Remembering My Father's Place greatest shows: Bruce Springsteen, The Police, more

What’s the best show you saw at My Father’s Place? We put that question to Michael "Eppy" Epstein, the man who started the Roslyn nightclub in 1971 and booked many a cutting-edge act over the decades, from Blue Öyster Cult to Iggy and the Stooges to The Go-Go’s. Epstein picked four of his favorite concerts and explained the stories behind them, though some details are hard to confirm. Here’s his list:

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (July 31, 1973) At the time, Springsteen was still a small club act and his musicians were not yet called The E Street Band. For this show, they served as the somewhat mismatched openers for the Paul Winter Consort, a New Age folk outfit. According to Epstein, Springsteen got stage jitters before the show, which drew an audience of roughly 100 people and was broadcast on WLIR. Epstein says he pointed at someone in the crowd and told the singer, "When you get up there, when you see that one fat guy sitting there — just focus on him."

At showtime, Springsteen took the mic and muttered, "Radio is a nervous business," then launched into a solo version of "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)." Eventually joined by his band, Springsteen also performed "New York City Serenade," "It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City" and "Thundercrack."

LINDA RONSTADT In 1974, Ronstadt (then best known for being the lead singer of The Stone Poneys) played My Father’s Place on a dangerously cold winter night, according to Epstein, who describes experiencing power outages and handing out cups of hot cocoa to folks lined up outside. The show went so well, though, that the crowd demanded six encores and the band finally ran out of songs, band member Andrew Gold later told Rolling Stone. Epstein says he suggested "Heat Wave," the 1963 Motown classic by Martha and the Vandellas, though Gold said it was another bandmate who had the idea. At any rate, The Stone Poneys played it, the crowd loved it and Ronstadt turned it into a top 10 hit the following year.

How accurate is Epstein’s story? Ronstadt played My Father's Place club in July of ’74, not in the wintertime, according to Setlist.fm and other concert databases. And regardless of who suggested "Heat Wave," Epstein says English musician Peter Asher, who produced Ronstadt's version, once promised to send him the platinum 45 rpm single but never delivered.

"He just played here [at the current iteration of My Father's Place, also in Roslyn] last week," Epstein says. "I said, ‘Peter, did you bring my record?’ "

THE POLICE (Oct. 2,1979) Epstein recalls stumbling upon "No Wave," an A&M Records compilation of rising bands, and hearing a track from The Police titled "Roxanne." As a reggae fan, Epstein says, he fell hard for the song and booked the band for at least two shows, including one on Oct. 2 — the birthday of singer-bassist Sting. During the show, which was broadcast live on WLIR, the still-raw trio blasted through 14 early songs, including "So Lonely," "Walking on the Moon" and, of course, "Roxanne."

Just three years later, in January 1982, the band played both Nassau Coliseum and Madison Square Garden. "Things happen so fast," Epstein says.

THE DREGS (circa 1987) Epstein says he booked this unclassifiable fusion band, formerly known as The Dixie Dregs, during the club's final, struggling year. (He relaunched the venue again in 2018). For an opening act, Epstein picked Allan Holdsworth, a brainy English guitarist with a cult following. What Epstein didn’t know until just before showtime, he says, is that Holdsworth had brought a surprise guest: Steve Howe, the former guitarist for Yes. "This is one of the greatest guitarists in the modern world," Epstein remembers thinking. Holdsworth, Howe and Dregs guitarist Steve Morse wound up jamming together until around 11:30 p.m., Epstein says.

Details on this gig — including the date — are scarce, but one fan posted a recollection of it at the website of Dregs bassist Andy West several years ago. "To this day, the best guitar show I’ve seen," the post declares. As for Epstein, he vividly recalls Howe’s entrance. "Everyone started screaming like they were at the Colosseum and the lions were eating all the Christians," Epstein says. "I mean, real screams. From males."

By Rafer Guzmán

rafer.guzman@newsday.com