Clarence Clemons
Tenor Sax Solo on
The Ties That Bind

About

Clarence Clemons's tenor saxophone solo on "The Ties That Bind" is the only solo on this explosive opening track of The River. Playing at 138 BPM in C with a rock feel, Clemons delivers a punchy, energetic solo that matches the song's driving intensity. The track sets the ambitious scope of Springsteen's 1980 double album, and Clemons's saxophone serves as the instrumental exclamation point in the arrangement, his bold tone cutting through the dense wall of guitars and keyboards with the authority that made him one of rock's most distinctive instrumental voices.

Clarence Clemons was 36 to 37 years old at the time.