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23-462: "Backstreets" begins with a minute-long instrumental introduction that features pianist Roy Bittan playing both piano and organ, with only occasional traces of any other instruments being heard. In his review of Born to Run for Rolling Stone , writer Greil Marcus said: "Backstreets" has also been interpreted as a narrative about a homosexual relationship because the name Terry is sexually ambiguous. It has also been said to potentially represent

46-428: A sideman on a short tour with Nicks along with some of the other top musicians of the day: Benmont Tench on organ, bass guitarist Bob Glaub , Waddy Wachtel on guitar, Russ Kunkel on drums, and Bobbeye Hall on percussion. Bittan also played on Nicks' second solo album The Wild Heart and has continued to play with her sporadically. Bittan produced and played accordion on Lucinda Williams's album Car Wheels on

69-493: A Gravel Road . He also played accordion on Nelly Furtado 's album The Spirit Indestructible on a track entitled "Waiting for the Night". Bittan released his first solo album, Out of the Box , in 2014. Background vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as

92-479: A backup singer due to his distinctive voice, sings backing vocals in such tracks as " The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill " and " Carry That Weight ". Examples of three-part harmonies by Lennon, McCartney and Harrison include " Nowhere Man ", " Because ", " Day Tripper ", and " This Boy ". The members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Bee Gees each wrote songs, sang backup or lead vocals, and played various instruments in their performances and recordings. In

115-399: A differing style (e.g., either more muted or pitched up) so as to complement rather than compete with the main parts. In the recording studio, some lead singers record their own backing vocals by overdubbing with a multitrack recording system, record their own backing vocals, then recording the lead part over them. Some lead vocalists prefer this approach because multiple parts recorded by

138-763: A lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody . Backing vocalists are used in a broad range of popular music , traditional music , and world music styles. Solo artists may employ professional backing vocalists in studio recording sessions as well as during concerts. In many rock and metal bands (e.g., the power trio ), the musicians doing backing vocals also play instruments, such as guitar, electric bass or keyboards. In Latin or Afro-Cuban groups, backing singers may play percussion instruments or shakers while singing. In some pop and hip-hop groups and in musical theater , they may be required to perform dance routines while singing through headset microphones. Styles of background vocals vary according to

161-469: A platonic but intense friendship between two men that has faded. However, listening to any of the numerous bootleg versions of "Backstreets" from the 1978 Darkness Tour , Terry is repeatedly referred to as "she" and "little girl," indicating that Terry is indeed a woman. Another interpretation is that it is about Springsteen's relationship with his early 1970s girlfriend, Diane Lozito. In his autobiography, Born to Run , Springsteen states that "Backstreets"

184-537: A semi-improvised interlude in between the final chorus and the outro. It usually involved Springsteen's singing solo accompanied by the piano. The other instruments then joined in as the interlude built to a climax. It elaborated on the story of the protagonist and Terry. It differed from performance to performance but frequently involved the protagonist's reminiscing about a good time he and Terry had shared, followed by an emotional condemnation of her subsequent betrayal. This interlude has become known to Springsteen fans as

207-471: A very small part of the original interlude in contemporary live versions. In 2007, during Springsteen and the E Street Band 's Magic Tour , "Backstreets" frequently found its way into the set list, most likely as a tribute to Springsteen's longtime friend Terry Magovern, who died earlier that year. On April 22, 2008, it was the opening song of the first show following the death of longtime band member Danny Federici . Rolling Stone rated "Backstreets" to be

230-431: Is about a broken friendship. The melody and organ bear some resemblance to " Positively 4th Street " by Bob Dylan , an influence of Springsteen's. Rolling Stone claims that it echoes mid-1960s Dylan, especially the organ part reminiscent of Blonde on Blonde . According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon: Starting in 1977 and most prominently during the 1978 Darkness Tour , Springsteen often added

253-865: Is an avid accordion player, which was a skill he seldom used with the E Street Band until he played "American Land" as the closing number on the 2007–2008 Magic Tour and later played the instrument on " 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) " after the death of bandmate Danny Federici . Aside from his membership in the E Street Band, Bittan has worked as a session musician for singer-songwriters and rock and pop artists, including Bonnie Tyler , Jon Bon Jovi , David Bowie , Jackson Browne , Lucinda Williams , Tracy Chapman , Chicago , Catie Curtis , Dire Straits , Bob Dylan , Peter Gabriel , Ian Hunter , Meat Loaf , Stevie Nicks , Bob Seger , Lou Reed , Celine Dion , Nelly Furtado , Patty Smyth , and Jim Steinman . Bittan played piano on Meat Loaf 's 1977 hit album Bat Out of Hell . Composer Jim Steinman wanted Bittan for

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276-626: The "Sad Eyes" interlude (not to be confused with the Springsteen song of the same name) due to frequently occurring lyrics stating that Terry had sad eyes or should dry her tears. It also has been referred to as the "Baby I remember you" or "Little girl don't cry" interlude. Parts of the interlude later materialized in recast form as the song "Drive All Night" on The River album in 1980. The interlude version of "Backstreets" has not been performed in full since; however, it can be heard on numerous fan bootlegs from that tour and Springsteen occasionally sings

299-531: The Air", "Mother of Violence", "D.I.Y." and "White Shadow". Bittan also played on two David Bowie albums, Station to Station (1976) and Scary Monsters (1980). Bittan influenced the sound Stevie Nicks created for her solo debut away from Fleetwood Mac , Bella Donna (1981). About the time that the album reached number one in the United States (and Springsteen's The River Tour concluded), Bittan joined as

322-514: The Heart , and others. Bittan also played on the Dire Straits album Making Movies (1980). Mark Knopfler 's decision to have the keyboardist on the album's lineup was reportedly influenced by his affection for " Because the Night ", a keyboard-driven hit song cowritten by Springsteen and Patti Smith . Bittan played on the 1978 second solo album from Peter Gabriel , appearing on the songs "On

345-571: The Street ". However, from the Born in the U.S.A. Tour on, his voice was no longer used. When Springsteen decided to break his connection with the E Street Band in 1989, Bittan was the only member he retained. With the E Street Band, Bittan uses a Yamaha grand piano , preferring the bright sound to cut through the group's sound compared with other acoustic models. He has also been known to use Yamaha, Korg and Kurzweil keyboards as part of his live rig. Bittan

368-785: The United States and Canada, backup singer, background singer , or harmony . While some bands use performers whose sole on-stage role is backing vocals, backing singers commonly have other roles. Two notable examples of band members who sang back-up are The Beach Boys and The Beatles . The Beach Boys were well known for their close vocal harmonies, occasionally with all five members singing at once such as " In My Room " and " Surfer Girl ". The Beatles were also known for their close style of vocal harmonies – all of them sang both lead and backing vocals at some point, especially John Lennon and Paul McCartney , who frequently supported each other with harmonies, often with fellow Beatle George Harrison joining in. Ringo Starr , while not as prominent as

391-417: The album due to his love for Springsteen's early work, particularly on Born to Run . Following those sessions, Bittan regularly and nearly exclusively collaborated with Steinman, appearing on three more Meat Loaf albums (most notably Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell ) , Steinman's solo album Bad for Good , an Air Supply single, a Barbra Streisand single, an album by Pandora's Box , Total Eclipse of

414-403: The lyrics, the backing vocals are standardly written in parentheses to differentiate them from the main vocals, which are written without any markup. The backing vocals for a line may come in mid-line, or even after the main lyrics have already been sung. Vocalizing is fairly common so as to not detract from the meaning of the lyrics of the primary vocals. The sound of the backing vocals is often in

437-408: The majority of Springsteen's albums, beginning with Born to Run (1975). In Springsteen's band introductions, Bittan's "Professor" moniker was given because (supposedly) he was the only member of the group with a college degree. Bittan provided background vocals for most of the songs on Born to Run , along with Steven Van Zandt . His voice is also featured slightly on the vocal weaving in " Out in

460-529: The piano, organ, accordion and synthesizers. Bittan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of the E Street Band. Aside from his membership in the E Street Band, Bittan has worked as a session musician for singer-songwriters and rock and pop artists. Bittan was born in Queens, New York and is Jewish . He is a longtime member of Bruce Springsteen 's E Street Band and has performed on

483-410: The same singer blend well. A famous example overdubbing is Freddie Mercury 's multipart intro to Queen 's " Bohemian Rhapsody ". Other artists who have recorded multitrack lead and backing vocals include Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy , Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 and Angels and Airwaves , Wednesday 13 in his own band and Murderdolls , Ian Gillan of Deep Purple , Brendon Urie of Panic! at

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506-429: The sixth greatest Springsteen song of all time. The Irish folk/rock band Stockton's Wing took its name from the line "Slow dancin' in the dark on the beach at Stockton's Wing... Roy Bittan Roy J. Bittan (born July 2, 1949) is an American musician best known as a long-time member of Bruce Springsteen 's E Street Band . Nicknamed "The Professor", Bittan joined the E Street Band in 1974. He plays

529-414: The type of song and genre of music. In pop and country songs, backing vocalists may sing harmony to support the lead vocalist. In hardcore punk or rockabilly , other band members who play instruments may sing or shout backing vocals during the chorus (refrain) section of the songs. Alternative terms for backing vocalists include backing singer , backing vocals , additional vocals or, particularly in

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