BALBOA VERSUS THE EARTH SLAYER^©

Lyrics not available

Page last updated: 12 Aug 2008

Before Bruce Springsteen's debut album has even been released, Springsteen's now former manager and producer Mike Apple hyped the National Football League (NFL) trying to get hi client booked to perform the song BALBOA VERSUS THE EARTH SLAYER at the 14 Jan 1973 Super Bowl VI at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Dave Marsh writes in his book Born To Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story that Appel suggested to the NBC producer in charge of the NFL Super Bowl festivities that instead of opening the game with the national anthem, NBC should use Bruce Springsteen singing his original song. Appel's plan was immediately and predictably rejected and nothing came of it. Singer Andy Williams accompanied by the Little Angels of Chicago's Angels Church from Chicago opened the game with the national anthem and Springsteen ended up that day opening for David Bromberg at Paul's Mall, Boston, MA.

Down Thunder Road: The Making of Bruce Springsteen (a book co-written by Mike Appel) rates BALBOA VERSUS THE EARTH SLAYER as one of Bruce's finest of the period and describes it as having an anti-war theme. The song was written around Aug-Sep 1972. It is not clear if it has ever been recorded, but it may have been performed live at some 1972 shows. It is also rumoured that it was played in 1972 or 1973 at benefits held to oppose nuclear energy and promote a nuclear freeze.

Thanks FFDan for bringing this song to my attention.