Friday Song: “Atlantic City”

The memorable first line of “Atlantic City,” a song from the 1982 album, Nebraska, tells the story of Phil Testa, the #2 man in the Philly mob under Angelo Bruno. After Bruno was murdered in his car, the “Chicken Man” (Testa) was blown up by a bomb placed under his front porch. The hits were orchestrated by Nicky Scarfo who wanted to control the new Atlantic City casinos. It all went bust, when most of his crew were either murdered or jailed in the ensuing chaos.

Nebraska consists of recordings Springsteen made at home with a 4-track recorder between his albums The River and Born in the USA. Seventeen tracks were recorded, 10 of which comprised Nebraska. The remaining seven ended up on Born in the USA. These leftovers included “Born in the USA,” “Downbound Train,” and “Pink Cadillac.”

When The River rocketed Springsteen to unparalleled fame, he felt disconnected from life, and retreated to his newly rented ranch in Colts Neck, NJ, to think and reconnect with life. The writings of many core American songwriters — Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams — gained influence, but the writings of Flannery O’Connor were especially influential, with the “minute precision” of her writing contrasting with what Springsteen considered “the clash and babble” of his previous songs, telling one interviewer, “Her stories reminded me of the unknowability of God and contained a dark spirituality that resonated with my own feelings at the time.”

Well, they blew up the Chicken Man in Philly last night . . .

That’s a line with minute precision.

The story of the making of Nebraska is the centerpiece of the very good new film starring Jeremy Allen White, Deliver Me from Nowhere, which releases today.

Despite a lack of promotion and tour support, Nebraska reached #3 on the charts.

The version featured here includes a full band and electrified instruments. It has become a favorite, as well.

Put your make-up on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City . . .

Enjoy!