Sherry Darling
"Sherry Darling" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Bruce Springsteen | ||||
from the album The River | ||||
B-side | "Be True" | |||
Released | February 20, 1981 | |||
Recorded | May–April 1980 | |||
Studio | Power Station (New York City) | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 4:03 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Bruce Springsteen | |||
Producer(s) | Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Steven Van Zandt | |||
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology | ||||
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"Sherry Darling" is a song by American singer-songwriter
Considered for single release sporadically since 1978, "Sherry Darling" was ultimately released as a single in the UK and Europe in 1981. Though not charting, the song has become a live favorite and has attracted positive reception from music writers.
Background
"Sherry Darling" was first written and recorded in 1977 during the sessions for Springsteen's 1978 album
How could a happy song like 'Sherry Darling' coexist with 'Point Blank' or 'Darkness on the Edge of Town'? I couldn't face that. I wasn't ready for some reason within myself to feel those things. It was too confusing, too paradoxical.[3]
Springsteen chose to record several Darkness rejects for his next album
Release
"Sherry Darling" had long been a contender for single release. At a 1978 show, he introduced the song saying, "This is called 'Sherry Darling.' It should've been a single, it should've been released in the summertime."[4] In 1980, Springsteen again considered releasing the song as a single in the summer before the release of The River.[3] In 1981, the song was ultimately released as a single in the UK and other European territories, with either "Be True" or "Independence Day" as the B-side.[6] The single failed to chart in any country.[7]
Critical reception
Billboard wrote that Springsteen "nails the vibe" of the party records he sought to emulate.
Live history
"Sherry Darling" had been a live favorite for Springsteen in the years before its studio release,[2] appearing on his setlist during the Darkness Tour while it was still a work in progress. Springsteen performed the song in 1979 for the No Nukes concerts, organized by MUSE. Before the live album for these concerts was released in 2021 as The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts, the live concert video for "Sherry Darling" was released as a promo for the collection.[9][10] The song has since become a live favorite over the course of several Springsteen tours to the present day.[11] During performances for the River Tour, Springsteen would pick a girl from the front row, bring her to the stage, and dance with her. This act would be replicated in the music video for "Dancing in the Dark" with Courteney Cox.[3]
Personnel
According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:[12]
- Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitars
- Roy Bittan – piano
- Clarence Clemons – saxophone, maracas
- Danny Federici – organ
- Garry Tallent – bass
- Steven Van Zandt – guitars, vocal harmonies
- Max Weinberg – drums
- The band – handclaps, backing vocals, party noises
References
- ISBN 978-1-62040-073-9.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4422-3066-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-135-88047-7.
- ^ a b c Rose, Caryn (29 October 2020). "All 340 Bruce Springsteen Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Partridge, Kenneth (18 October 2015). "Bruce Springsteen's 'The River' at 35: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-78472-725-3.
- ^ https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Sherry+Darling&cat=s
- ^ Olivier, Bobby (3 October 2017). "All 318 Bruce Springsteen songs, ranked worst to best". NJ.com. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (8 October 2021). "Bruce Springsteen Electrifies Crowd With Hippy Hippy Shake in 'Sherry Darling' Preview From 'No Nukes' Film". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (8 October 2021). "Watch Bruce Springsteen perform 'Sherry Darling' from unreleased 'Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts' film". NME. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (31 August 2023). "Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band kicked off Metlife run with "Sherry Darling" & lots more (setlist, video)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-78472-649-2.