Born To Run

“The screen door slams/Mary’s dress waves” This will always be a magic album for me. The way everything builds to the climax of Born to Run and then the denouement that follows is perfectly sequenced and a testament to Springsteen’s talent as a storyteller. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but this time around, “Backstreets” was the one that grabbed me the most.

More expansive and cinematic than I was expecting, and I'm pretty familiar with the singles off this album. The saxophone is arguably the lead instrument here, and there are some jazzy moments where it and the keyboardist can really shine. Bruce's lyrics are excellent and invoke a "working class" urgency: inspirational-via-the-gallows, a bleak sort of joy.

Where to begin..... I'm not insightful or smart enough to explain the deeper meanings of the album and why it resonates. My best attempt is to say that it manages to convey most, if not all, of the elements that get buzz my mind: the difficult marriage between hope & despair, the desire to belong to something and finding beauty in the ordinary. Favourite track: Jungleland

bruce sings like he has marbles in his mouth. this sucks. the piano sucks. lame. saxophone is lame. rock and roll for geriatrics

Always been pretty indifferent about Springsteen. Never hated his music nor really got into his stuff either. I'd heard the hits from this album, but the stand out tracks for me were "Meeting Across the River" and "Jungleland." I feel like The Boss and the E-Street band aren't really exploring any new musical ideas composition wise, other than some bomb-ass sax. Its Springsteen's writing and storytelling that has made him such an American staple, and I felt those two tracks really let his writing shine. Being aligned so strongly with 'MURICA is kind of what kept me from getting into him, but his songs are very much proletariat anthems. I guess that's what you get for saying USA a bunch of times in a song. Overall a pretty enjoyable listen, but there's nothing calling me back.

I love this album's big sound. It's simply one of the most passionate albums I've ever heard. I would say it was raw passion except that you can tell the album was very carefully crafted - channeling that passion into a thing of beauty - striking a near perfect balance. Springsteen displays more authentic passion on this album than many artists seem to be able to muster in their entire careers. I have tried, but can't seem to get into, Springsteen's first two albums, and I think alot of it has to do with the lyrics. On this album, while going for a bigger sound musically, he chose to go in a more refined direction lyrically, foregoing his more cryptic Dylanesque approach of the first two albums for something more direct and heartfelt than intellectual, and it makes all the difference. Though you definitely can hear the Dylan influence throughout, especially in songs like Jungleland, I think this is where Springsteen really comes into his own and becomes "The Boss." This is one for the ages. Coincidentally, I just listened to this on vinyl the other day with the family. It's in pretty regular rotation in our house and everyone enjoys it.

Anyone who does not vote 5 stars on this masterpiece is a Communist and needs to be dealt with accordingly.

Sounded like Meatloaf. Not as good.

Gotta hand it to the boss for being cool. This is a fun album but it does seem a bit long even at 40min, just cause every song is almost identical. It's a good song though. 3/5.

A lot of people, whose opinions I respect, love Bruce Springsteen in general and this album in particular. It really resonates for them, but it doesn't for me. I understand that it is meaningful and moving etc, but it leaves me a little 'meh'. I think it is, for me, a bit overworked, production wise. Springsteen is successful in his emulation of Phil Spector, but you can hear how hard they worked at it (and they did work hard). Maybe I need more grit and spontaneity for it to ring true as convincing rock and roll? I need a bit more. I listened through, but, honestly, it washes over me every time and I am unmoved. The saxophone solo at the end of Jungleland is highly regarded by many, but it is just so cheesy! I get that people need cheese. People want music that wears its heart on its sleeve, full of big emotions that they can relate to. There are plenty of records like that that I truly love. But the key to unlocking that love is that you to make a personal connection to the music, and I don't have that with Springsteen. It doesn't have a place in my personal history, despite Born the USA being massive when I was a teenager. I've never been an unemployed steel worker in a dead-end town, ground down by the American dream, looking for a way out of my hometown in a fast car and my girl by my side, the romance of escape, etc etc. And neither has Bruce. As he himself admits, "I'm Mr Born To Run. I currently live ten minutes from my home town." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1xDzgob1JI) He is singing his _father's_ life, and does so powerfully. Watching his Broadway show on Netflix suggests that he is highly aware of the irony of who he is and what he does, and approaches those contradictions thoughtfully and sensitively. And his fan base certainly feel the honesty in his performance. But _I_ feel like I am buying into some form of rock snob working-class roleplay when I listen to Springsteen. _I_ feel inauthentic when I listen to it. I don't know why I don't connect with it, I just don't. That's probably more on me than him. That said, you can always trust a man with a Telecaster.

Sometimes an artist is so fully flooded with inspiration that everything they touch turns to gold. Bob had it with Blonde on Blonde, Van with Astral Weeks, the Boss has it here.

Very chill, good bboomer vibes, listen to again

- Thunder Road - greatest song of all time by a considerable distance - Tenth Avenue Freeze Out - an absolute bop - Night - one of the more forgettable tracks but would be the standout on most other records on this list - Backstreets - Up there with Thunder Road and Born To Run. 3rd best track on the album. Bruce at his very best. Born To Run - Lovely stuff She's The One - was never that arsed about this before but it's fucking class Meeting Across The River - skippable Jungleland - The bollocks

Not a big Springsteen fan, but I remember when this came out. I checked it out from the library and listened on repeat--especially the first side. Thunder Road is genius even if it does have that awful line "you ain't a beauty but hey you're alright." You gotta give it to anyone who inspires a cocktail, in this case Screen Door Slam, a bourbon-based aperol concoction.

Is it possible to both acknowledge something as a classic and also not like it? The big production sound and overwrought singing are not for me. I generally I prefer my rock n roll with too much guitar and not enough piano but this LP is very much the other way around. And whoever is playing piano should have been asked to record all of their tracks with a closed fist. Their constant arpeggios are distracting and irritating. Feels like this record might have inspired Meatloaf's sound. Born to run into the bat out of Hell. Anyway, I would rather hear Patti Smith or even Manfred Mann do this material.

I definitely get why it’s popular, but it honestly just doesn’t I much for me.

The obvious, boring choice for my favorite album of his, but I can’t lie to myself. I don’t want to say it’s not close, because I do love Darkness and Wild Innocent, but I simply don’t have a remotely negative thing to say about Born to Run. I think it’s a perfect album. 5 of its 8 songs are some of my favorite Springsteen songs ever, and the other 3 are no slouches, either. Front to back, it is a masterclass of killer songwriting, and exuberant performances. And, I think similarly to the album before it, a bit of a singular work in Bruce’s catalog. You’ve basically got the classic E Street lineup in place now (Stevie Van Zandt isn’t fully in the fold yet, but he contributes a couple vocal parts and helps with the horn arrangement on “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”), but it kind of exists in this world halfway in between the straightforward heartland rock that they’ll become known for and the jazzier arrangements of the first two albums, and Bruce’s songwriting exists in that in between as well. And for me, that’s the ultimate sweet spot. I love Bruce, and I love what he was tapping into on his first couple of records, and I love a lot of what he’s done over the last 45 years, but Born to Run is quite easily the pinnacle for me. He was so hungry to succeed; he is the quintessential “I don’t have any other options” kind of musician, he had to make sure this worked out for him, and you hear that hunger in every single song. I don’t think his voice has ever sounded more passionate than it does on Born to Run. That voice really drives every song; regardless of what tempo these songs are, they always feel like they’re propulsing forward. There’s such an incredible movement to this record. And as desperate as you can tell he is, he still takes the time to basically write a love letter to the music that speaks to him the most. You can hear shades of Orbison in his voice, you get the Bo Diddley and Buddy Holly influences in “She’s the One”, the Stax-style horns on “Tenth-Avenue Freeze Out”, obviously the shades of Dylan and Van Morrison in the lyrics. He throws it all into this blender and it still comes out sounding like nothing that came before it. I think it sounds so original, and still so fresh today. Overflowing with creativity and emotion and power. A total masterpiece in my book, an easy 5 stars, and my favorite Bruce Springsteen album. 5/5

Never been a big follower of the boss, and I’m shocked never to have listened to this album end to end. He’s got a lot to say and does it well. Extremely good album across all tracks. Gonna buy this one on vinyl.

Where's the option for 6 stars?

Sounds like America

So saxy I mistook it for Meatloaf.

- Yeah, I have no problem giving this album 5 stars. Alright, here we have the first album from The Boss to achieve mainstream success. I gather that it was a rather lengthy process to perfect his sound during the recording sessions. Hell, six months were spent working on just the title track. Suffice it to say, all that hard work paid off in dividends. Born to Run contains some high-caliber piano-driven rock tunes, where Bruce was able to capture the essence of working class people trying to find their escape. Credit is due to him and the E Street Band for crafting and producing some true bangers on this album, and not just the singles. Even deep cuts like “Backstreets”, “She’s the One” and the 9-minute closer “Jungleland” prove to be exceptionally constructed with a sound that’s timeless. If you haven’t already, give Born to Run a chance. I get not everyone’s fond of Springsteen’s music, but if there was at least one that deserves its place on this list, it would be this one.

Nr. 42/1001 Thunder Road 4/5 Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out 5/5 Night 4/5 Backstreets 5/5 Born to Run 5/5 She's the One 4/5 Meeting Across the River 5/5 Jungleland 5/5 Average: 4,5 Just a great rock album. Awesome song-building and use of classical instruments. This is now my best rated album and my first five star album taking over from 2112 - Rush (4,25)

Although, at times, Springsteen flirts with histrionic and melodramatic motifs in his music via a maximalist sound which risks drowning out any subtlety and poetry in the lyrics (and there is poetry here, but it's almost as if the smart kid in class has to hide it for fear of being laughed at) this is an American classic, chrome wheeled and fuel injected by a great band of talented musicians and Bruce's musings on growing up poor and hard in the city. The Great American Novel in musical form, Springsteen conjures up romantic images of highways, motorbikes, picking up your sweetheart to a Wall of Sound in homage to The Ronette's Be My Baby and the Shangri La's Leader of the Pack ('Look out! Look out! Look out! Look out!').

🖤 Favourite Song: Thunder Road 🖤

Quite simply one of the greatest albums of all-time with some of Springsteen's most evocative lyrics. Best track: Thunder Road

Show a little faith there's magic in the night You ain't a beauty but hey you're alright Oh and that's alright with me. What a classic

I wondered when we'd get this album, so the wait is over. I've never been a huge Springsteen fan (of his music, that is, as I really respect his career and perspectives), but it's hard to ignore how iconic this album has been for him. It's also remarkable how familiar so many songs on this album are--I think the only ones I didn't recognize were "Backstreets" and "Meeting across the river" (although the familiar-sounding-ness could also be because he doesn't have the biggest range). It's also interesting to read that Springsteen agonized over the production of this album, requiring many many (many) takes to get everything to sound just right, given that he's a notorious lyric mumbler and it appears *nobody* really knows whether Mary's dress sways or waves.... I kind of wish I didn't have 4 more Springsteen ahead of me in this collection, but it's hard to fault the inclusion of this one.

The lyrics are okay, and yeah, he's got good rocky energy.

The Boss- his breakthrough commercially with this one. Once I get over the cheesy'ness of the saxophone (*note- not this album's fault, the saxophone just got done to death in the 80's) and the "Meat Loaf" similarities (I don't like Meat Loaf) this is a fine album, a lot of it didn't grab me but I've never been a steel worker and I've never chased the American dream . But I am giving the Boss an extra point for being a massive Trump hater.

I don't hate the Boss. He usually has a few stone classics his albums, but I can't really think of him in terms of "albums", only songs I dearly love. And this has a few. With the stone classics, you get a real sense of rock n roll without bullshit, and lyrics that are among the best ever laid down. With the rest, you get a real sense of bullshit rock n roll, with lyrics Bon Jovi could have shit out. In all cases, the album cuts are poor stand-ins for the live performances. Even the shitty ones become epic. This begs the question: why not just put out live albums. The Live at the Hammersmith 75 set is a much better representation of this songs. That reading of "Thunder Road" almost makes the rest of the show unnecessary--unit the rest of the show, of course. Bruce does look hunky cute on the cover though.

Solid album with the title track being a standout. Very anthemic at points with moments of gentle introspection. Springsteen is a master of championing the ‘everyday’ man. An enjoyable listen.

I really can’t get over his voice which is wild cause it’s never this big an issue for me. Dude sounds like he’s taking the hardest shit of his life like 80% of the time. Otherwise the band and lyrics are solid (2.5/5)

He isn't bad but to me was never the icon everyone considered him. A reliable rocker but never really had that swing. Could probably have profited from listening to Mink DeVille back in the day.

There is some tunefulness but the vocals are like a roaring punch of constipation and when they cease, the sax comes in and sounds even more like it needs a shite. I don't get it.

there is a reason that there are only about 5 bruce songs that everyone knows - its because the rest of them are shit.

One of my all time favourite records

It took some time but the anointing of Bruce Springsteen as the new savior of rock and roll had come to fruition on Born to Run. With little to no space or sound wasted, this seminal album was what Springsteen and his E Street Band needed as the push to sell them to the big time. Baby, were they born to run...

Top tier dad rock

More great bruce

Hell yeah. Five! Five! Five!

Steven Van Zandt's sound and Bruce's incredible narrative and melodic talents as a songwriter. Has there ever been a more impressive debut album?

Bruce becomes 'The Boss' and starts to put on the straitjacket to stadium fame that he eventually tried to escape. You don't have to be from a shitty town in the US to understand the songs here - this is everybody. The overblown production is perfect here - just a little more and it could've been parody. A true classic album in every sense of the word. Best Tracks: Thunder Road; Backstreets; Born To Run

Simply put, one of the greatest albums of all time. 1. Thunder Road: Is it the greatest intro song of all time? Maybe. I just want to point out how amazing the piano is throughout the entire album. This song has the potential to make me cry. 2. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out: A really good song that never fails to make me happy. I’m definitely not a huge Springsteen fan, and the voice here is on the edge of too much (which is one of my biggest complaints of his), but it succeeds in being a fun jaunt. 3. Night: Just a great Springsteen song. These songs are less than 3 mins, and yet they feel like they are so much longer; and I don’t mean that as a criticism. These shorter songs still have lyrical density that can be exhausting (in a good way). 4. Backstreets: More amazing piano; the intro is killer. Probably my (second) favorite chorus on the album. 5. Born to Run: it’s crazy that this song is only my third favorite song on the album, and yet is still one of my favorite songs ever. It goes to show how great this album is. Some amazing saxaphone playing (obviously) and perfect Springsteen isms that make it so unique and inspired. 6. She’s the One: This used to be my least favorite track and (along with track #7) a skip on the album. I have come around to this song and have come to enjoy its buildup to more crazy sax. 7. Meeting Across the River: Although this song has probably been relegated to least favorite on the album, it is still a great piano ballad that feels like the calm before the storm that is Jungleland. 8. Jungleland: speaking of: this might be the greatest song of all time. Rarely can I get so emotionally invested in a song- on of the only other songs I can think of is Runaway. Both of which use the extended length of their songs to portray powerful emotions. For jungleland, every instrument is unbelievable; the piano, the hints of organ, the sax, and of course the voice. This is Springsteen’s best lyrics and the best piece of Americana music you will find.

If I listed my top 25 artist- Bruce may or may not make the list, would truly depend on the day. But I have sang along at the top of my voice -usually buttered up- to most of the songs on this album. There are times it hits just right.

Hey Saxy! 4.6.

A classic. It's like looking at an impressionist painting. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

I am from New Jersey and grew up on this. My review should mean nothing to you.

The easiest 5 I’ve given any album on the project so far. This record changed my life when I was around 15 years old. And each time I return to it, some of that immense energy and intrinsic magic remains. Born To Run is a rock and roll opus. From the spirit to the instrumentation to the absolutely blissful sequencing the record features, Born to Run is a perfect album. This is the sound of youthful exuberance meeting time-hardened frustration. Open-ended opportunity meeting disappointing dead-ends. If you can find me an album with stronger bookends (as songs themselves and as representatives of an album’s themes) I would be pretty impressed. Thunder Road and Jungleland are two absolutely perfect songs. Two of the best songs written by Bruce Springsteen or anybody. Thunder Road opens the story with a heart full of hope, a gust of wind blowing our hair back and making us believe anything is possible for the people documented in this song. What’s more is these people aren’t kings and queens, they aren’t world-traveling rock stars, they aren’t from another planet. They’re ordinary people from an ordinary town with families and things they are proud to claim. But they want more. Springsteen embodies this character most in the song’s final lyric “It’s a town full of losers and I’m pulling outta here to win”. Bruce, himself, was fighting for his professional music life at the time. Born to Run is famously a “make-or-break” album and the last chance the E Street Band was given to deliver a hit to Columbia Records. That powerful, frantic energy can be felt all over Born to Run in the best way possible. And nowhere more palpably than on Thunder Road. Jungleland closes our story with a similar energy and similar characters living their lives how they choose, in bands, in bars, in gangs, in cars cruising down the coast of New Jersey. At around 10 minutes long, Jungleland encompasses so much spirit and so many different dynamics. There’s a rock section, an epic Clarence Clemons sax solo that can bring tears to my eyes, and finally a soft but brazen outro where Springsteen flexes absolute poetry to put an end to the lives these characters live, in calamity or daily platitudes. When the swirling crescendo takes us to the album’s close, you know you’ve just listened to a classic. Born to Run is the sound of poetry in motion. This is the sound of life unchaining its leash. Lights camera action.. and go. The world is yours for the taking or the breaking. 10/10

9/10. Great vibes. This album was released 32 years before I was born, yet it sounds very nostalgic to me. Great lyrics. This is a really significant album. I'm not a fan of Bruce Springsteen, but this album is really dope! :)

I said in my review of Blonde on Blonde that Springsteen was the first to really make that album’s attempts at a Rock Big Band work. Born To Run is the fruition of that, and it’s amazing just how coherently all of these influences come together. Born To Run isn’t my favourite Springsteen record, that would be the darker and admittedly flawed Darkness On The Edge Of Town, nor is it his best artistic statement, which would be Nebraska. What Born To Run has going for it is, much like Hendrix’s Axis: Bold As Love, it’s Springsteen’s most perfect work, flawlessly constructed and executed that flows as a full story throughout it’s 8 tracks from the small beach towns of New Jersey to the epic cityscape of New York, encapsulating the hopes, dreams and disappointments of it’s characters with humour and sympathy

I love ther versality, the Sound and the musical components

I’m from Jersey. I was raised on this stuff.

This is one of the greatest albums of all time, for sure. Excited for a full listen-through. 1. Thunder Road. One of my favorite songs of all time. What else needs to be said? 2. "Tenth Avenue Freezeout" - an awesome song. I never get sick of hearing it. Jammy, rollicking, fun. Great lyrics. 3. "Night" - not as familiar with this song, but I like it! It's slower, but Bruce has that deep and guttural tone going in his voice, which I really dig. 4. "Backstreets" - this album has...almost every one of his really big hits. 5. "Born to Run" - what a phenomenal title track. Of course this is what he called the album. it's fucking perfect. A+, no notes. 6. "She's the One"

I am biased. Springsteen has to be one of my favourite artists. I consider this quintessential Americana (I don't know if I'm using that term correctly). I'm a kid from a Southeast Asian country, but this makes me want to put on blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and form a union.

Probably two of the best lead off songs for side A and side B ever. Thunder Road starts off the album with a lot of energy and power and Born to Run brings side B back to that level and then out to the stratosphere. It’s hard not to sing along to either song no matter how many times you have heard them. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out is a strong track 2 but then we have Night. That song is a mess. It’s like they took the loud part of Thunder Road and just did the entire song at that level. The lyrics get lost in the mix and there aren’t enough dynamics to keep my attention. Backstreets is better but the outro goes too long in my opinion. Probably works well live but as a studio recording it felt to me like they didn’t know how to end it. Born to Run, as mentioned before, is a fantastic side B lead off. In the age of streaming it works as a great pick me up after the last two songs as well. She’s The One has some great piano and nice sax work. Meeting Across the River doesn’t do much for me. Jungleland is a nice closer. It has a lot going on including violin, piano and a great sax solo. A fitting end to a fine album.

Heard it. Own it.

loved it, he's iconic

I mean, it rules.

Best kind of dad rock

Still an absolute classic - when you’ve got a hatful of songs that are comparable in quality to the title track, you’ve got it all. The album Springsteen said he wanted to make so that everyone would remember him. Job done, Boss.

I've listened to this album thousands of times. For many years, It was my fave album. No need to listen to this one. 5/5 stars.

Every song is 5 stars

Con una producción mayor a la de sus dos primeros discos, Born To Run situó a Springsteen en el firmamento de los grandes de todos los tiempos. Su sonido es grandioso gracias a la superposición de capas de guitarras, voces, teclados y percusión, siguiendo la clásica idea de Spector con su muro de sonido. Además, están las magnificas canciones escritas por el boss, con un arranque, "Thunder Road" magnífico. Una canción sobre la libertad y la búsqueda de oportunidades en la que un joven invita a su chica a dejar atrás la vida que siguen y mirar al futuro. Y desde luego está la canción que da título al álbum, una de las que más me gustan de toda su discografía (y mira que hay donde elegir). En ella una pareja de amantes anhelan dejar atrás sus pequeñas vidas en una pequeña ciudad para asaltar el futuro, utilizando la carretera como metáfora de vida. El disco completo es una maravilla, con "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", "Backstreets", "She's te One" o la buenísima "Jungleland" a la altura de uno de los mejores discos de rock de todos los tiempos.

A passionate triumph of music!

So hard to rate an album by Bruce-especially this one-he's so tightly woven into childhood memories I can't possibly be objective. Love him our Dad loved him - once he went to 6 of the 10 shows Bruce was doing at the Brendan Byrne arena <3

Awesome

Disco esencial. No hay más que decir. Darle al play dejarse llevar por el jefe y su banda. Otros discos de 1975: Down by the Jetty de Dr. Feelgood, debut de AC/DC, Physical Graffiti de Led Zeppelin, Wish you were here de Pink Floyd, That's the Way of the World de Earth, Wind and Fire, Young Americans de D. Bowie, Dressed to Kill de kiss, Rubycon de Tangerine Dream, ABBA de ABBA, Diamonds & Rust de Joan Baez, Zuma y Tonight's the Night de Neil Young, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy de Elton John, Main Coruse de Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band de KC and the Sunshine Band, Love to Love You Baby de Donna Summer, Another Green World de Brian Eno, Ommadawn de Mike Oldfield, Radio-Activity de Kraftwerk, Horses de Patti Smith, A Night at the Opera de Queen, Crisis? What Crisis? de Supertramp, el directo de Bob Marley...

The Boss! Always better with The E Street Band

Yeah, no shit it's good.

Snjór úti og BTR á fóninum. Veturinn er mættur og ég fílaða. Platan er nottla meistarastykki. Einstaklega gott sound og heildarmyndin er til staðar. Bossinn er með þetta. 5.5 stjörnur.

Þvílík plata, þvílíkur gleðidagur. Allt geggjuð lög hvert á sinn hátt, frábærir textar. Klassííkerar sem eru flestir enn stór hluti af tónleikaprógrammi hans. 50 stjórastjörnur.

9/10. Bruce Springsteen captures a feeling of americana in this album. Born to run is my favorite song in it, but the whole album is very complete and definitely will stand the test of time.

Love that sax

Hell yeah

Truly one of the best ever. Just a start to finish masterpiece.

Amazing. Simply amazing.

Album 547 of 1001 Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (1975) Rating : 5 / 5 Another great one from Bruce. I'm partial to him, so there is that. Some tracks are stronger than others but the album, as a whole, is a great listen. Vocals are strong, good guitar work, a slamming sax solo...and as always, great songwriting.

I assume the choads who don't give this a 5 like Radiohead.

The only Boss who never disappoints ;-)

Thunder Road kicks of this album with nostalgia and heart. The title track is one of the greatest songs ever written. Just a great album throughout.

Is there a weak song on here? Maybe one - is there a brilliant track? At least four. The title track alone gets it a five.

There's gotta be a German word for the rush of excitement the opening riff of "Born to Run" makes you feel, right?

Classic Rock n Roll

Still great. Listening to the full album for first time in years, I was surprised by the strength of piano throughout the album. One often thinks of Springteen as guitar and horns.

This album is brilliant. The only blemish, for me, is "Meeting Across The River." It just doesn't capture the magic that every other song on the album does. From the sprawling "Jungleland" to the Bo Diddly "She's The One" to all the classics. Springsteen was on fire — lots of joy, lots of muscle, great story songs, killer performances. The E-Street Band is as fired up as he is.

It’s hard to listen fresh when an album is so iconic and seared in your brain. I started out really disliking Bruce Springsteen. Raised in podunk South Jersey where everyone loved Bruce, I took any action to rage against the status quo. When I hit college that changed. When I heard Andre sing Bruce I was able to appreciate the brilliance again.

### **"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen: An In-Depth Review** "Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen's third studio album, released in August 1975, represents a pivotal moment in the artist's career. It propelled him from being a critically acclaimed but commercially modest singer-songwriter into a full-fledged rock icon. The album's combination of ambitious lyricism, layered production, and thematic depth helped to shape the trajectory of rock music in the late 1970s. In this review, we'll explore the album's key components, including its lyrics, music, production, themes, and overall influence on the genre. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics on "Born to Run" are among the most celebrated in rock history. Springsteen, often referred to as "The Boss," captures the spirit of youthful yearning, rebellion, and the quest for freedom with poetic eloquence. The album is filled with vivid, cinematic imagery that brings to life the struggles and dreams of working-class America. 1. **"Thunder Road"** opens the album with the line, "The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves," immediately creating a sense of place and character. Springsteen's use of vernacular language makes the listener feel like a participant in a narrative rather than a distant observer. The lyrics tell a story of escape, of two people desperate to break free from the constraints of their small-town lives, filled with romantic yearning and a sense of urgency. 2. **"Born to Run,"** the title track, is an anthem for those seeking something greater. It encapsulates a longing for liberation, with lines like "Tramps like us, baby, we were born to run." The song captures the essence of the American dream, seen through the eyes of those on the margins. 3. **"Jungleland,"** the album’s epic closer, paints a vivid picture of urban struggle, telling a tale of love, crime, and shattered dreams in a city landscape. With its complex characters and richly detailed setting, it stands as one of Springsteen's finest lyrical achievements. **Pros of the Lyrics:** - Springsteen's writing is deeply empathetic and connects with a wide audience, blending the personal with the universal. - The album's lyrics are packed with metaphors and references that evoke a sense of place, time, and emotion, making them both specific and timeless. **Cons of the Lyrics:** - For some, the lyrics may come off as overly earnest or sentimental, relying heavily on idealized notions of freedom and escape that may seem naïve or dated to contemporary listeners. - The narrative style can occasionally feel sprawling and unwieldy, with some songs containing dense imagery that might overwhelm casual listeners. ### **Music** Musically, "Born to Run" is ambitious, combining rock, folk, jazz, and even orchestral elements to create a sound that is both expansive and intimate. 1. **Arrangements and Instrumentation:** The album features the full power of the E Street Band, with its layered arrangements and diverse instrumentation. Clarence Clemons’ saxophone solos add a soulful, dynamic element, especially on tracks like "Jungleland" and "Thunder Road." Roy Bittan's piano work provides a melodic backbone throughout the album, while the guitars of Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt are powerful yet restrained, adding texture rather than overwhelming the compositions. 2. **Melodic Complexity:** Songs like "Backstreets" and "Meeting Across the River" showcase Springsteen’s ability to construct complex, multi-part melodies that build tension and release, mirroring the emotional arcs of the lyrics. The title track "Born to Run" is a rock anthem that combines a wall of sound with a driving rhythm section and catchy hooks, designed to be played loud and felt deeply. 3. **Dynamic Range:** There is a considerable dynamic range across the album. From the quieter, more contemplative moments on "Meeting Across the River," with its jazz-influenced arrangement and haunting trumpet, to the full-throttle rock and roll of "Born to Run," the album covers a broad spectrum of moods and styles. **Pros of the Music:** - The album is musically diverse, blending different genres into a cohesive rock sound that feels fresh and expansive. - The use of the E Street Band's talents allows for a richness in sound, creating memorable hooks and engaging musical narratives. **Cons of the Music:** - Some critics argue that the "Wall of Sound" production style can feel overwhelming or cluttered, with too many layers competing for attention. - A few of the songs, such as "Night" and "She's the One," while energetic, do not break new ground musically and can feel formulaic compared to other tracks on the album. ### **Production** The production of "Born to Run" was notoriously arduous. Springsteen and co-producer Jon Landau worked painstakingly to create the album’s distinctive sound, which aimed to evoke the grandeur of Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound while still retaining a rock and roll edge. 1. **Sound Design:** The production creates a dense, textured sound that is lush but not overproduced. Each instrument is given space to shine, from Clemons' saxophone to Bittan's piano to Springsteen's own guitar work. The album was recorded using multiple layers of sound, often with numerous takes to achieve the desired effect. 2. **Mixing and Mastering:** The mixing of the album is notable for its complexity. There is a constant interplay between instruments, with some moments featuring a subtle interplay of sounds, while others present a full-throated blast of music. The mastering emphasizes a clean but powerful sound, allowing the album's many elements to be heard distinctly while maintaining a cohesive sonic landscape. 3. **Use of Studio Techniques:** Techniques like overdubbing and reverb are used extensively to create a sense of space and depth. For example, on "Thunder Road," the use of harmonica, piano, and saxophone gives the track a layered feel that unfolds gradually, creating a journey-like listening experience. **Pros of the Production:** - The production gives the album a timeless, almost cinematic quality, enhancing the storytelling aspect of Springsteen's lyrics. - The balance of clarity and complexity allows for an engaging listening experience that reveals new details upon repeated listens. **Cons of the Production:** - The long recording process led to moments where the production can seem overly labored, losing some of the raw energy that defined Springsteen's earlier work. - Some listeners might find the production too polished or slick, preferring the grittier sound of Springsteen's other albums. ### **Themes** The themes of "Born to Run" revolve around escape, redemption, and the pursuit of a better life. It is an album that captures the essence of the American dream but also reflects its complexities and contradictions. 1. **Youth and Escape:** "Born to Run" explores the theme of escape from a confining environment. In "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run," the characters are constantly on the move, searching for something more meaningful beyond their current circumstances. 2. **Dreams and Disillusionment:** The album does not shy away from the harsh realities of life. Songs like "Backstreets" and "Meeting Across the River" explore themes of betrayal, disillusionment, and the consequences of choices made in pursuit of dreams. There is a persistent tension between hope and despair, a recognition that the quest for freedom is fraught with obstacles. 3. **Urban Landscape:** The city is a recurring motif throughout the album, serving as both a setting and a character. It represents both the promise and the peril of modern life, a place where dreams can be made or shattered. **Pros of the Themes:** - The thematic depth gives the album a literary quality, making it more than just a collection of songs but rather a cohesive artistic statement. - The themes are universal and relatable, appealing to a wide audience across different demographics and generations. **Cons of the Themes:** - The recurring theme of escape can feel redundant across multiple tracks, potentially limiting the album's narrative range. - Some might argue that the focus on youthful yearning and rebellion lacks nuance, favoring grandiosity over subtlety. ### **Influence and Legacy** "Born to Run" has had a profound influence on rock music and popular culture. It cemented Springsteen's status as a major force in the music industry and set the stage for his subsequent success. 1. **Impact on Rock Music:** The album influenced countless artists with its blend of rock, folk, and soul elements. It helped to rejuvenate the rock genre during a time when it was being challenged by punk and disco, showing that rock could still be a powerful and relevant medium for storytelling and social commentary. 2. **Cultural Significance:** "Born to Run" became a touchstone for American culture, embodying themes of freedom, rebellion, and the pursuit of the American dream. It is frequently cited in discussions of the greatest albums of all time, and its songs have been covered by numerous artists, further solidifying its place in the pantheon of rock music. 3. **Springsteen’s Career:** For Springsteen, "Born to Run" was both a breakout and a defining moment. It established him as an artist with something significant to say and with the ability to reach a broad audience, paving the way for his future success with albums like "Darkness on the Edge of Town" and "The River." **Pros of the Influence:** - The album’s influence extends beyond music, contributing to broader discussions about the American experience and the power of storytelling through song. - It remains a relevant and powerful piece of work that continues to inspire new generations of artists and listeners. **Cons of the Influence:** - Its iconic status might overshadow other albums in Springsteen's discography that are equally deserving of attention. - The album’s reputation can sometimes create unrealistic expectations for first-time listeners, who may not immediately connect with its style or themes. ### **Conclusion** "Born to Run" is a landmark album that showcases Bruce Springsteen at the height of his creative powers. Its rich lyrics, dynamic music, and layered production combine to create a work that is both timeless and specific, capturing the hopes and dreams of a generation while resonating with listeners across time. While some may critique its production choices or find its themes overly romantic, the album's influence and legacy in rock music are undeniable. It remains a quintessential example of how music can articulate the complexities of life, making it a classic that continues to be celebrated nearly half a century after its release.

10/10. Masterpiece, front to back. Thunder Road is one of the best songs ever written.

This is one of my personal ten or so favorite albums of all time, so it’s an obvious 5 stars from me. I can’t add much that hasn’t already been said, but for my money it has at least two of the greatest songs ever recorded (Thunder Road and Born to Run, and Jungleland has an argument too). For all its superlatives, from Clemens’ perfect sax solos to the meticulous “wall of sound” production, the greatest attribute of the album is Bruce’s songwriting. It’s a masterclass of storytelling through song: if you’re not moved to take on the world by Thunder Road or Born To Run, moved to smile by Tenth Avenue Freezeout, or moved close to tears by Backstreets and Jungleland, check if you’re alive. Bruce has had at least 3 masterpieces, arguably more like 6, but in my opinion this will always be his best. It’s on the short list for greatest rock album of all time, and arguably the best record ever produced in America.

okay I'm convinced. I listened to it twice. I still don't really care for "Thunder Road". I actually liked "Meeting Across the River". That + "Jungleland" (also rly good) is what made me want to start over and give it another listen. Also. Is there some kind of musical property that makes something feel nostalgic even though you weren't there? Or do we all just think heartland rock is nostalgic because it's what our parents listened to while being nostalgic? Nostalgiception.

Thunder Road Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out Backstreets Born to Run She's the One Meeting Across the River Jungleland

Born to Run is a masterpiece of modern music, and arguably just one of Bruce Springsteen's masterpieces. This is the third of his albums, and the first to find significant commercial success. With Born to Run, his third album, Springsteen displayed the range of talents that have made him one of the most influential figures in modern music. Springsteen voices earnest narratives in his lyrics, and tells vivid stories about the day-to-day challenges of life. His compelling stories suit his rich, expressive voice. He's supported by the E-Street Band, with strong keys and and even stronger saxophone player. Their guitar and piano centered, R&B based rock became one of the central elements of modern popular music.

Springsteen. THE MF GOAT. That's all.

The Boss and the E street band. What else is necessary for the perfect album?

I am not really a Bruce fan.. he seems overplayed and over rated. I grew up in NJ, while he became "BRUCE" - there was some growing pains, but I gave to say, this is a really rounded album. The lyrics are still personal and deep, good music, and great sax from The Big Man. regrets that I have to give it a 5. Credit fue.

Masterpiece

Avoided The Boss because I used to be a classic rock hater but started listening mid-pandemic and have been a huge fan since. Now I’m a hater of all of the modern day bruce-alikes.

I mean come on

We’re running out tonight to case the promised land.