Great Rock Albums of 1984: Bruce Springsteen- Born in the USA

 

For a good many people, the "Born in the USA" album from Bruce Springsteen was the album of the year in 1984. No one can debate how successful this album was. Any album which sell 11 million copies certainly is that. For the Top 40 brigade, it produced seven singles and like U2, Bruce Springsteen was one of those artists who both metalheads and non metalheads could listen to and not feel they were being unfaithful to their chosen genre. Needless to say, 1984 was Bruce's year and this album was the reason why.

Now, I'm not one to rain on anyone's parade but I am going to make my opinion known as it was the same now as it was then. Like the rest of the world, I agree that this is a fine album. It was certainly four steps up from his previous album, the rather depressing, "Nebraska," but I don't rate this album as high as classics like "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" and only slightly higher than "The River." Still, unlike outgoing governor Chris Christie, Bruce Springsteen has always made me feel proud that I grew up in New Jersey.

Reflecting back, I think my main problem with "Born in the USA" was the fact that all of the singles got played to death on the radio at the time. That usually happens in any artist's home ground so New Jersey radio stations did that. However, some of the singles got tiresome after hearing them played for the 957th time. "Glory Days" and "I'm On Fire" were examples of this and probably "Dancing in the Dark" as well. They were all good songs but got old after hearing them so many times. Saying that, "Cover Me" is the big exception here. I could hear that song 9050 times and wouldn't get tired of it.

Fortunately, the great thing about the album was the tracks that weren't singles. They're all brilliant! There is some good traditional Springsteen rock to be had on all five of these. I'm talking about "Darlington County," "Working on the Highway," "Downbound Train," "No Surrender" and "Bobby Jean." For me, it is these tracks that have made "Born in the USA" so enjoyable for me.

While most people have raved about the songs on here, I think what often gets overlooked is the lyrics behind many of these songs. Personally, I can identify a tiny bit with the title track. I didn't serve in Vietnam but Bruce highlights how badly those who served over there were treated. I had been out of the service about a year and by this time, I was beginning to wonder what had been the point of my serving due to the way I was being treated. Only the Vietnam Vets had it far worse than I ever did. The real eye opener was "My Home Town." It was about his native town, Asbury Park and what was happening while he was growing up. It does make one stand up and think of how divided the nation really was back in the 1960s. Bruce let his feelings be known when he wrote these songs.

Track Listing:

1. Born in the USA
2. Cover Me
3. Darlington County
4. Working on the Highway
5. Downbound Train
6. I'm On Fire
7. No Surrender
8. Bobby Jean
9. I'm Goin' Down
10. Glory Days
11. Dancing in the Dark
12. My Home Town

[caption id="attachment_534" align="aligncenter" width="256"] Bruce Springsteen[/caption]

Bruce Springsteen- lead vocals, guitars

Roy Bittan- piano, synthesizer, backing vocals

Clarence Clemmons- saxophone, percussion backing vocals

Danny Federici- organ, glockenspiel, piano

Gary Tallent- bass, backing vocals

Steven Van Zandt- acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmony vocals

Max Weinberg- drums, backing vocals

It is slightly amazing that in a year where heavy metal dominated, a great rock album like "Born in the USA" could do so astronomically well. It was considered by many Bruce Springsteen's crowning achievement.

Next post: Planet P- Pink World

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Great Rock Albums of 1982: Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska

Now that I am mellowing with age a little, I found that listening to albums now that I didn't think much of when I listened to them when they first came out but I am now appreciating them a bit more. Having grown up in New Jersey, I was hoping that when I listened to Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" again, that I would feel the same way. Unfortunately, I don't.

With "Nebraska," Bruce plays all of the instruments himself and he goes for a more folk sound on it. In fact, quite a few country artists, including the late Johnny Cash, have covered songs from "Nebraska." That's another reason why I should be more into this album because it was during my military days which were mainly based in North Carolina and that gave me more of an appreciation for country music. Sadly to say, that even that doesn't make me appreciate "Nebraska" any more. The only songs which I can really say I like are "Johnny 99" and "Used Cars." Even the single "Atlantic City" doesn't get me excited despite it being about the city I grew up near. The song sounds just as depressing as the actual city has become today. I went to Atlantic City back when I went back to the States last Autumn and the place is depressing. With three major casinos now closed, I have to agree with my friend's assessment that Atlantic City has become the new Detroit minus the murders.

Track Listing:

1. Nebraska

2. Atlantic City

3. Mansion on the Hill

4. Johnny 99

5. Highway Patrolman

6. State Trooper

7. Used Cars

8. Open All Night

9. My Father's House

10. Reason to Believe

[caption id="attachment_955" align="aligncenter" width="162"] Bruce Springsteen[/caption]

Bruce Springsteen- all instruments and vocals

One argument that came out at the time of "Nebraska" and I totally reject to this day is the one that Bruce Springsteen is nothing without the E Street Band. No, what Bruce did was to go into the studio and make an album by himself. While hearing "Nebraska" makes me want to go and play one of his other albums, he does still show that he is a talented artist and continues to be. Two years after this album, he would go out and make history but that's a story for another time.

Next post: 1982 Triumphs and Tragedy

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Great Rock One Hit Wonders of 1980

Well, its that time in the year I'm reminiscing about to pay tribute to some of the one hit wonders from said year. While there are always a good number of them in any given year, there are only a handful worthy enough to make the blog. In 1980, there were three such acts.

The first one and it's in the literal sense in 1980 was Charlie Dore for her big single "Pilot of the Airways." When I first heard it, I thought it was another one hit wonder group from the 70s, Prelude. I still love their a cappella version of Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush." However, after the a cappella intro, music kicks in so I ruled out Prelude as the artist of the song. Even though the sound is more country, I found myself liking the song. Charlie does have a unique voice that goes well with the song and I have to admit that back then, most songs with a guitar solo in them were worth the listen. Still, it's a well done to Charlie Dore for this one.

"Media Man" by Flash in the Pan was a brilliant new wave type song. It has one of those catchy choruses that sticks in your mind after the song is finished. I can hear myself singing "clap Hands For The Media Man." The song seems to be a warning of the dangers of mass media but done to a very likeable new wave vibe. Before I get a lot of rebuttal responses, I did notice other songs by this band when I looked it up on YouTube. However, I know nothing of any other material but would be happy to be enlightened. Besides, this song did cross the ocean because later on in the year, I saw it on a juke box in a café in Barcelona Spain.

The first time I heard "Tired of Towing the Line" from Rocky Burnette, I thought it was Bruce Springsteen. The voice was similar and there was a saxophone in the song. Therefore, I was a bit surprised to hear that Rocky Burnette was the actual artist. Still it was this song that chipped away in the charts and always seemed to be on the radio every time I switched it on. In itself, it is a decent rock tune, so hats off to Rocky for this one.

So there you have it, three songs from people who would only grace the charts once but made what is for me, songs that would linger in my brain more than three decades later. So let's raise a toast to the three rock one hit wonders of 1980.

Next post: Black Sabbath- Heaven and Hell

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: Bruce Springsteen- The River

If it wasn't for me hearing about this album while I was on sea duty during the last four months of 1980 and the first two of '81, I would have delayed the album to 1981. I can't remember who it was but one of my fellow marines had a copy of "The River" by Bruce Springsteen (cassette, always cassette in the military due to limited living space) and played it to which I have to say that I was duly impressed. The very first track, "The Ties That Bind" is all you could ask for with a traditional Springsteen album and sets the stage throughout this impressive double album.

What I really like about it too is that fact that it talks about the two sides of life. There are some fun happy tracks like "Sherry Darling" and "Crush On You" but it also talks about some of the more depressing things of that time, recession, unemployment  and other aspects of life that aren't all apple pie and smiles. The title track for me was the sign of the time for many people then and there was no getting away from that. The track "Drive All Night" has been used in not one but two films, "Copland" and "Reign Over Me." However, no matter what the mood of any given song, there is that well known and loved straight ahead rock and roll sound that has made Springsteen famous for nearly forty years. As usual, he has the E Street Band backing him up and they as always, don't disappoint.

Track Listing:

1. The Ties That Bind

2. Sherry Darling

3. Jackson Cage

4. Two Hearts

5. Independence Day

6. Hungry Heart

7. Out In The Street

8. Crush On You

9. You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)

10. I Want To Marry You

11. The River

12. Point Blank

13. Cadillac Ranch

14. I'm a Rocker

15. Fade Away

16. Stolen Car

17. Ramrod

18. The Price You Pay

19. Drive All Night

20. Wreck On The Highway

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen- vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano

Roy Bittan- piano, organ, backing vocals

Clarence Clemmons- saxophone, percussion, backing vocals

Danny Federicci- organ, glockenspiel

Garry Talent- bass

Steve Van Zandt- acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals

Max Weinberg- drums

Pick any song on this album, even the top ten single "Hungry Heart" and no doubt it will be a good one. "The River" is definitely Bruce Springsteen at his best and the songs on the album bear testimony to that. It has been considered among his best with "Born to Run" and "Born in the USA" and I can hear why.

My Bloodstock Tickets

Next post: Will probably come out next week because as already mentioned, I'm off to the Bloodstock Festival on Sunday. Unfortunately, I have to go to the in laws for the next three days after that so I'm afraid you won't read my account of Sunday until then. But you will get the account.

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Great Rock Albums of 1978: Bruce Springsteen- Darkness on the Edge of Town

Being a New Jersey boy, it would be a complete act of sacriledge if I didn't include this 1978 offering from The Boss. This was another one of those albums I never had to buy because everyone else I knew had it. The summer of 1978 was awash with car stereos, (casette and 8track) blasting this album out of their speakers as they drove around town. Furthermore, the single "Badlands" got lots of airplay on local radio merely because it was a local artist making good.

I believe, as do many others, that "Darkness on the Edge of Town" showcases Springsteen's working class roots. The tracks from this album have a raw, gritty appeal and the lyrics in them compliment this feeling. This is why I consider this album a good cruising album, to play when you're driving down the main drag of your home town. I know, because that's what happened for my friends and me back in the summer and autumn of 1978 and beyond.

Track Listing:

1. Badlands

2. Adam Raised a Cain

3. Something in the Night

4. Candy's Room

5. Racing in the Street

6. The Promised Land

7. Factory

8. Streets of Fire

9. Prove it All Night

10. Darkness on the Edge of Town

Bruce Springsteen- lead vocals, lead guitar, harmonica

Roy Britton- piano, vocals

Clarence Clemmons- saxophone, vocals

Danny Federici- organ, glockenspiel

Gary Tallent- bass

Steven Van Zandt- rythm guitar, vocals

Max Weinberg- drums

This was the first album that proved to me that you didn't need a hit single to make a good album. The two singles from this album only just broke into the top forty charts, while the album made it all the way to number sixteen. It probably did better in New Jersey. At the time, a schoolmate of mine reckoned that Springsteen was the next Bob Dylan. I don't know if I can agree with that, but I do know that this is a good classic album that shows why Bruce Springsteen is The Boss. If you have "Darkness on the Edge of Town" on CD, put it in your car stereo next time you go for a drive, you'll see what I mean.

Next post: Cheap Trick- Heaven Tonight

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Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run

Growing up in New Jersey in the 70s, it would have been an act of betrayal if I didn't include this classic from Bruce Springsteen. While "The Boss" was still making a name for himself throughout the rest of the world, he was loved as a local boy who was making it good. Therefore not many people living in my neck of the woods were surprised when "Born to Run" sprinboarded Springsteen to fame.
One thing I notice about a lot of metal bands who haven't quite made the big time, (yes I know Bruce Springsteen isn't heavy metal) is that they are hungry and that hunger is reflected in the music. I can say the exact same thing about the "Born to Run" album. There is a definite hunger reflected in the tracks of this album and it is why many Springsteen officianados say that it is his best of all time.

Track Listing:

1. Thunder Road

2. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out

3. Night

4. Backstreets

5. Born to Run

6. She's th One

7. Meeting Across the River

8. Jungleland

The E-Street Band

Bruce Springsteen- lead vocals, guitars, harmonica and percussion

Roy Bittan- piano, backing vocals

Ernest "Boom" Carter- drums on "Born to Run"

Clarenece Clemmons- saxophone, tambourine, backing vocals

Danny Federici- organ

Suki Lahav- violin on "Jungleland"

David Sancious- piano, organ on "Born to Run"

Gary W. Tallent- bass

Steven Van Zandt- backing vocals, horn arrangement

Max Weinberg- drums

 "Born to Run" is one of those classics that even hardcore metal heads like me proudly say they love. Besides it can be said that the album did have an influence on heavy metal. Bruce Springsteen's famous saxophonist, the late Clarence Clemmons, plays on the Twisted Sister song "Be Cruel to Your School," which I will be looking at more in the distant future. I only wish I posessed hindsight so I could have made more of it in "Rock And Roll Children."

 Next Post: Rush 2112

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