HELD UP WITHOUT A GUN^©

Take #4

Two three four
One two three four

I was out driving, taking it slow
Look at my tank it was reading low
At Texaco station out on Highway One
Whoa!
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

A damn fool with a guitar on the street
Got nowhere to go, nothing to eat
With a cigar says "sign here son"
Whoa!
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun

Now it's a sin, it's a crime
You know it happens buddy all of the time
Make a living, have a little fun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Held up without a gun
Whoa!

These lyrics refer to take #4 on The Lost Masters Vol. 11 bootleg. The 8 takes are recorded using a boom box form the rehearsals sessions at Telegraph Hill Studios, Holmdel, NJ, on 22 Feb 1980 (read below). Steven Van Zandt shares vocals with Bruce on those takes.

The take of HELD UP WITHOUT A GUN on the The Lost Masters Essential Collection bootleg is mistakenly noted to be take #4 from The Lost Masters Vol. 11 bootleg, however it is actually take #8.

Check take #1, take #2, take #3, take #5, take #6, take #7, and take #8. Check also live 31 Dec 1980 version (more details) and the home demo.

Liner note on The Lost Masters Vol. 11 bootleg booklet:

...Presumably, the taping was done on a large boom box, situated centrally so as to capture as much of the sound as possible (obviously). The purpose of taping these sessions (and supposedly dubbing copies for each band member) was unclear but one can venture a guess that Bruce used these as guides for how the band would eventually "tackle" a song in the studio. The fact that these sessions were taped on a boom box (albeit a good one, we'd presume) renders the sound is a bit strange, with the vocals not as "upfront" as we'd like, at times. One thing that is evident, however, is the incredible energy and enthusiasm that resounds from these tracks. These are not sloopy, disorganized sessions, but are serious attempts at finding the "groove", so to speak.

...What is most interesting and enjoyable about these sessions, though, are the various takes of "Held Up" and "Two Hearts". Listening to these complete takes along with the between song chatter illustrates how well this group of musicians worked together and how sync they were. Miami Steve even takes the lead vocal on two razor sharp versions of "Held Up", and listen to how the guitars cook as the band works on several minutes of the ending guitar solos.