did revisit this song, but I think it was a shame it was left off the ‘Nebraska’ album as I prefer it to some that were on it.

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