Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen (Video)

On Tuesday's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the show was devoted to Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen was on the program to promote the release of The Promise, his only TV appearance to promote the box set.

In addition to Jimmy Fallon doing a "Pros & Cons" segment about the deluxe reissue of Darkness on the Edge of Town, they did a rendition of "Whip My Hair," featuring "Neil Young" and a mid-1970s version of Springsteen.
("Neil Young" has stopped by the show before. Other performances: "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Pants on the Ground" and "Double Rainbow.")

VIDEO: Jimmy weighs the pros and cons of the release of Bruce Springsteen's "The Promise: Darkness on The Edge of Town"
VIDEO: Neil Young covers Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" with Bruce Springsteen

Fallon's interview with Springsteen was brief (only a one-hour show) but well done, with some interesting stories and good humor. Steve Van Zandt joined them for part of it, adding his perspective of their time together and the process of creating what would become legendary music.

VIDEO: Bruce Springsteen, Part 1
VIDEO: Bruce Springsteen, Part 2
VIDEO: Steven Van Zandt

Then, it was time for music, two songs.

Along with E Street Band member Roy Bittan and The Roots, they first performed the great "Because the Night," a song that Springsteen regularly played in concert during the Darkness tour but one not included on the 1978 release. He had given the song to Patti Smith. She worked on it and had a hit with it. Springsteen said he was glad he gave her the song.

"I'm glad that I did because I wasn't gonna finish it, and she finished it beautifully. And it would have never seen the light of day, much less been the song that is without her working on it. So, thank you, Patti."
VIDEO: "Because the Night"


It really was an incredible performance. Fantastic! Jimmy Fallon was visibly blown away.

The second song was "Save My Love," one of the "never-before-heard" tracks from The Promise. It's over 30 years old, but it's a new song.
Video: "Save My Love"

Although the show served to promote a product, - Springsteen joked about doing this "on the Home Shopping Network" - it was a very entertaining, memorable hour of television.

As the show ended, Jimmy Fallon looked positively ecstatic, like he was living a dream.

After thanking Springsteen, Van Zandt, and Bittan, and reminding viewers to pick up The Promise, "in stores now," he shouted, "Because the night belongs to us, baby!"

And he thanked them again.

It's definitely worth it to watch the full episode.

(Note: NBC will have the full episode available until December 2, 2010.)