Mack Rice - Mustang Sally

First performance: 11/01/1979


Coverinfo

Bruce played the song 30 times:
 
Mostly played Off-Tour
 
 
Bruce played a slow version of the song during the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation's Take Me To Tokyo gala. The gala raises funds to support the U.S. Equestrian teams headed to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. Bruce auctions off a signed Harley Davidson motorcycle ($180,000) and a signed Fender guitar ($170,000), plus front-row seats to a future concert and dinner with Bruce and Patti. Later that evening Bruce and Patti join the house band for a short performance. Bruce played 2 songs: MUSTANG SALLY / IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
 
 
 
The soundcheck also includes James Taylor's "Carolina In My Mind". The set features tour premieres of "Louie Louie", "Mustang Sally" and "Brown Eyed Girl".
 
2010-11-11 Woody's Roadside Tavern, Farmingdale, NJ
Bruce joins Timepiece, Mike Scialfa's (Patti's brother) band.
 
2009-06-14 Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN
Bruce joins Phish on stage at Bonnaroo . Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, exploration of music across genres, and their adoring fan base. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 (with the current line up solidifying in 1985), the band's four members – Trey Anastasio (guitars, lead vocals), Mike Gordon (bass, vocals), Jon Fishman (drums, percussion, vocals), and Page McConnell (keyboards, vocals) – performed together for over 20 years before breaking up in August 2004. They reunited March 2009 for Phish in Hampton, a series of three consecutive concerts played in the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia, and have since resumed performing regularly.
 
2009-03-23 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
First public rehearsal show for the Working On A Dream Tour. Stephen Foster’s "Hard Times (Come Again No More)", plus the first full E Street rendition of Woody Guthrie's "I Ain't Go No Home" (which was dropped from the set after this show) and the first ever public E Street performance of "Mustang Sally", played by sign request . John Eddie guests on "Mustang Sally".  

2009-03-21 Ocean Place Resort, Long Branch, NJ
Ranney School Benefit
 
2004-11-06 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
Bruce joins Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers for the fifth year running at the annual Light Of Day benefit concert. Bruce was at the Pony the day before but did not perform - just stopped along to check everything out. Other performers during the night include Boccigalupe, JoBonanno and the Godsons of Soul, Danny White, Willie Nile, and Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan.
 
2004-07-17 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
Bruce joins Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, and is aided by Soozie Tyrell and Patti Scialfa for a couple of hours after the Houserockers' main set.
 
2004-04-25 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
The third year of the private Rumson Country Day School benefits with Bruce, Patti Scialfa, Southside Johnny and Bobby Bandiera. Bobby Bandiera and his band provided backing throughout the night, along with Jukes horns Ed Manion, Joey Stann, and Chris Anderson. Admission was once again, as previous years restricted to RCDS parents.
 
2002-01-11 B.B. King Niteclub, Mashantucket, CT
60th birthday bash for Clarence Clemons. Clarence was playing the first of a two-night stand at the 275-capacity B.B. King Nite Club and was presented a cake by B.B. King.
 
2001-09-03 Donovan's Reef, Sea Bright, NJ
Bruce and Patti Scialfa join local house band, Brian Kirk & The Jirks for a few songs, having been thwarted from playing a second night with Clarence Clemons at the Stone Pony due to a bomb scare. Bruce and Patti came to the bar with family friend Anthony DiAco to see the latter's son, Nick DiAco, who frequently played with Brian Kirk & The Jirks. At the request of Brian Kirk, Bruce and Patti joined the band onstage for a four-song set following Nick's guest appearance. Brian Kirk & The Jirks are a Jersey shore cover and wedding band. 

2001-09-01 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
Bruce turns up at the Clarence Clemons bash and plays a short set. A second night was planned for September 2, but was cancelled due to a bomb scare. 

2000-10-21 Hedgerow Farm, Middletown, NJ
A $500-a-ticket charity benefit gala for "Special People United to Ride of Monmouth County", an organization that employs horseback riding as therapy for handicapped children. Springsteen joined Bobby Bandiera's band (house band for the night) on "Mystery Train" early in the evening. Later Bruce, along with Patti Scialfa, Jon Bon Jovi and Max Weinberg, took the stage for a 45-minute set of oldies. Words to "Mustang Sally" were altered to "ride, Julie, ride," in honor of Hall of Fame jockey and event attendee Julie Krone. Springsteen signed and auctioned off one of his Stratocasters for $30,000 and then auctioned off a 1 hour private guitar lesson with himself that fetched a whopping $50,000! 

1999-12-20 McLoone's Rum Runner, Sea Bright, NJ
During his annual Christmas party at McLoone's Rum Runner in Sea Bright, NJ. Though the date is not certain it seems the party took place on December 20, and Bruce joined Bobby Bandiera's band for well over an hour, performing Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival songs among other classics.
 
 

1997-09-26 Cheers, Long Branch, NJ
Bobby Bandiera
 
1996-08-10 Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish, MT
The wedding reception of Toby Scott (Bruce’s longtime recording engineer/archivist). Bruce joins local Whitefish rock band The Fanatics (hired as the reception entertainment) for several songs, including his only known performance of Sam Cooke's "You Send Me".
 
1996-08-09 Great Northern Bar And Grill, Whitefish, MT
Springsteen drops by to catch the final set of the evening by The Fanatics, the restaurant's resident house band, led by guitarist Marc Moriva. Bruce hopped onstage and sang two songs, to the astonishment of the small audience. The Fanatics had been hired to play at Toby Scott’s wedding reception the following day. It appears Bruce, in anticipation of performing the next day, wanted to meet the band and get in a bit of practice. In 1996, The Fanatics were the resident house-band of the Great Northern Bar and Grill in Whitefish, MT. They were led by guitarist Marc Moriva.
 

1995-10-24 Park West, Chicago, IL
Joe Grushecky

1995-10-21 Nick's Fat City, Pittsburgh, PA
With Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers. Show features the only known full Springsteen performance of "Gimme Shelter".

1995-10-20 Nick's Fat City, Pittsburgh, PA
Joe Grushecky 

1995-10-19 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
With Joe Grushecky

1995-10-18 Tramps, New York City, NY
With Joe Grushecky  

1995-10-17 Stone Pony (The), Asbury Park, NJ
With Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers. Opening night of the "October Assault" mini-tour.
 
1995-08-10 Cheers, Long Branch, NJ
With Solar Circus. Only known performances of "Better Things" and "Stems And Seeds". 

1995-07-22 Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ
With Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers and featuring appearances by guests Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg.
 
1994-08-26 Classics Cafe, Westwood, NJ
With Stand And Deliver and Max Weinberg. A reader who was present comments "Funny note the band never referred to Bruce by name I know they called him Mr Frank Sinatra once and I think Keith Richards . 

1994-08-20 Marz American Style, Long Branch, NJ
Joe Grushecky
 
Springsteen attends the sixth Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Awards, with The Impressions (Curtis Mayfield), Wilson Pickett, The Byrds and Ike & Tina Turner the evening’s key inductees. Bruce does not give any induction speech but takes the stage alongside Jackson Browne, Don Henley, and Chaka Khan to perform 'People Get Ready' and then participates in the closing jam, trading lead vocals with John Fogerty on "In The Midnight Hour". Other artists participating in the include The Byrds, LaVern Baker, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Patty Smyth, Bobby Brown, Robert Cray, Phoebe Snow, and The World's Most Dangerous Band.
 
1984-09-26 Community Theatre (The), Morristown, NJ
Southside Johnny
 
1979-01-11 Lock Stock And Barrel, Fair Haven, NJ 
Played during a private 37th birthday party for Clarence Clemons, with Springsteen and the entire E Street Band (except for Steven Van Zandt) attending and performing a rollicking set of classics for the invitation-only gathering of close friends and family. 
  

Songinfo

"Mustang Sally" is a rhythm and blues (R&B) song written and first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965. It was released on the Blue Rock label (4014) in May 1965 with "Sir Mack Rice" as the artist. Most likely, Bruce had the inspiration of Wilson Pickett’s version. The song gained greater popularity when Wilson Pickett covered it the following year on a single, a version that was also released on the 1966 album, The Wicked Pickett. According to music historian Tom Shannon the song started as a joke when singer Della Reese wanted a new Ford Mustang. Rice called the early version "Mustang Mama" but changed the title after Aretha Franklin suggested "Mustang Sally". The song is influenced by the children's game song (recorded by various artists) "Little Sally Walker", versions of which include the lyrics "Rise Sally rise, wipe your weepin' eyes", with variations. In the liner notes for The Rascals Anthology, Felix Cavaliere states that The Young Rascals recorded "Mustang Sally" and "Land of a Thousand Dances" before Pickett and that Atlantic Records "copped those two songs from them and gave them to Pickett" to record.

 
 
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down
You been running all over the town now
Oh! I guess I'll have to put your flat feet on the ground
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride
One of these early mornings, oh, you gonna be wiping your weeping eyes
I bought you a brand new mustang 'bout nineteen sixty five
Now you come around signifying a woman, you don't want to let me ride
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down
You been running all over the town now
Oh! I guess I'll have to put your flat feet on the ground
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride