Atlantic City (song)

1982 single by Bruce Springsteen

Not to be confused with the 1948 song On the Boardwalk (In Atlantic City).

"Atlantic City"

Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album  Nebraska
B-side| "Mansion on the Hill"
Released| October 1982[1]
Recorded| January 3, 1982
Studio| Thrill Hill East, Colts Neck, New Jersey
Genre| Folk rock[2]
Length| 4:00
Label|

* Columbia (album)
* CBS 2794 (UK single)

Songwriter(s)| Bruce Springsteen
Producer(s)| Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen UK singles chronology
| "Cadillac Ranch"
(1981)  | "Atlantic City"
(1982)  | "Open All Night"
(1982)

|
|

"Atlantic City" is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, which first appeared on Springsteen's 1982 solo album Nebraska. Springsteen has often played the song in a full band arrangement in concert.

## Recording background

[edit]

Springsteen wrote in his Greatest Hits sleeve notes that he recorded the track in his bedroom "for $1,050 (the cost of the four-track Tascam recorder), mixed through an old Gibson guitar unit to a beat box". He provides the vocals, guitar, harmonica, and mandolin for the song.

Springsteen first recorded two demos of the song in April 1981 at his home in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Initially he titled the song "Fistful of Dollars" (from the Clint Eastwood movie A Fistful of Dollars). He recorded another demo in late 1981, this time changing the title to "Atlantic City". He recorded at least five takes on his Portastudio at Colts Neck during a two-week period, December 17 to January 3, 1982, with take three chosen for Nebraska. In a letter to Jon Landau, Springsteen noted that "this song should probably be done with the whole band really rockin' out". At The Power Station on April 26–28, 1982, with the E Street Band during the 'Electric Nebraska' sessions, Springsteen spent three days trying to make a rock record out of the demo. Landau insisted on releasing the solo version, "No way was it as good as what he had goin' on that demo tape".[3][4][5]

## Historical context and lyrical significance

[edit]

Further information: Philadelphia crime family

The lyrics of "Atlantic City" depict a young couple's escape to Atlantic City, New Jersey, but it also wrestles with rebirth and the inevitability of death. The man in the relationship intends to take a job in organized crime upon arriving in Atlantic City, due at least partly to desperation over his "debts."

The song's opening lines reference violence perpetuated by the Philadelphia crime family in Philadelphia in the early 1980s, with Springsteen singing, "Well, they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night/Now they blew up his house too." "Chicken Man" is a reference to Philadelphia crime family boss Phil "the Chicken Man" Testa, who was killed by a rival gangster who planted a nail bomb in his Philadelphia rowhouse in March 1981.[6]

While Atlantic City is considered the turf of the Philadelphia crime family, there was considerable in-fighting at the time among the Italian-American Mafia for dominance of the organized crime rackets in the city following the city's proposed legalization of gambling in 1976.

By the 1970s and early 1980s, Atlantic City experienced a significant decline from its heyday as a prominent resort town in the early 20th century, and the introduction of legal gambling was proposed as a potential means of reviving the economically struggling city. The song evokes the widespread uncertainty regarding legalized gambling during its early years in Atlantic City and its promises to resurrect the city. The young man's uncertainty about taking the less-than-savory job is referenced in the lyric, "Everything dies, baby, that's a fact, but maybe everything that dies someday comes back."

The song is included on Springsteen's Greatest Hits album, released in 1995, and on The Essential Bruce Springsteen, released in 2003.

### In popular culture

[edit]

In 2006, "8 Years", a Cold Case episode, was based around nine Springsteen songs, with "Atlantic City" played during its climactic murder scene.[7]

In 2012, following Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie quoted the song's chorus during a cameo on Saturday Night Live.[8]

In 2019, the song played over the opening of episode 3 of season 4 of Billions. A few scenes later, the character "Dollar" Bill Stern, played by Kelly AuCoin, sings the opening lines of the song.

In September 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song 289th on its list of the “500 Best Songs of All Time”.[9]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Atlantic City" was directed by Barry Ralbag. It received moderate play on MTV in the United States. Springsteen does not appear in the video, which features stark, black-and-white images of Atlantic City. The video also includes clips of the October 1978 demolition of the main dome of the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel.

## Live performances

[edit]

Beginning with the Born in the U.S.A. Tour, "Atlantic City" has made fairly regular appearances in Springsteen's band concerts, with a soft-hard-cycle arrangement similar to that of "Darkness on the Edge of Town". Live versions of "Atlantic City" appear on Springsteen's In Concert/MTV Plugged, released in 1993, and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City, released in 2001.

For the 2006 Bruce Springsteen with the Seeger Sessions Band Tour, "Atlantic City" was drastically rearranged and featured multiple outros, a version of which appears on Bruce Springsteen with The Sessions Band: Live in Dublin album, released in 2007.

## Personnel

[edit]

* Bruce Springsteen, vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin[10]

## Other versions

[edit]

* In 1993, The Band covered the song for their album Jericho. Rolling Stone called it a "clear highlight". After the Band split up, Levon Helm continued to perform "Atlantic City" in his solo performances.[11]
* In 1997, American singer song-writer Kim Fox recorded the song for her album, Moon Hut.
* In 2001, country singer John Anderson recorded the song for his album, Nobody's Got It All.
* In 2002, Hank Williams III covered the song on his album Lovesick, Broke and Driftin'.
* In 2009, The Hold Steady covered the song on the War Child soundtrack.[12]
* In 2010, English singer song-writer, Jamie T, covered the song on his EP "Emily's Heart".[13]
* In 2010, American singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle covered the song for the first season of The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover web series.[14]
* In 2012, British folk rock band Mumford & Sons covered the song for a Daytrotter session.[15]
* In 2017, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit covered the song on their album Live from Welcome to 1979.
* In 2018, Sam Fender covered the song on for 'Five Essential Tracks'.[16]
* In 2018, country artist Riley Green covered the song on his EP County Line.[17]
* In 2019, Greensky Bluegrass performed the song live.[18]
* In 2021, St. Louis–based folk duo River Kittens recorded the song and released an accompanying video.[19]
* In 2022, Ryan Adams covered the song on his album Nebraska.
* In 2024, Boyish covered the song on their EP We're All Gonna Die, But Here Are Some Covers.
* In 2024, Riley Green covered the song on his EP, Way Out Here.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). Great Rock Discography. Canongate Press. p. 773\. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
2. ^ https://www.watchmojo.com/articles/top-20-bruce-springsteen-songs/born-in-the-u-s-a
3. ^ "Nebraska Studio Sessions". Brucebase. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
4. ^ Burke, David. Heart-of-Darkness-Bruce-Springsteens-Nebraska. London: Cherry Red Books. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
5. ^ Heylin, Clinton (2012). Song by Song. London: Penguin. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
6. ^ Greene, Andy (4 February 2016). "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs of the 1980s". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
7. ^ Weiner, Jonah (7 January 2006). "Cold Case; Hot Tunes; Springsteen's Soundtrack". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
8. ^ "Chris Christie on 'SNL'". Politico.com. 18 November 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
9. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
10. ^ Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2020). Bruce Springsteen All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 201\. ISBN 978-1-78472-649-2.
11. ^ Greene, Andy (August 15, 2013). "Flashback: The Band Cover Bruce Springsteen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
12. ^ Stosuy, Brandon (February 2, 2009). "New Hold Steady - "Atlantic City" (Springsteen Cover)".
13. ^ "JAMIE T » Emily's Heart – New Version Released 15th March – New Merchandise Shop". 2010-03-04. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
14. ^ "Justin Townes Earle covers Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City"". The A.V. Club. Chicago. April 13, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
15. ^ "Mumford & Sons and Friends Daytrotter Session - Oct 1, 2012". Paste. October 1, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
16. ^ "Sam Fender: 'Atlantic City' (Cover Bruce Springsteen) - 5 Essential Tracks". YouTube. 31 January 2018.
17. ^ Reilly, Gannon (March 17, 2019). "Riley Green's Cover Of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" Is An Absolute Jam". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
18. ^ Bernstein, Scott (October 23, 2019). "Greensky Bluegrass & Aoife O'Donovan Perform 'Atlantic City'".
19. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "River Kittens - Atlantic City". YouTube. 5 February 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Single covers from the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, UK and Japan Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
* Review on AllMusic

* v
* t
* e

Bruce Springsteen songs

* Singles
* Songs

1970s|

| Greetings from
Asbury Park, N.J.|

* "Blinded by the Light"
* "Growin' Up"
* "Mary Queen of Arkansas"
* "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?"
* "Lost in the Flood"
* "The Angel"
* "For You"
* "Spirit in the Night"
* "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City"

|

The Wild, the Innocent
& the E Street Shuffle|

* "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)"
* "Incident on 57th Street"
* "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"

Born to Run|

* "Thunder Road"
* "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out"
* "Night"
* "Backstreets"
* "Born to Run"
* "She's the One"
* "Meeting Across the River"
* "Jungleland"

Darkness on the
Edge of Town|

* "Badlands"
* "Adam Raised a Cain"
* "Racing in the Street"
* "The Promised Land"
* "Prove It All Night"
* "Darkness on the Edge of Town"

1980s|

| The River|

* "The Ties That Bind"
* "Sherry Darling"
* "Independence Day"
* "Hungry Heart"
* "Out in the Street"
* "The River"
* "Point Blank"
* "Cadillac Ranch"
* "Fade Away"
* "Stolen Car"
* "Ramrod"
* "Wreck on the Highway"

|

Nebraska|

* "Nebraska"
* "Atlantic City"
* "Johnny 99"
* "Highway Patrolman"
* "Open All Night"
* "My Father's House"

Born in the U.S.A.|

* "Born in the U.S.A."
* "Cover Me"
* "Darlington County"
* "Working on the Highway"
* "Downbound Train"
* "I'm on Fire"
* "No Surrender"
* "Bobby Jean"
* "I'm Goin' Down"
* "Glory Days"
* "Dancing in the Dark"
* "My Hometown"

Tunnel of Love|

* "Tougher Than the Rest"
* "Spare Parts"
* "Tunnel of Love"
* "Brilliant Disguise"
* "One Step Up"

1990s|

| Human Touch|

* "Human Touch "
* "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"
* "Pony Boy"

|

Lucky Town|

* "Better Days"
* "If I Should Fall Behind"

The Ghost of Tom Joad|

* "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
* "Youngstown"
* "The New Timer"

2000s|

| The Rising|

* "Lonesome Day"
* "Waitin' on a Sunny Day"
* "The Rising"
* "My City of Ruins"

|

Magic|

* "Radio Nowhere"
* "Girls in Their Summer Clothes"
* "Long Walk Home"

Working on a Dream|

* "Outlaw Pete"
* "My Lucky Day"
* "Working on a Dream"
* "The Wrestler"

2010s|

| Wrecking Ball|

* "We Take Care of Our Own"
* "Shackled and Drawn"
* "Death to My Hometown"
* "Wrecking Ball"
* "Rocky Ground"
* "Land of Hope and Dreams"

|

High Hopes|

* "High Hopes"
* "American Skin (41 Shots)"
* "Just Like Fire Would"
* "Hunter of Invisible Game"
* "Dream Baby Dream"

Western Stars|

* "Tucson Train"
* "Western Stars"
* "There Goes My Miracle"
* "Hello Sunshine"

2020s|

| Letter to You|

* "Letter to You"
* "Last Man Standing"
* "The Power of Prayer"
* "Ghosts"
* "I'll See You in My Dreams"

|

Only the Strong Survive|

* "Only the Strong Survive"
* "Nightshift"
* "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)"
* "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"
* "Turn Back the Hands of Time"
* "When She Was My Girl"
* "Hey, Western Union Man"
* "I Wish It Would Rain"
* "Don't Play That Song"
* "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"
* "7 Rooms of Gloom"
* "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted"
* "Someday We'll Be Together"

Other singles|

* "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
* "War"
* "Fire"
* "Streets of Philadelphia"
* "Secret Garden"
* "Sad Eyes"
* "High Hopes"
* "Devils & Dust"

Other songs|

* "Be True"
* "Stand on It"
* "Trapped" (live)
* "Because the Night" (live)
* "Chimes of Freedom" (live)
* "The Fever"
* "Stay"
* "Pink Cadillac"
* "Jersey Girl"
* "Light of Day"
* "Chinatown"

* v
* t
* e

The Band

* Rick Danko
* Levon Helm
* Garth Hudson
* Richard Manuel
* Robbie Robertson
* Richard Bell
* Randy Ciarlante
* Stan Szelest
* Jim Weider

Studio albums|

* Music from Big Pink
* The Band
* Stage Fright
* Cahoots
* Moondog Matinee
* Northern Lights – Southern Cross
* Islands
* Jericho
* High on the Hog
* Jubilation

with Bob Dylan|

* Planet Waves
* The Basement Tapes

Live albums|

* Rock of Ages
* Before the Flood
* The Last Waltz (1978 soundtrack album)
* The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down: The Best of the Band Live in Concert
* Live at Watkins Glen
* The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Bob Dylan Live 1966
* The Last Waltz (2002 box set)
* Live at the Academy of Music 1971

Compilations|

* The Best of the Band
* Anthology
* To Kingdom Come
* Across the Great Divide
* The Best of the Band, Vol. II
* Greatest Hits
* A Musical History
* The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete

Films|

* The Last Waltz
* Festival Express
* Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band

Singles|

* "Uh-Uh-Uh"
* "The Stones I Throw"
* "Go Go Liza Jane"
* "The Weight" / "I Shall Be Released"
* "Rag Mama Rag" / "The Unfaithful Servant"
* "Up on Cripple Creek" / "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"
* "Time to Kill" / "The Shape I'm In"
* "Life Is a Carnival"
* "On a Night Like This" (with Bob Dylan)
* "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" (with Bob Dylan)
* "Ophelia"
* "Atlantic City"

Other songs|

* "Tears of Rage"
* "We Can Talk"
* "Long Black Veil"
* "Chest Fever"
* "Lonesome Suzie
* "This Wheel's on Fire"
* "Across the Great Divide"
* "When You Awake"
* "Whispering Pines"
* "Jemima Surrender"
* "Look Out Cleveland"
* "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)"
* "Sleeping"
* "The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show"
* "Daniel and the Sacred Harp"
* "Stage Fright"
* "When I Paint My Masterpiece"
* "4% Pantomime"
* "Don't Do It"
* "Mystery Train"
* "Holy Cow"
* "Acadian Driftwood"
* "It Makes No Difference"
* "Georgia on My Mind"
* "Blind Willie McTell"
* "What Am I Living For"

Related|

* Discography
* Bob Dylan
* Bob Dylan World Tour 1966
* Bob Dylan and the Band 1974 Tour
* Cate Brothers
* Ronnie Hawkins
* The Weight Band
* Big Pink
* Shangri-La
* List of Basement Tapes songs
* List of Basement Tapes songs (1975)
* So Many Roads (1965, Helm, Hudson, Robertson)
* The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album (1975, Helm, Hudson)
* No Reason to Cry (1976, Danko, Helm, Hudson, Manuel, Robertson)
* Let It Rock (1995, Bell, Ciarlante, Danko, Helm, Hudson, Weider)
* Carry Me Home (2022, Helm, Weider)
* Endless Highway: The Music of the Band
* The Complete Last Waltz
* This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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