# Born to Run tours

The Born to Run tours were the unofficially-named concert tours surrounding the release of Bruce Springsteen's 1975 album Born to Run which occurred between 1974 and 1977. The album represented Springsteen's commercial breakthrough, and was marked by a grueling and meticulous recording process. To make ends meet Springsteen and the E Street Band toured constantly during the first set of recording sessions for it, performing his new songs as he developed them. Financial success was short-lived, however, as he was soon plunged into legal battles with his former manager Mike Appel and enjoined from further studio recording. Touring continued as a means of making a living, long after the conventional period of playing in connection with an album's release was over; only when his legal issues were finally resolved in 1977 did these tours conclude.

## Tours
### Prelude

Throughout 1974, as in previous years, Springsteen toured extensively between recording sessions for Born to Run. He had written the title track early in the year, and is known to have been playing it in concert by May if not earlier. Early versions of album tracks "She's the One" (with parts of what would become "Backstreets") and "Jungleland" (without the Clarence Clemons' later-famous saxophone solo and with an extra section at the end) were beginning to appear in set lists. By the summer of that year, Springsteen's career fortunes had begun to turn; he played his last-ever gig as an opening act on August 3, becoming a headliner from then on. On August 14, he played his last show with David Sancious and Ernest "Boom" Carter in the band.

### New Members Tour

On September 19 he played his first show, at The Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, with Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan in the band; this also marked the point from which the band was explicitly billed as the E Street Band.
Violinist and stage foil Suki Lahav joined the band in early October. Shows were played up and down the East Coast to help integrate the new members' sound into the band as well as to provide some income while recording sessions dragged on — finances were often tight and manager Mike Appel often had to borrow money to pay the road crew. An advanced, slightly different mix of "Born to Run" was given to certain progressive rock radio stations throughout November; it made an immediate impression and stimulated interest in Springsteen's first two albums and his concerts. On February 5, 1975, another Main Point show was broadcast in its entirety by Philadelphia's WMMR; "Thunder Road" made its first, work-in-progress appearance under the title "Wings for Wheels", and the 2 hour 40 minute show overall is often regarded by fans as one of Springsteen's best ever. It was frequently bootlegged soon thereafter, beginning a pattern that would continue for much of Springsteen's career.
This tour came to a close on March 9, 1975 after two shows in Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Hall. It is thought that Steven Van Zandt appeared in both shows, but in any case these were the final appearances of Suki Lahav, who moved back to Israel soon thereafter.

### Born to Run Tour

The Born to Run Tour proper began more than a month ahead of the album's release date, on July 20, 1975 at the Palace Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island. Van Zandt was now a full-fledged member of the band. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" made its first appearance, but the shows were still dominated by older material. Playing mostly the Northeast, by early August "Backstreets" itself had appeared. Since Springsteen was a prolific songwriter at the time, numerous original songs were performed, many of which would not be released in any official capacity.
Beginning on August 13 was a key 5-night stand at New York City's The Bottom Line club. Columbia Records had put up posters of Springsteen around the city, the audience was heavy with press and music industry types, and an August 15 show was broadcast live by influential WNEW-FM. The shows were judged a success and further paved the way for Springsteen's big time emergence; many years later, Rolling Stone magazine would name the stand as one of the 50 Moments That Changed Rock and Roll. A similar four-night, six-show, stand was conducted beginning October 16 at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, which was attended by Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Cher, Ryan O'Neal, and Carole King, and various entertainment industry executives. By October 27 the publicity push had reached its climax and Springsteen was on the covers of both Time and Newsweek.
The tour ended with a New Year's Eve 1975 show at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, which was recorded on multitrack and released as a bootleg. The show includes a rare performance of "Night" and a ballad version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out."

#### European Leg

In November 1975, Springsteen made his first tour of Western Europe; a brief visit performing only in London (twice), Stockholm, and Amsterdam. The opening night's performance was captured on video (later released on DVD as Hammersmith Odeon, London '75); before which Springsteen in a "nervous rage" reportedly tore down promotional posters bearing his image. Springsteen would not return to Europe for six years.

### Chicken Scratch Tour

This colorfully named tour began on March 25, 1976; Born in the U.S.A. Tour guides of 1984-85 would state of that date, "The fabled 'Chicken Scratch Tour' begins, taking Springsteen and E Streeters on an extremely meandering route through the south, midwest, and northeast United States." The name was actually given by the band's road crew, due to many of the shows being in secondary markets in the South.
After the April 29 show in Memphis' Ellis Auditorium, Springsteen decided to catch a taxi to Graceland. Upon arrival he had noticed a light on in the house and proceeded to jump the gates and walk to the front door. Security intervened at which point Springsteen asked if Elvis Presley was home, but Presley was in fact in Lake Tahoe. The guards not having any idea who this visitor was, even after Springsteen tried to explain it to them and state that he had been on the covers of Time and Newsweek, politely escorted him to the street. Years later Springsteen would tell the story in concerts and reminisce about what he would have said to Presley had he answered the door.
Then, of this tour's end on May 28, 1976, the officially chronology stated: "Chicken Scratch Tour draws to a merciless conclusion with a show at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, which features a rousing version of Frankie Ford's 'Sea Cruise'."

### Interlude

This likely would have been the end of touring until a new album was out. However, during 1976 the relationship between Springsteen and his now former manager and producer, Mike Appel, had deteriorated, and during July Appel threatened action against Springsteen. Springsteen filed suit against Appel, and Appel countersued.
Meanwhile, in August Springsteen and the band played some local shows, mostly in Red Bank, New Jersey, with The Miami Horns on loan from Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Three new songs intended for the next album, Darkness on the Edge of Town were performed; "Something in the Night", "The Promise" and "Rendezvous" were debuted in live form. The first would make the album, the second remained unreleased until 1999, and the third became a modest hit for Greg Kihn. On September 15, the judge in the lawsuits case ruled that Springsteen was enjoined from any further recording with Columbia Records until Appel's suit was resolved; proceeds from Born to Run sales were also tied up in accounting disputes, leaving touring as Springsteen and the band's primary means of making income.

### U.S. Tour a/k/a Lawsuit Tour

What the official Springsteen chronology called the U.S. Tour ran from September 26 through November 4, 1976, starting at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix and ending with a six-night stand at The Palladium in New York. This tour was also with a horn section, also billed as The Miami Horns, but different from the previous group and unrelated to the Asbury Jukes. Along the way Springsteen played his first headlining shows in an arena, The Spectrum in Philadelphia, but he used curtains to partition off part of the venue.

### 1977 Legs

The court cases carried on, with battles being fought over various procedural rulings, and still Springsteen could not enter the studio. So back out he went, for a group of shows that the official chronology does not even attempt to label. This run began on February 7, 1977 at the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York, and continued for 33 shows in the U.S. and Canada.
By now Springsteen was quite disheartened, and before a February 15 show in Detroit, he for the first time in his life did not want to get up on stage. "At that moment, I could see how people get into drinking or into drugs, because the one thing you want at a time like that is to be distracted—in a big way", he later told writer Robert Hilburn. Nonetheless, he rebounded, and eventually this run concluded on March 25, 1977 at the Music Hall in Boston.

### Postlude

Meanwhile, the lawsuits had moved toward their conclusion, and a final settlement was reached on May 28, 1977. Springsteen entered the studio three days later to begin recording sessions for Darkness on the Edge of Town. The Born to Run tours were finally over.

## The shows

It was during these tours that the Springsteen concert image took form. He had stopped wearing sunglasses on stage and was now more accessible. His baggy pants, T-shirt, worn leather jacket and sloppy headwear look was now offset by two frontline visual foils, as both saxophonist Clarence Clemons and guitarist Steven Van Zandt were stylishly dressed in suits and distinctive hats.
Musically, the E Street Band now had its fullest sound, with two keyboards and a saxophone augmenting two guitars and the usual bass and drums. Springsteen did not just play songs as they were on his records — they were often rearranged or extended with playful, poignant, or angry spoken narratives. Oldies from the early to mid-1960s were often brought in to supplement Springsteen's own material; The Animals' "It's My Life" was one such example, slowed down to try to increase the song's tension factor and preceded by what would become a Springsteen concert staple, the long bitter story about how he and his father did not get along at all with respect to the course Springsteen's life took as a teenager.
Springsteen's performances were also frenetic, with him jumping into crowds and singing on tables during the shows held in clubs.
Material from Born to Run grew in importance as the tour went on, but even the newest material could be quickly recast. Most notably, "Thunder Road" was changed from the spirited, sweeping album version into a surprisingly quiet and pleading show opener, featuring Springsteen singing while standing still at the microphone stand, guitar slung behind him, with only Roy Bittan's piano and Danny Federici's electronic glockenspiel accompanying him. (Producer Jon Landau later said that the stark presentation was partly due to the full band having trouble playing the album's arrangement.) "Backstreets" was augmented with a guitar line far more prominent than on record, while "Night", one of the least visible tracks on the album, became a show opener for a spell as well.
As the later tours took place and Springsteen became frustrated with his legal situation, the shows became his only outlet. Horn sections were added, songs further arranged, and more oldies pulled out. Performances sometimes reached the three- or four-hour mark. New material such as the bitter "The Promise" would appear out of nowhere, then disappear again.

### Songs performed
## Commercial and critical reaction

The high-profile August 1975 The Bottom Line shows won raves from music critics. Rolling Stone said that a star had been born and that "Springsteen is everything that has been claimed for him", while the E Street Band "may very well be the great American rock & roll band." The New York Times said that the shows "will rank among the great rock experiences of those lucky enough to get in." The Bottom Line co-owner Alan Pepper said that Springsteen "brought the house to a fever pitch again and again and again, and the band stayed with him all the way. It was absolutely amazing, and I mean that. In all my years in the music business, I have never seen anything like those performances."
Reaction was similar in other locations; Los Angeles Times writer Robert Hilburn later stated that "the Born to Run shows were hailed in city after city as among the finest ever in rock."

## Broadcasts and recordings

In addition to the Main Point and The Bottom Line shows already mentioned, the October 17, 1975 show at The Roxy in West Hollywood was broadcast live on KWST-FM. Springsteen also made some visits to radio stations during the tours in which interviews and performances were conducted.
The 1986 Live/1975–85 box set contained just one selection from any of the Born to Run tours, the "solo piano" (and electronic glockenspiel) "Thunder Road" taken from the following night's show at The Roxy. (The lack of further coverage of the tours was one reason for fans' dissatisfaction with the box set at the time; Springsteen management said the available recordings did not have good enough sound quality).
In 2005, as part of the Born to Run 30th Anniversary Edition re-release package, a full-length concert film was assembled of the notorious November 18, 1975 Hammersmith Odeon show in London and included as a DVD. This was subsequently also released as the CD Hammersmith Odeon London '75.
Several shows have been released as part of the Bruce Springsteen Archives:
* Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975, released February 10, 2015
* Palace Theatre, Albany 1977, released August 4, 2017
* Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977, released August 4, 2017
* The Roxy 1975, released December 7, 2018
* "London 11/24/1975", released December 4, 2020

## Personnel

* Bruce Springsteen – lead vocals, guitars, harmonica
* The E Street Band:
** Roy Bittan – piano
** Clarence Clemons – saxophone, percussion, background vocals
** Danny Federici – organ, electronic glockenspiel, accordion
** Suki Lahav – violin, background vocals (October 1974-March 1975)
** Garry Tallent – bass guitar
** Steven Van Zandt – guitars, background vocals (from July 1975)
** Max Weinberg – drums
* Miami Horns #1: (August 1976)
** Rick Gazda – (trumpet)
** Eddie Manion – (baritone sax)
** Carlo Novi – (tenor sax)
** Tony Palligrossi – (trumpet)
* Miami Horns #2 : (September 1976 – March 1977)
** John Binkley (trumpet)
** Ed De Palma (saxophone),
** Dennis Orlock (trombone)
** Steve Paraczky (trumpet)

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Revenue |
| North America ||||||
| September 19, 1974 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | The Main Point | | |
| September 20, 1974 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | Upper Darby Township | | |
| September 21, 1974 [a] | Oneonta | United States | Hunt Union Ballroom | | |
| September 22, 1974 [a] | Union | United States | Kean College of New Jersey | | |
| October 4, 1974 [a] | New York City | United States | Avery Fisher Hall | | |
| October 5, 1974 [a] | Reading | United States | Bollman Center | | |
| October 6, 1974 [a] | Worcester | United States | Atwood Hall | | |
| October 11, 1974 [a] | Washington | United States | Shady Grove Music Fair | | |
| October 12, 1974 [a] | Princeton | United States | Alexander Hall | | |
| October 18, 1974 [a] | Passaic | United States | Capitol Theatre | | |
| October 19, 1974 [a] | Albany | United States | Memorial Chapel | | |
| October 20, 1974 [a] | Harrisburg | United States | Dickinson College Dining Hall | | |
| October 25, 1974 [a] | Claremont | United States | Spaulding Auditorium | | |
| October 26, 1974 [a] | Springfield | United States | Julia Sanderson Theater | | |
| October 29, 1974 [a] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
| November 1, 1974 [a] | Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania | United States | Tower Theater | | |
| November 2, 1974 [a] | Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania | United States | Tower Theater | | |
| November 6, 1974 [a] | Austin | United States | Armadillo World Headquarters | | |
| November 7, 1974 [a] | Austin | United States | Armadillo World Headquarters | | |
| November 8, 1974 [a] | Corpus Christi | United States | Ritz Music Hall | | |
| November 9, 1974 [a] | Houston | United States | Houston Music Hall | | |
| November 15, 1974 [a] | Easton | United States | Kirby Field House | | |
| November 16, 1974 [a] | Washington | United States | Leonard Gym | | |
| November 17, 1974 [a] | Charlottesville | United States | Memorial Gymnasium | | |
| November 21, 1974 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | Lincoln Hall Auditorium | | |
| November 22, 1974 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | Hollinger Field House | | |
| November 23, 1974 [a] | Boston | United States | Salem State College Auditorium | | |
| November 29, 1974 [a] | Trenton | United States | Trenton War Memorial | | |
| November 30, 1974 [a] | Trenton | United States | Trenton War Memorial | | |
| December 6, 1974 [a] | New Brunswick | United States | State Theatre | | |
| December 7, 1974 [a] | Rochester | United States | Geneva Theater | | |
| December 8, 1974 [a] | Burlington | United States | Burlington Memorial Auditorium | | |
| January 5, 1975 [a] | Asbury Park | United States | The Stone Pony | | |
| January 12, 1975 [a] | Asbury Park | United States | The Stone Pony | | |
| January 19, 1975 [a] | Asbury Park | United States | The Stone Pony | | |
| February 5, 1975 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | The Main Point | | |
| February 6, 1975 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | Widener Field House | | |
| February 7, 1975 [a] | Philadelphia | United States | Widener Field House | | |
| February 18, 1975 [a] | Cleveland | United States | John Carroll Gymnasium | | |
| February 19, 1975 [a] | State College | United States | The Auditorium | | |
| February 20, 1975 [a] | Pittsburgh | United States | Syria Mosque | | |
| February 23, 1975 [a] | New York City | United States | Westbury Music Fair | | |
| March 7, 1975 [a] | Baltimore | United States | Painters Mill Music Fair | | |
| March 8, 1975 [a] | Washington | United States | DAR Constitution Hall | | |
| March 9, 1975 [a] | Washington | United States | DAR Constitution Hall | | |
| North America ||||||
| July 20, 1975 [b] | Providence | United States | Palace Concert Theater | | |
| July 22, 1975 [b] | Geneva | United States | Geneva Theater | | |
| July 23, 1975 [b] | Lenox | United States | Music Inn | | |
| July 25, 1975 [b] | Kutztown | United States | Keystone Hall | | |
| July 26, 1975 [b] | Kutztown | United States | Keystone Hall | | |
| July 28, 1975 [b] | Washington, D.C. | United States | Carter Barron Amphitheatre | | |
| July 29, 1975 [b] | Washington, D.C. | United States | Carter Barron Amphitheatre | | |
| July 30, 1975 [b] | Washington, D.C. | United States | Carter Barron Amphitheatre | | |
| August 1, 1975 [b] | Richmond | United States | The Mosque | | |
| August 2, 1975 [b] | Norfolk | United States | Chrysler Hall | | |
| August 8, 1975 [b] | Akron | United States | Akron Civic Theatre | | |
| August 9, 1975 [b] | Pittsburgh | United States | Syria Mosque | | |
| August 10, 1975 [b] | Cleveland | United States | Allen Theatre | | |
| August 13, 1975 [b] | New York City | United States | The Bottom Line | | |
| August 14, 1975 [b] | New York City | United States | The Bottom Line | | |
| August 15, 1975 [b] | New York City | United States | The Bottom Line | | |
| August 16, 1975 [b] | New York City | United States | The Bottom Line | | |
| August 17, 1975 [b] | New York City | United States | The Bottom Line | | |
| August 21, 1975 [b] | Atlanta | United States | Electric Ballroom | | |
| August 22, 1975 [b] | Atlanta | United States | Electric Ballroom | | |
| August 23, 1975 [b] | Atlanta | United States | Electric Ballroom | | |
| September 4, 1975 [b] | Bryn Mawr | United States | The Main Point | | |
| September 6, 1975 [b] | New Orleans | United States | Theater for the Performing Arts | | |
| September 7, 1975 [b] | New Orleans | United States | Ya Ya Lounge | | |
| September 12, 1975 [b] | Austin | United States | Municipal Auditorium | | |
| September 13, 1975 [b] | Houston | United States | Houston Music Hall | | |
| September 14, 1975 [b] | Houston | United States | Houston Music Hall | | |
| September 16, 1975 [b] | Dallas | United States | Dallas Convention Center Theatre | | |
| September 17, 1975 [b] | Oklahoma City | United States | Civic Center Music Hall | | |
| September 20, 1975 [b] | Grinnell | United States | Darby Gymnasium | | |
| September 21, 1975 [b] | Minneapolis | United States | Guthrie Theater | | |
| September 23, 1975 [b] | Ann Arbor | United States | Hill Auditorium | | |
| September 25, 1975 [b] | Chicago | United States | Auditorium Theatre | | |
| September 26, 1975 [b] | Iowa City | United States | Hancher Auditorium | | |
| September 27, 1975 [b] | St. Louis | United States | Ambassador Theatre | | |
| September 28, 1975 [b] | Kansas City | United States | Memorial Hall | | |
| September 30, 1975 [b] | Omaha | United States | Civic Auditorium Music Hall | | |
| October 2, 1975 [b] | Milwaukee | United States | Uptown Theater | | |
| October 4, 1975 [b] | Detroit | United States | Michigan Palace Theater | | |
| October 10, 1975 [b] | Red Bank | United States | Monmouth Arts Center | | |
| October 16, 1975 [b] | West Hollywood | United States | Roxy Theatre | | |
| October 17, 1975 [b] | West Hollywood | United States | Roxy Theatre | | |
| October 18, 1975 [b] | West Hollywood | United States | Roxy Theatre | | |
| October 19, 1975 [b] | West Hollywood | United States | Roxy Theatre | | |
| October 23, 1975 [b] | New York City | United States | Gerde's Folk City | | |
| October 25, 1975 [b] | Portland | United States | Paramount Theatre | | |
| October 26, 1975 [b] | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre | | |
| October 29, 1975 [b] | Sacramento | United States | Memorial Auditorium | | |
| October 31, 1975 [b] | Oakland | United States | Paramount Theatre | | |
| November 1, 1975 [b] | Santa Barbara | United States | Robertson Gymnasium | | |
| November 3, 1975 [b] | Tempe | United States | Gammage Memorial Auditorium | | |
| November 4, 1975 [b] | Tempe | United States | Gammage Memorial Auditorium | | |
| November 6, 1975 [b] | Tempe | United States | Gammage Memorial Auditorium | | |
| November 10, 1975 [b] | Tampa | United States | Jai Alai Fronton | | |
| November 11, 1975 [b] | Miami | United States | Jai Alai Fronton | | |
| Europe ||||||
| November 18, 1975 [b] | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon | | |
| November 21, 1975 [b] | Stockholm | Sweden | Konserthuset | | |
| November 23, 1975 [b] | Amsterdam | Netherlands | RAI Congrescentrum Theater | | |
| November 24, 1975 [b] | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon | | |
| North America ||||||
| December 2, 1975 [b] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
| December 3, 1975 [b] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
| December 5, 1975 [b] | Washington, D.C. | United States | McDonough Gymnasium | | |
| December 6, 1975 [b] | Washington, D.C. | United States | McDonough Gymnasium | | |
| December 7, 1975 [b] | Washington, D.C. | United States | McDonough Gymnasium | | |
| December 10, 1975 [b] | Lewisburg | United States | Davis Gym | | |
| December 11, 1975 [b] | South Orange | United States | Walsh Gymnasium | | |
| December 12, 1975 [b] | Brookville | United States | C.W. Post Dome Auditorium | | |
| December 16, 1975 [b] | Oswego | United States | Laker Hall | | |
| December 17, 1975 [b] | Buffalo | United States | Kleinhans Music Hall | | |
| December 19, 1975 [b] | Montreal | Canada | Théâtre Maisonneuve | | |
| December 20, 1975 [b] | Ottawa | Canada | NAC Opera House | | |
| December 21, 1975 [b] | Toronto | Canada | Seneca College Field House | | |
| December 27, 1975 [b] | Upper Darby Township | United States | Tower Theater | | |
| December 28, 1975 [b] | Upper Darby Township | United States | Tower Theater | | |
| December 30, 1975 [b] | Upper Darby Township | United States | Tower Theater | | |
| December 31, 1975 [b] | Upper Darby Township | United States | Tower Theater | | |
| North America ||||||
| March 25, 1976 [c] | Columbia | United States | Township Auditorium | | |
| March 26, 1976 [c] | Atlanta | United States | Fox Theatre | 4,000 / 4,000 | $26,000 |
| March 28, 1976 [c] | Durham | United States | Cameron Indoor Stadium | | |
| March 29, 1976 [c] | Charlotte | United States | Ovens Auditorium | | |
| April 1, 1976 [c] | Athens | United States | Memorial Auditorium | | |
| April 2, 1976 [c] | Louisville | United States | Macauley's Theatre | | |
| April 4, 1976 [c] | East Lansing | United States | MSU Auditorium | | |
| April 5, 1976 [c] | Columbus | United States | Ohio Theatre | | |
| April 7, 1976 [c] | Cleveland | United States | Allen Theatre | | |
| April 8, 1976 [c] | Cleveland | United States | Allen Theatre | | |
| April 9, 1976 [c] | Hamilton | United States | Cotterell Court | | |
| April 10, 1976 [c] | Wallingford | United States | Paul Mellon Arts Center | | |
| April 12, 1976 [c] | Johnstown | United States | Cambria County War Memorial Arena | | |
| April 13, 1976 [c] | University Park | United States | Rec Hall | | |
| April 15, 1976 [c] | Pittsburgh | United States | Syria Mosque | | |
| April 16, 1976 [c] | Meadville | United States | Shafer Auditorium | | |
| April 17, 1976 [c] | Rochester | United States | Strong Auditorium | | |
| April 20, 1976 [c] | Johnson City | United States | Freedom Hall Civic Center | | |
| April 21, 1976 [c] | Knoxville | United States | Knoxville Civic Auditorium | | |
| April 22, 1976 [c] | Blacksburg | United States | Burruss Auditorium | | |
| April 24, 1976 [c] | Boone | United States | Varsity Gymnasium | | |
| April 26, 1976 [c] | Chattanooga | United States | Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium | | |
| April 28, 1976 [c] | Nashville | United States | Grand Ole Opry House | 2,900 | $15,039 |
| April 29, 1976 [c] | Memphis | United States | Ellis Auditorium | | |
| April 30, 1976 [c] | Birmingham | United States | Boutwell Memorial Auditorium | | |
| May 3, 1976 [c] | Little Rock | United States | Robinson Municipal Auditorium | | |
| May 4, 1976 [c] | Jackson | United States | Mississippi Coliseum | | |
| May 6, 1976 [c] | Shreveport | United States | Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium | | |
| May 8, 1976 [c] | Baton Rouge | United States | LSU Assembly Center | | |
| May 9, 1976 [c] | Mobile | United States | Mobile Municipal Theater | | |
| May 10, 1976 [c] | Mobile | United States | Mobile Municipal Theater | | |
| May 11, 1976 [c] | Auburn | United States | Memorial Coliseum | | |
| May 13, 1976 [c] | New Orleans | United States | Municipal Auditorium | | |
| May 27, 1976 [c] | West Point | United States | Eisenhower Hall Auditorium | | |
| May 28, 1976 [c] | Annapolis | United States | Halsey Field House | | |
| North America ||||||
| September 26, 1976 [d] | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 6,062 | $42,783 |
| September 29, 1976 [d] | Santa Monica | United States | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium | | |
| September 30, 1976 [d] | Santa Monica | United States | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium | | |
| October 2, 1976 [d] | Oakland | United States | Paramount Theatre | 2,902 | $19,821 |
| October 3, 1976 [d] | Santa Clara | United States | Toso Pavilion | | |
| October 5, 1976 [d] | Santa Barbara | United States | Santa Barbara Bowl | 3,013 | $24,207 |
| October 9, 1976 [d] | Notre Dame | United States | Athletic & Convocation Center | | |
| October 10, 1976 [d] | Oxford | United States | Millett Hall | | |
| October 12, 1976 [d] | New Brunswick | United States | College Avenue Gymnasium | 3,000 | $22,500 |
| October 13, 1976 [d] | Union Township | United States | Wilkins Theatre | | |
| October 16, 1976 [d] | Williamsburg | United States | William & Mary Hall | | |
| October 17, 1976 [d] | Washington, D.C. | United States | McDonough Gymnasium | | |
| October 18, 1976 [d] | Washington, D.C. | United States | McDonough Gymnasium | | |
| October 25, 1976 [d] | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | | |
| October 27, 1976 [d] | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | | |
| October 25, 1976 [d] | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | | |
| October 27, 1976 [d] | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | | |
| October 28, 1976 [d] | New York City | United States | The Palladium | | |
| October 29, 1976 [d] | New York City | United States | The Palladium | | |
| October 30, 1976 [d] | New York City | United States | The Palladium | | |
| November 2, 1976 [d] | New York City | United States | The Palladium | | |
| November 3, 1976 [d] | New York City | United States | The Palladium | | |
| November 4, 1976 [d] | New York City | United States | The Palladium | | |
| North America ||||||
| February 7, 1977 [e] | Albany | United States | Palace Theatre | | |
| February 8, 1977 [e] | Rochester | United States | Rochester Auditorium Theatre | | |
| February 9, 1977 [e] | Buffalo | United States | Kleinhans Music Hall | | |
| February 10, 1977 [e] | Utica | United States | Utica Memorial Auditorium | | |
| February 12, 1977 [e] | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Centre | | |
| February 13, 1977 [e] | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | | |
| February 15, 1977 [e] | Detroit | United States | Masonic Temple Theatre | | |
| February 16, 1977 [e] | Columbus | United States | Veterans Memorial Auditorium | | |
| February 17, 1977 [e] | Richfield Township | United States | Coliseum at Richfield | | |
| February 19, 1977 [e] | Saint Paul | United States | Civic Center Theatre | | |
| February 20, 1977 [e] | Madison | United States | Dane County Coliseum | 5,000 / 5,000 | $27,679 |
| February 22, 1977 [e] | Milwaukee | United States | Milwaukee Auditorium | 4,795 | $33,250 |
| February 23, 1977 [e] | Chicago | United States | Auditorium Theatre | | |
| February 25, 1977 [e] | West Lafayette | United States | Elliott Hall of Music | | |
| February 26, 1977 [e] | Indianapolis | United States | ICC Ballroom | | |
| February 27, 1977 [e] | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum | | |
| February 28, 1977 [e] | St. Louis | United States | Fox Theatre | 4,433 / 4,433 | $29,389 |
| March 2, 1977 [e] | Atlanta | United States | Atlanta Civic Center | 3,653 | $26,588 |
| March 4, 1977 [e] | Jacksonville | United States | Civic Auditorium | | |
| March 5, 1977 [e] | Orlando | United States | Jai Alai Fronton | | |
| March 6, 1977 [e] | Miami | United States | Miami Jai Alai Fronton | | |
| March 10, 1977 [e] | Toledo | United States | Toledo Sports Arena | | |
| March 11, 1977 [e] | Latrobe | United States | Saint Vincent College Gymnasium | 3,200 / 3,200 | $24,000 |
| March 13, 1977 [e] | Towson | United States | Towson Center | | |
| March 14, 1977 [e] | Poughkeepsie | United States | Mid-Hudson Civic Center | | |
| March 15, 1977 [e] | Binghamton | United States | Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena | | |
| March 18, 1977 [e] | New Haven | United States | New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 6,969 | $51,265 |
| March 19, 1977 [e] | Lewiston | United States | Central Maine Youth Center | 4,400 | $30,150 |
| March 20, 1977 [e] | Providence | United States | Alumni Hall | | |
| March 22, 1977 [e] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
| March 23, 1977 [e] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
| March 24, 1977 [e] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
| March 25, 1977 [e] | Boston | United States | Boston Music Hall | | |
* a. New members Tour
* b. Born to Run Tour
* c. Chicken Scratch Tour
* d. Lawsuit Tour
* e. Lawsuit Drags Tour

## Cancellations and rescheduled shows

| October 21, 1974 | Blackwood, New Jersey | Lincoln Hall Auditorium | Rescheduled to November 21, 1974 |
| October 27, 1974 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Millersville State College Campus Grounds | Cancelled |
| November 10, 1974 | Dallas, Texas | Dallas Sportatorium | Cancelled |
| February 21, 1975 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Johnston Hall | Cancelled |
| February 27, 1975 | University Heights, Ohio | John Carroll Gymnasium | Rescheduled to February 18, 1975 |
| March 1, 1975 | Syracuse, New York | Syracuse Repertory Theater | Cancelled |
| March 2, 1975 | Plattsburgh, New York | Memorial Hall | Cancelled |
| March 9, 1975 | New York City, New York | Felt Forum | Cancelled |
| August 29, 1975 | Coral Gables, Florida | University Center Patio | Cancelled |
| September 9, 1975 | Dallas, Texas | Electric Ballroom | Rescheduled to September 16, 1975 and moved to the Dallas Convention Center Theatre |
| September 11, 1975 | Arlington, Texas | Texas Hall | Cancelled |
| October 10, 1975 | Red Bank, New Jersey | Monmouth Arts Center | Rescheduled to October 11, 1975 |
| October 14, 1975 | Miami, Florida | Jai Alai Fronton | Rescheduled to November 14, 1975 |
| October 28, 1975 | Eugene, Oregon | Beall Concert Hall | Cancelled |
| November 9, 1975 | Tampa, Florida | Jai Alai Fronton | Rescheduled to November 10, 1975 |
| November 14, 1975 | Miami, Florida | Jai Alai Fronton | Rescheduled to November 11, 1975 |
| December 21, 1975 | Toronto, Canada | Minkler Auditorium | Moved to the Seneca College Field House |
| April 26, 1976 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Tivoli Theatre | Moved to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium |

## Sources

* Born in the U.S.A. Tour (tour booklet, 1984), Springsteen chronology.
* Hilburn, Robert. Springsteen. Rolling Stone Press, 1985. ISBN 0-684-18456-7.
* Marsh, Dave. Glory Days: Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s. Pantheon Books, 1987. ISBN 0-394-54668-7.
* Eliot, Marc with Appel, Mike. Down Thunder Road. Simon & Schuster, 1992. ISBN 0-671-86898-5.
* Santelli, Robert. Greetings From E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Chronicle Books, 2006. ISBN 0-8118-5348-9.
* Brucebase's concert descriptions and chronology a gold mine of valuable material