Blinded by the Light

Infobox Single
Name = Blinded by the Light


Caption =
Artist = Manfred Mann's Earth Band
from Album = The Roaring Silence
A-side =
B-side = Starbird No. 2
Released = August 6, 1976
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1976, Workhouse Studios, London
Producer = Manfred Mann and Earth Band
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 7:08 (album version)3:48 (single edit)
Label = Bronze Records
Writer = Bruce Springsteen| Producer = Manfred Mann and Earth Band
Last single = "Spirits in the Night"
(1975)
This single = "Blinded by the Light"
(1976)
Next single = "Questions"
(1976)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = The Roaring Silence
Released = August 27, 1976
Producer = Manfred Mann and Earth Band
Type = studio
this_track = "Blinded by the Light"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Singing the Dolphin Through"
next_no = 2 Infobox Single
Name = Blinded by the Light


Artist = Bruce Springsteen
Album = Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
B-side =
Released = 1973
track_no = 1
Format =
Recorded = August-September, 1972
914 Sound Studios, Blauvelt, New York
Genre = Rock
Length = 5:06
Label = Columbia Records
Writer = Bruce Springsteen
Producer = Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Last single = =
This single = "Blinded by the Light"
Next single = "Spirit in the Night"
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
Released = January 5, 1973
Producer = Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Type = studio
this_track = "Blinded by the Light"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Growin' Up"
next_no = 2

"Blinded by the Light" is a song written and originally recorded by New Jersey based singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was the first song on, and first single from, Springsteen's debut album "Greetings from Asbury Park N.J." (1973).

Springsteen's version was initially unsuccessful, and failed to appear on the music charts, though it did later gain airplay on progressive rock radio.

Other versions

A version of the song recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band was a major hit, reaching #1 on "Billboard's" Hot 100 on 19 February 1977. As of 2008, the Manfred Mann's Earth Band recording of "Blinded by the Light" is still Springsteen's only Number 1 single as a songwriter on the Hot 100. The song is notable for the singer's garbled pronunciation, especially of the word "deuce" which has led many fans to interpret it as douche. Springsteen himself has attributed the popularity of the Manfred Mann version partially to this pronunciation. [cite video|title=Bruce Springsteen - VH-1 Storytellers|people=Springsteen, B.|year2=1998]

Additionally, a version of the song has been released by the "Northern Southerners" using the chorus as its hook. Springsteen and Mann both have given permission for its use.

Lyrics

Springsteen wrote "Blinded by the Light" after most of the others on "Greetings" were finished and is also one of the few songs for which Springsteen wrote the words before arranging the music.

References

External links

* [http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/BlindedByTheLight.html "Blinded by the Light" lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's official site]
* [http://www.northernsoutherners.com "Blinded" Northern Southerners official site (use by permission of Bruce Springsteen and Manfred Mann)]