This is one of those times where I pick a song to write about but I’m still working out in my mind how I really feel about the song.
Stagger Lee is one of those songs that I don’t put much thought into most of the time. When I gave this a cursory listen and decided to include it here I was smitten by the dreamy-sounding keyboards that Vince plays here. But then when I went and listened to it closely that same vibe that drew me in initially was a bit of a turn off. So I’m a bit conflicted as I write this, but maybe that’s the point. The band was trying to incorporate not one, but two new players at these shows everyone was trying to find their space. In the process Bruce and Vince step over each other a bit.
What are some can’t miss versions of Stagger Lee?
If you’re wondering what the defining element of this song is for me it’s the dual keyboards. On the one hand you have Vince playing electric keys and creating a bit more sustain around the melody. Then there’s Bruce playing acoustic piano that adds a similar tonal range, but a totally different color range. I’m a bit torn as to whether I think what they’re playing actually fits with the song though. I always think of Stagger Lee as a bit funkier, which suits the lyric and cast of characters. The rhythm section here plays what I would expect, with plenty of breathing room, but the sustain of the keys over top changes the dynamic of the song. There’s a dreamy quality that just doesn’t sit right with me. At the same time, this is exactly what makes this version so interesting in my mind. Around the 6:40 mark Bruce departs on a few flights up and down his keyboard, which is quite welcome, but the song ends quickly after so nothing more came of it.
Complete Setlist 9/16/90
Previous Stagger Lee DFAY Selections
Lunchbox, when you asked about “can’t miss versions” of Stagger Lee, the first one I thought of was 6-18-93. My wife and I made it to all the Soldier Field shows (although we were only married for the last two) and we always went with a big group of friends. The venue was perfect for that–plenty of seats for everyone–and most of us lived around the Illinois State area or the Chicago land area. At this show we split up at concert time as some of us had seats on the field, others close to the field, others nosebleeds, etc.
In real time I was just as impressed as could be by this Stagger Lee. No one around me seemed to think it was anything special but I most certainly did. After the show, as we all eventually got back together (how did we ever manage that without cellphones?) I kept asking friends what they thought of that Stagger Lee and no one had much of an opinion. Finally, a close buddy found us and before I could say anything he looked at me and said, “How about that Stagger Lee!” Somehow we seemed to be the only two who were truly impressed.
Soon after, I acquired an audience tape of that show and the magic just didn’t translate. Could it be that my friend and I were wrong? No way we could be sitting apart and still have the same over the top love for that version if it wasn’t really good, right? This is something I questioned for years and eventually I found an audience recording on the archive and Stagger Lee wasn’t particularly special at all. Before writing this post I checked the archive again and found a soundboard and am happy to hear that it’s pretty damned good. I’m listening to this show as I type and it’s really enjoyable. I rarely listen to post Brent Dead but I’m really liking this. I wouldn’t compare it to Fall of ’73 or Europe ’72, but for 1993 this is not bad at all.
https://archive.org/details/gd1993-06-18.sbd.zei.2033.shnf
Mike, Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to give that one a listen when I have a few spare moments. I love getting turned on to a hot version of what is generally considered a “pedestrian” tune. Stagger Lee tends to be one of those by-the-book, no frills tunes to me and there are plenty of others. But it’s usually when those songs have that little extra something to them that you know a show is particularly solid.