57 Channels (And Nothin' On)

"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" is a song written and performed by American musician Bruce Springsteen, appearing on his ninth album, Human Touch (1992). The song was released as a single in June 1992 by Columbia Records, charting in the top 100 in various countries. A video for the song was also released. The title are a reference to cable television, which carries more channels than terrestrial television.

"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Human Touch
B-side	"Part Man, Part Monkey" (US) "Stand on It" (UK)
Released	June 1992
Genre	Rockabilly[1]
Length	2:28
Label	Columbia
Songwriter	Bruce Springsteen
Producers	Bruce Springsteen Jon Landau Chuck Plotkin Roy Bittan
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"Better Days" (1992) "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" (1992) "Lucky Town" (1992)

Music video

The accompanying music video for "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" illustrates the song's narrative, culminating in a recreation of Ant Farm's infamous 1975 "Media Burn" stunt, wherein a speeding car crashes through a pyramid of television sets. The same art collective was also responsible for Cadillac Ranch, immortalized in the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name (from The River). Springsteen also plays a bass, which he also played in the recording.

In a September 2014 post on Facebook discussing the video, Springsteen wrote, "Shot back in the quaint days of only 57 channels and no flat screen TVs, I have no idea what we were aiming for in this one outside of some vague sense of 'hipness' and an attempt at irony. Never my strong suit, it reads now to me as a break from our usual approach and kind of a playful misfire."^[2]

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon:^[3]

• Bruce Springsteen – vocals, bass
• Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion
• Roy Bittan – keyboards

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[4]	107
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5]	25
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6]	40
Ireland (IRMA)[7]	26
Italy (Musica e dischi)[8]	18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9]	29
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10]	39
Norway (VG-lista)[11]	9
Quebec (ADISQ)[12]	46
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13]	32
UK Singles (OCC)[14]	32
UK Airplay (Music Week)[15]	20
US Billboard Hot 100[16]	68
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[17]	6

Release history

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	Original	June 1992	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Columbia
Japan		June 25, 1992	Mini-CD	Sony	[18]
Australia		June 29, 1992	CD cassette	Columbia	[19]
United Kingdom		July 13, 1992	7-inch vinyl CD1 cassette		[20]
		July 20, 1992	CD2		[21]
Australia	Remixes	August 3, 1992	CD cassette		[22]
Japan		August 22, 1992	Maxi-CD	Sony	[23]