It’s rare to question Bruce Springsteen’s artistic decisions. After all, he’s the icon, the musician, and the creative force. Yet, revisiting his early work with Steel Mill, one can’t help but raise an eyebrow at the thought of arranging “Dancing in the Street” as a sprawling guitar jam.
The original “Dancing in the Street” song, immortalized by Martha and the Vandellas, is a Motown masterpiece. Reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1964, it defined an era. Many celebrated artists have since attempted their own renditions, from The Mamas & The Papas to Van Halen and the iconic duo of David Bowie and Mick Jagger. However, Martha and the Vandellas’ version remains the gold standard, a song so culturally significant that it’s preserved in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. This timeless track is the very definition of a feel-good, danceable anthem.
In 1970, a young Bruce Springsteen, barely 20 years old, took a bold step. He introduced “Dancing in the Street” into Steel Mill’s setlist, often using it as a high-energy show opener. A recording from a legendary Steel Mill performance in a Richmond, Virginia parking deck captures this early experiment.
While “Dancing in the Street” is inherently a fantastic song to kick off a performance, its suitability for Steel Mill is debatable. Steel Mill was not your typical dance band. They were a powerhouse jam band, known for their extended improvisations and instrumental explorations. Consequently, their rendition of “Dancing in the Street,” as evidenced by the Richmond recording, could stretch well beyond the ten-minute mark, transforming the Motown hit into something else entirely.
Shortly after that parking deck concert, Steel Mill expanded their lineup, inviting vocalist Robbin Thompson to join. In their final months before disbanding in January 1971, Steel Mill further evolved their “Dancing in the Street” performances. They began weaving it into medleys with rock and roll classics like “Honky Tonk Women” and “Proud Mary,” creating epic, extended jams.
Recordings from this period showcase Springsteen and Thompson trading vocals in these sprawling performances, often clocking in around thirteen minutes. These versions highlight Bruce Springsteen’s burgeoning guitar prowess, featuring extended solos and instrumental breaks. However, the danceable essence of the original “Dancing In The Street Song” was often lost in these jam-heavy interpretations.
When Steel Mill dissolved, “Dancing in the Street” largely vanished from Bruce Springsteen’s repertoire. Yet, the song wasn’t entirely forgotten. Springsteen occasionally teased lines from “Dancing in the Street” within other songs during live performances. Intriguingly, listening closely to the Steel Mill parking deck recording around the 10:30 mark reveals familiar guitar chords. These chords foreshadowed a musical motif that Bruce Springsteen would later resurrect and refine for his iconic “Detroit Medley”—a masterful Motown tribute done right.
Dancing in the Street First performed: December 31, 1969 (Big Sur, CA)
Last performed: January 22, 1971 (Asbury Park, NJ)
