Musical Notes — Bruce Springsteen
Voiceover by Lawrence Standifer Stevens / Written by Joseph E. Casanova
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Icon Bruce Springsteen simultaneously landed on the covers of both Time and Newsweek forty years ago, two months after the release of his benchmark album Born to Run, giving him the title, “The Boss."
Both editions hit newsstands on Oct. 27, 1975, which made Springsteen the first rock star to achieve such historical notoriety.
Born to Run graced record shelves on Aug. 25, 1975, peaking at #3 on the Billboard album charts and eventually selling six million copies in the US.
His third studio effort followed up Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle. Both met with critical success but were still commercial disappointments.
The title track, along with “Thunder Road” and “Jungleland,” became standards on progressive rock stations and brought the E Street Band into the mainstream.
One of the best things about buying classic Springsteen on vinyl is reading the lyrics to his songs.
I picked up Born to Run when I was in college and I couldn’t wait to spin it on my turntable.
Cuts like “Backstreets” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” gave us a glimpse of what life was like growing up and living in the Garden State.
The tune entitled “Night” expressed the plight of the working man everywhere with lines like “You're just a prisoner of your dreams” and “Holding on for your life 'cause you work all day.”
Side 2 opened with “Born to Run” and phrases like “Baby, this town rips the bones from your back” and “We gotta get out while we're young” spoke to my generation loud and clear.
We couldn’t wait to leave small town life behind to pursue our dreams in the big city.
“She’s the One” showed Springsteen’s softer side as he recalled meeting the love of his life. “Meet Me Across The River” expressed the danger and riskiness of making that perfect score.
Hearing this record for the first time only hinted at the musical masterpieces to come.
Like the Boss said “Tramps like us…we were born to run!” Pack your bags ‘cuz we’re gettin’ the hell outa here!
