Re-recorded and released on The River in 1980, and also played steadily on that tour. Bruce debuted the song in a slow, solo piano version on Jat The Roxy in Los Angeles, CA and played steadily on that tour. Independence Day was described by Bruce as, “kinda the b-side to ‘Adam Raised A Cain’.” The song was originally recorded for the Darkness on the Edge of Town album in September 1977 at the Record Plant in New York City. This recording is released in audio and video on Magic tour highlights. On March 20, 2008, after taking time off for cancer treatment, Danny Federici is back to play the song… which is unfortunately the final time Danny will play with the E Street Band. On February 28, 2006, the audio portion of the Hammersmith 1975 show is released in CD format. On November 15, 2005, the live show from Hammersmith Odeon in London, England on Novemis released on DVD in the Born to Run 30th Anniversary box set, in which the song is included. The studio version of the song is re-released on Novemon disc 1 of the album The Essential Bruce Springsteen. Live / 1975 -85 in a version recorded Decemat the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. The WIld, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle in 1973 Unfortunately, each tour only highlighed this song a few times. It’s not played again in the eighties, but eleven year later, the song returns to the set during the Human Touch / Lucky Town tour and continued to be played by Bruce on every E Street Band or solo tour which were played with the entire band, as well as solo, on acoustic guitar and electric piano.
Played regularly on every tour through The River tour where it was played for the last time on Septemat the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago, IL. This is among the first of Bruce’s songs to be covered by another artist, when released by the Hollies in 1975. In 1975, it’s released in an edited version on a compilation album from Holland called Rockwork. It’s released as a single in Germany only in 1974. Released on The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle in September 1973.
The song is debuted live in June or July of 1973 after David Sancious joined the band. A few outtakes exist, including alternate lyrics and an instrumental version. It was recorded during sessions at 914 studios in the summer of 1973. Fourth Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy), was written by Bruce Springsteen, when he lived in a ‘garage apartment’ in Bradley Beach, NJ, after being evicted from his apartment above the hair salon.