DEDICATION

Gary U.S. Bonds' album version

Hey fellas, that was all right! Boy, that was nice! But I think, I think we should just get back to the back and do it one more time. You can't say I got no dedication, man—let me tell you a little story!

Well way back baby in the Bible time
A cat named Noah built an ocean liner
Everybody laughed when they told him why
But when the rain came, Noah, he was high and dry
'Cause he had

Dedication baby through and through
Dedication like I give to you
Dedication girl every way
Dedication girl every day

Well Admiral Byrd and some Eskimos
They took a little trip to the old North Pole
When they said it was a miracle they made it back
Well they said that wasn't any miracle, Jack

Man, it took dedication baby through and through
Dedication like I give to you
Dedication girl in every way
Dedication girl every day
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Now you see what I mean, fellas? Dig this!

Well now there was a movie star out in Hollywood
He met a little girl, they got along real good
He tried to split but the chick said "Buddy, not so fast
Ain't gonna wrap me in your arms, then wrap me in some cash"

Now it was on TV, every word they said
If you didn't see it man, you must have been late
She got on the witness pedestal, without care
She turned to the judge and this is what she said

I need dedication, judge, every day
Dedication judge in every way
I need some
Dedication, judge, that can't be spent
A little dedication, judge, to pay the rent

Dedication baby through and through
Dedication like I give to you
Dedication girl every way
Dedication girl every day

D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N
D-E-D-I-C-A-T-I-O-N

Page last updated: 20 Oct 2012

Info

DEDICATION is a song written by Bruce Springsteen and donated to Gary U.S. Bonds.

Gary U.S. Bonds recorded DEDICATION for his 1981 album Dedication. It's one of four songs on the album that were arranged and produced by Bruce Springsteen with Steven Van Zandt. It was recorded sometime between June and August 1980 at The Power Station in New York City, NY, during Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band sessions for Gary U.S. Bonds undertaken in the immediate aftermath of the final recording sessions for The River.

The above lyrics are for Gary U.S. Bonds' album version of DEDICATION.

Other Studio Versions

According to Brucebase, a Bruce Springsteen vocal rendition of DEDICATION was likely recorded at The Power Station in New York City, NY, either during The River recording sessions or during the recording sessions with Gary U.S. Bonds that immediately followed. According to comments by Bonds, Springsteen brought him DEDICATION as something from The River sessions that he felt suited Bonds' style.

Dedication

Gary U.S. Bonds released two studio albums and several hit singles in 1961 and 1962, three of which were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Success was short-lived and Bonds relegated to playing the oldies circuit. In the early eighties, his career resurrected with two collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, and the E Street Band: Dedication in 1981 and On the Line in 1982.

Dedication is Gary U.S. Bonds' third studio album, released in April 1981 on EMI America Records (catalogue number SO-17051). The musicians backing Bonds on the album include many members of the E Street Band and the Asbury Jukes. The album includes three songs written by Bruce Springsteen, one written by Steve Van Zandt, and several covers of songs from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and others. It also features a duet between Bonds and Springsteen on the track JOLE BLON. Four of the album's songs were arranged and produced by Bruce Springsteen with Steven Van Zandt.

According to a May 1981 article by Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder, the initial plan was to record an EP for Gary U.S. Bonds consisting of three songs that Springsteen had written for him: THIS LITTLE GIRL, YOUR LOVE, and DEDICATION. Loder wrote that "Bruce had a lot of wild ideas, and pretty soon teh EP started looking more like an LP. Fifteen days later, they emerged with a whole album."

Dedication reached #27 on Billboard's Top LPs & Tapes chart and #34 on the Top R&B Albums chart and produced several singles, including THIS LITTLE GIRL which was a hit. Music writer Dave Marsh called Dedication "one of the most successful comeback albums in rock & roll history".

Dedication was re-released in 1991 on the Razor Edge label (catalogue number RE-1986-2).

Dedication track list:

1. JOLE BLON
2. THIS LITTLE GIRL
3. YOUR LOVE
4. DEDICATION
5. DADDY'S COME HOME
6. IT'S ONLY LOVE
7. THE PRETENDER
8. WAY BACK WHEN
9. FROM A BUICK 6
10. JUST LIKE A CHILD

Other Official Releases

In addition to its release on the Dedication album, DEDICATION was also included two more official releases:

Gary U.S. Bonds -- Gary U.S. Bonds 12-inch - EMI America (SPRO-9666) - USA, 1981 4-track promotional EP. Comes in a picture sleeve. A1- JOLE BLON A2- THE PRETENDER B1- THIS LITTLE GIRL [live] B2- DEDICATION

Gary U.S. Bonds -- Club Soul City CD - Disky (DC 881852) - Holland, 1998 This is a Gary U.S. Bonds compilation album consisting of 20 tracks from the Dedication (9 of the album's 10 tracks) and On The Line (all of the album's 11 tracks).

Live History

DEDICATION was performed off-tour on 02 Jul 1989 at The Cafe Bar in Long Branch, NJ, where Bruce Springsteen made a guest appearance with Gary U.S. Bonds, playing a six-song set. No audio recording of this show is known to exist.

[Click here to display/hide detailed 1989 off-tour performances list]

Covers

As far as it's known, no other artist has recorded and released Bruce Springsteen's DEDICATION.

Credits / References

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Some of the above info about the studio recordings is taken from Brucebase.

Request

As far as I know, Bruce Springsteen shared lead vocals on JOLE BLON and produced JOLE BLON, THIS LITTLE GIRL, YOUR LOVE, and DEDICATION. Did he also also play guitar and/or sing backing vocals on any of these tracks? Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.

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