Springsteen On Sunday on 107-1 The Boss with Tom Cunningham

09/06/2026

What a perfect Labor Day Weekend here at the Jersey Shore, and Springsteen On Sunday on 107.1 The Boss is at your service.

A year ago today the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music had an outstanding symposium celebrating 50 years of Born To Run. Our panel batted lead off, and it was wonderful to be in the mix with Garry Tallent, Ernest Carter and David Sancious. I've got one from that version of E Street in my bag. There's a new release from the Live Springsteen Archives and nugs, so we'll check out something from Stockholm 7/2/88.

Things coming our way on Wednesday are a concert film on YouTube from the Land Of Hope & Dreams tour in Philadelphia, and tickets go sale for the Springsteen Center's Chuck Berry symposium (and concert!!) on Saturday 10/10 at the Pollack Theater. Good luck at high noon - ticket info here: https://springsteencenter.org/event/chuck-berry-at-100-exploring-the-life-music-and-legacy-of-an-american-original/

Speaking of Philly, 10 years ago on 9/7/16 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played their longest ever show in the U.S.A. at Citizens Bank Park. We're headed there for sure and I hope that you were in the house.

Speaking of in the house, the show returns to Bar Anticipation in Lake Como 0n Sunday 9/27 with special guest Adam Weiner from Low Cut Connie - save the date!

Springsteen On Sunday is sponsored by Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #9 of Central New Jersey.

9 eastern on 107.1 FM at the Jersey Shore (plus in Southern Ocean County and points south on the turbo-charged 99.7) and go here for all ways and shapes and forms of listening options: https://1071theboss.com/apps-streaming

09/03/2026

It was the 3rd of September (tis true), not to mention Labor Day.

It was the night that Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band opened their show at Citizens Bank Park with five (5) songs from "Darkness On The Edge of Town." Have mercy.

And also a rare night where all 4 of us were in the house, not to mention some quality time with Stevie Van Zandt. We were all lined up to have our fab foursome back together in Philadelphia for the show on 5/8. Alas, the basketball squad did something miraculous, and we lost our Meg to a prior out of town commitment for the reschedule. This was the second of two incredible back-to-back nights at our favorite ballpark.

PLUS, I finally got “Frankie” that night, relieving my recent Boston-envy. Fireflies!!
❤

9/3/12 - CITIZENS BANK PARK, PHILADELPHIA, PA

FACTORY / ADAM RAISED A CAIN / STREETS OF FIRE / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT / WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN / WRECKING BALL / DEATH TO MY HOMETOWN / MY CITY OF RUINS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DOES THIS BUS STOP AT 82ND STREET? / IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY / FRANKIE / JACK OF ALL TRADES / ATLANTIC CITY / DARLINGTON COUNTY / SHACKLED AND DRAWN / WAITIN' ON A SUNNY DAY / THE RIVER / LONESOME DAY / BADLANDS / THUNDER ROAD / WE ARE ALIVE / BORN TO RUN / DANCING IN THE DARK / JUNGLELAND / TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT / AMERICAN LAND (set list via Brucebase )

09/03/2026

I'm very much looking forward to this!
As the man says, it's FREE but you do need a ticket. All info down below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F4aohqt4G/

UPDATE: SOLD OUT-- thanks and see you there!

GREAT NEWS! The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music is hosting a show on Thursday, September 24th to celebrate the official release of my new album, A Stranger By Design. The event will be hosted by Tom Cunningham of 107.1 The Boss, and feature an interview and live acoustic performances.

This is a FREE event, but the theater only holds 200 people and you do need a ticket. Reserve your spot here, while they last: https://springsteencenter.org/event/jake-thistle-official-album-release-show/

09/03/2026

The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University will host a daylong symposium and concert on Saturday, October 10 celebrating the life, music, and enduring influence of Chuck Berry, one of the most important and transformative figures in American music history. The symposium will conclude with a special interpretive concert featuring very special guests, celebrating Berry’s music and the lasting impact of rock ‘n’ roll.

Chuck Berry at 100 is part of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music’s ongoing commitment to exploring the people, sounds, and stories that have shaped the American musical experience.

The symposium will be held in the Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University. Tickets are $150, limited to two per purchaser, and will be available at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 9.

The symposium will open with a keynote address by RJ Smith, biographer and author of Chuck Berry: An American Life. Throughout the day, panel discussions and film will examine topics including the birth of rock ‘n’ roll; Berry’s role as a uniquely American storyteller; the intersection of race, identity, and popular culture in his work; the evolution of rock guitar; the global spread of rock ‘n’ roll; and the challenges of interpreting Berry’s complicated legacy in the twenty-first century.

“Chuck Berry’s influence extends far beyond his extraordinary catalog of songs,” said Executive Director Robert Santelli. “His music helped define modern popular culture, inspired generations of performers, and changed the course of American music history. This symposium will explore not only his accomplishments, but also the broader historical and cultural forces that shaped his life and work.”

The symposium will conclude with a special interpretive concert featuring very special guests, celebrating Berry’s music and the lasting impact of rock ‘n’ roll.

09/01/2026

Can it really be 25 years?

Labor Day Weekend came early in 2001
Perfect weather.
Sunny and comfortable.

The return of the Big Man Clarence Clemons to Asbury Park, with the Temple of Soul. The late, great Terry Magovern running the show.

The Stone Pony 'outdoor stage' was nothing like the current set up. Needless to say, the city of Asbury Park 2001 was nothing like the current set up.

The first show out there was at the beginning of summer on Memorial Day Weekend, when Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes played it, along with a special guest.

In August, Nils Lofgren played it, along with a special guest. (and John Eddie with Mr. Guest inside the Pony after Nils to boot)

Summer was ending on a very high note, as C's Saturday night show was capped off by a "surprise appearance" by Bruce Springsteen.

Anticipation was thick in the air for what would happen on Sunday night. (duh) Whatever tickets that hadn't been sold were quickly scooped up.

As the early September sky began to darken, so did the world.
Bomb scare.
Everybody out.
I hadn't even gone in yet.
Innocence damaged.
It was quiet, as the folks who had been inside made their way out. Between them and those who had still been outside, a lot of milling about, muted conversations and concerned police officers and public officials..
Please leave the area.

Nine days later--9/11.
Innocence shattered.

In the immediate days that followed the bomb scare, I was never able to shake the feeling of uneasiness from that night. Sadly, that was the tip of a much larger iceberg. I still trace all those feelings back to that Labor Day Weekend on Ocean Avenue.

Photo of Clarence Clemons at soundcheck 9/1/01 by the great John Cavanaugh.

08/31/2026

And so it came to pass...
It was wonderful to have Bruce Springsteen in the 107.1 The Boss studio yesterday morning for 95 minutes. I'm still processing.

He picked the songs in advance, and then showed up earlier than planned to make sure that there was time to play all of them. The fact that the whole adventure remained a Surprise Surprise only adds to the mystery and majesty of the day.

Bruce was generous with his time, and also with his insights. There were some very personal and emotional insights during those 95 minutes that I will cherish forever. I can't thank him enough.

"What were you doing while the songs were playing?"
We were working. Setting up which songs to play next and all like that. And absorbing those treasured songs, note by note.

When it came time to get rolling at the same time we both said "let's have fun." We both laughed and then dove in. ❤❤

As always, thanks for listening!

8/30/26 ( #366 1178)
The Star-Spangled Banner
Radio Nowhere
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Remember When The Music (NYC 12/7/87)
The Rising
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Surprise, Surprise
** E Street Summer, Bruce Springsteen **
Thunder Road
Backstreets
Sherry Darling
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Born To Run
Racing In The Street (Asbury Park 12/13/09)
The E Street Shuffle
I’m On Fire
Jersey Girl (for Patti Scialfa Meadowlands 7/9/81) See less

08/30/2026

Hard to believe that it's the last weekend of August, so measures will be taken to ensure the summer vibes continue this morning on Springsteen On Sunday on 107.1 The Boss at the Jersey Shore.

10 years ago tonight at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands Bruce Springsteen & The Street Band played a show for the ages. When they walked off the stage it was the longest show that they'd ever played in the U.S.A. I hope that you were in the house. We'll go there for sure, plus a remembrance for WhyHunger's Bill Ayres.

Springsteen On Sunday is sponsored by Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #9 of Central New Jersey.

9 eastern on 107.1 FM at the Jersey Shore (plus in Southern Ocean County and points south on the turbo-charged 99.7) and go here for all ways and shapes and forms of listening options: https://1071theboss.com/apps-streaming

08/25/2026

Bruce Springsteen's iconic third album "Born To Run" was released 51 years ago today. Game changer. Life changer.

In his Rolling Stone review of the album Greil Marcus wrote, "It is a magnificent album that pays off on every bet ever placed on him—a ’57 Chevy running on melted down Crystals records that shuts down every claim that has been made. And it should crack his future wide open." He remains correct on all counts.

Last year as part of its golden anniversary, I was thrilled to have been asked to moderate the first panel of the day at the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music's remarkable symposium.
The panel starred David Sancious, Garry Tallent and Ernest Carter. Talk about a career highlight. ❤

Thanks to John Cavanaugh for capturing the moment.

08/25/2026

Godspeed and thank you Bill Ayres. He famously co-founded WhyHunger with his dear friend Harry Chapin in 1975, which has since raised millions of dollars in the fight against food insecurity.

The 10th anniversary of 9/11 was on a Sunday, and I was honored to have Mr. Ayres join me on the radio show. He was part of the post-9/11 Alliance of Neighbors benefit shows that October at the Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, as was his old pal Bruce Springsteen. That morning he talked about Bruce meeting with every person from every one of the survivor families who wanted to meet with him. That conversation was chilling in the best possible way. He was infamous for his Sunday night talk show on NYC radio that began at WPLJ in 1973.

In July 2012 I was happy to have been asked to appear on E Street Radio to discuss the 10th anniversary of the release of The Rising, especially since Mr. Ayres was part of the panel.
Respects will be paid this Sunday morning on Springsteen On Sunday on 107.1 The Boss.

The panel that day: Billy Vanson, TC, our moderator deluxe Jim Rotolo, Bill Ayres and Shawn Poole.

08/24/2026

Springsteen On Sunday on 107.1 The Boss was Mighty fine yesterday morning with the return of Max Weinberg to the show. Catch his return to The Stone Pony this Sunday night 8/30 to see what he's calling his "Jukebox 3.0" Can't hardly wait.

I took this one a couple of years ago in that iconic building where to the surprise of no one, Max plays like he's rocking the biggest stadiums in the world.

Link to hear the show in the comments, thanks Gary Titus!

Here's the playlist and scorecard. As always, thanks for listening!

8//23/26 ( #365 1177)

The Star-Spangled Banner
Waiting On The End Of The World
---
Roulette
Cadillac Ranch
Candy’s Room
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** MetLife Stadium, 8/23/16 **
New York City Serenade
Something In The Night
The Promised Land
Sherry Darling
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Some Things Just Don’t Change (Stevie Van Zandt & The Disciples of Soul Red Bank 5/27/17)
Prove It All Night (MSG 9/22/79)
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Hungry Heart
** Interview w/Max Weinberg **
No Surrender (Brooklyn 5/14/26)
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Little Queenie (St. Louis 8/23/08)
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Born To Run (Upper Darby 12/31/75)