Bruce Springsteen
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I very much doubt it happens. Incredibly short turnaround between ticket sales and the actual show.
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74) Blinded By The Light (Greetings From Asbury Park)
I need to make a disclaimer. This song sits higher than what it probably should due to the Manfred Mann cover. I will fight anyone to the death that doesn’t agree that Manfred Mann’s Earth Band cover is better than the original. The paradox is however I couldn’t fight you to the death without the original.
Blinded bombards you with a whirlwind of lyrics that barely allows you to catch your breath, even after the song is over.
Blinded has a lot going on, probably too much at points. What I will say though, is that it is a fun song. And definitely one of the more light-hearted tracks he has written. It’s definitely one way to announce yourself on your debut album!
The song also created some of the greatest names of characters in Springsteen songs. From Go-Kart Mozart, to Little Early-Pearly, hazard from Harvard,
Blinded does have one of my all time favourite lines in it – from any song – “mama always told me not to look into the sun, but mama, that’s where the fun is!”
Pretty proud of myself for knowing all the words to both versions too!
And thank goodness for rhyming dictionaries!
For me, this is the best version that Bruce is done;
The full band is an absolute blast too;
73) Drive All Night (The River)
There are several epics in the Springsteen cannon, and it is almost impossible to rank them. And, Drive All Night is one of those course.
Drive All Night is one of the all time great love songs, without any shadow of a doubt.
This guy is willing to quite literally, drive all night, for this girl. I think in today’s day and age, the message doesn’t quite have the same meaning. You can pick up the phone, send a text message, video chat, or whatever. The romanticism of the 70s and 80s is gone, and the pursuit of love is on an entirely different road. But, at the time of writing this, Springsteen was clearly leading the convoy, because he’s lost that girl.
The soothing piano and the rimshots are perfect companions throughout, and the sax halfway through catapults the emotion into the next stratosphere. The last verse raises the emotion, the conviction, the lengths he’s willing to go to, and if the sax solo halfway through shoots the song into the stratosphere, the one to bring the song home catapults it light years ahead.
The song was done in one take, with Bruce playing piano and Max just following with his ears as he did not know what was to follow.. Incredibly when you think about the song overall, the quality, the length, the composition. Exceptional. The vocal is perfect, full of want, desire, conviction and willingness, and hearing him raise it as the track goes on is wonderful.
Absolutely majestic song.
72) American Skin (41 Shots) (High Hopes)
You can almost grab the tension with your own two hands in American Skin. With each passing second, you can feel the tension increase and the intensity becomes even more palpable. Things slowly build, only for everything to be cut back down, though the feeling remains the same.
Come the solo though, the songs bursts at its seams and an explosion of the aforementioned tension and intensity blow up before us.
If I were picking songs based on tension, this would be right near the top.
An outstanding track which really highlights that life can be taken as quickly as it is given, even if you’re doing nothing wrong.
The breakdown where it is just Bruce on vocal shouting “you get killed just for living…” undoubtedly adds an incredibly powerful layer to a song already full of anger.
Unparalleled intensity.
71) No Surrender (Born In The USA)
If you’re looking for rock and roll to take you on a ride in under five minutes, No Surrender is your jam.
The track explodes out of the gates with delight and it doesn’t let up. A song about friendship and rock and roll. Two of the greatest things you can find in life.
70) Wrecking Ball (Wrecking Ball)
Wrecking Ball is exactly as the object in its title is in real life – powerful and unforgiving.
All the cogs in the E-Street Band work together perfectly to form the track from the album of the same name from 2012.
Wrecking Ball is triumphant in its quest for feelings of liberation, resilience and hope.
The song might have been written about a football stadium, but the meaning of the below lines can be seamless drawn with comparisons of real life;
And your game has been decided, and you're burning the clock down
And all our little victories and glories, have turned into parking lots
When your best hopes and desires, are scattered through the wind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taWJZ01BTD
I need to make a disclaimer. This song sits higher than what it probably should due to the Manfred Mann cover. I will fight anyone to the death that doesn’t agree that Manfred Mann’s Earth Band cover is better than the original. The paradox is however I couldn’t fight you to the death without the original.
Blinded bombards you with a whirlwind of lyrics that barely allows you to catch your breath, even after the song is over.
Blinded has a lot going on, probably too much at points. What I will say though, is that it is a fun song. And definitely one of the more light-hearted tracks he has written. It’s definitely one way to announce yourself on your debut album!
The song also created some of the greatest names of characters in Springsteen songs. From Go-Kart Mozart, to Little Early-Pearly, hazard from Harvard,
Blinded does have one of my all time favourite lines in it – from any song – “mama always told me not to look into the sun, but mama, that’s where the fun is!”
Pretty proud of myself for knowing all the words to both versions too!
And thank goodness for rhyming dictionaries!
For me, this is the best version that Bruce is done;
The full band is an absolute blast too;
73) Drive All Night (The River)
There are several epics in the Springsteen cannon, and it is almost impossible to rank them. And, Drive All Night is one of those course.
Drive All Night is one of the all time great love songs, without any shadow of a doubt.
This guy is willing to quite literally, drive all night, for this girl. I think in today’s day and age, the message doesn’t quite have the same meaning. You can pick up the phone, send a text message, video chat, or whatever. The romanticism of the 70s and 80s is gone, and the pursuit of love is on an entirely different road. But, at the time of writing this, Springsteen was clearly leading the convoy, because he’s lost that girl.
The soothing piano and the rimshots are perfect companions throughout, and the sax halfway through catapults the emotion into the next stratosphere. The last verse raises the emotion, the conviction, the lengths he’s willing to go to, and if the sax solo halfway through shoots the song into the stratosphere, the one to bring the song home catapults it light years ahead.
The song was done in one take, with Bruce playing piano and Max just following with his ears as he did not know what was to follow.. Incredibly when you think about the song overall, the quality, the length, the composition. Exceptional. The vocal is perfect, full of want, desire, conviction and willingness, and hearing him raise it as the track goes on is wonderful.
Absolutely majestic song.
72) American Skin (41 Shots) (High Hopes)
You can almost grab the tension with your own two hands in American Skin. With each passing second, you can feel the tension increase and the intensity becomes even more palpable. Things slowly build, only for everything to be cut back down, though the feeling remains the same.
Come the solo though, the songs bursts at its seams and an explosion of the aforementioned tension and intensity blow up before us.
If I were picking songs based on tension, this would be right near the top.
An outstanding track which really highlights that life can be taken as quickly as it is given, even if you’re doing nothing wrong.
The breakdown where it is just Bruce on vocal shouting “you get killed just for living…” undoubtedly adds an incredibly powerful layer to a song already full of anger.
Unparalleled intensity.
71) No Surrender (Born In The USA)
If you’re looking for rock and roll to take you on a ride in under five minutes, No Surrender is your jam.
The track explodes out of the gates with delight and it doesn’t let up. A song about friendship and rock and roll. Two of the greatest things you can find in life.
70) Wrecking Ball (Wrecking Ball)
Wrecking Ball is exactly as the object in its title is in real life – powerful and unforgiving.
All the cogs in the E-Street Band work together perfectly to form the track from the album of the same name from 2012.
Wrecking Ball is triumphant in its quest for feelings of liberation, resilience and hope.
The song might have been written about a football stadium, but the meaning of the below lines can be seamless drawn with comparisons of real life;
And your game has been decided, and you're burning the clock down
And all our little victories and glories, have turned into parking lots
When your best hopes and desires, are scattered through the wind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taWJZ01BTD
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Did some music lists during covid to keep myself occupied.
Had a look at them recently and I would have made plenty of changes to them.
I think in countdowns usually the top 10 is set in stone but after that the songs fall in and out of favour the lower the ranking goes.
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- #8,780
69) Into The Fire (The Rising)
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you some place higher
Into The Fire’s imagery is incredibly powerful, and perhaps up there with some of the best he has created. It’s stark, unembellished and sits front and centre, impossible to avoid.
Much like The Rising, it tells us the story of a fireman, rescuing the injured from the Twin Towers. Its first verse is heartbreaking, and a lot of the song follows that same lead. The firefighter in this song is painted in this extraordinary image of a hero, and rightly so. "I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher", the latter part of that line is exceptional and highlights that even after 30 years in the business, Bruce had not lost his lyrical deftness.
Into The Fire speaks of incredible loss, hardship, death and selflessness. And that selflessness is reflected in that third verse “You lay your hand on me, and then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave.” I mean, read that line back, that is incredibly stark and raw. Not to mention the sheer power of the imagery created with that line.
Another song where yet again Patti’s vocals are outstanding and an entirely new element to an already great song.
Its composition and arrangement really masks the devastation the song carries with it. If it was completely stripped back it’d take on a whole new stance.
68) So Young And In Love (Tracks)
Everybody's reelin' when the band hit's the ceilin'
So Young And In Love is relentless in its pursuit of making the listener feel happy. From its vibrant opening with a drum roll, straight into sax with the band in support, it is impossible not to get swept away in the joy that bursts effortlessly from this track.
It also gets bonus points for sharing a line with Night.
The sax is the star which shines brightest here though.
Ecstasy. Pure, unrivalled ecstasy.
67) Lucky Town (Lucky Town)
When it comes to luck you make your own
One of a handful of good things to come from the disbanding of The E-Street Band is this song. It has plenty of attitude about it, and the growl it’s sung with is a nice addition.
The guitar in the intro sounds tight and it kicks hard enough without hurting. He’s employed this country twang when playing, and you can really hear it in the solo, and it sounds so damn good.
There is plenty of self depreciation in Lucky Town – especially in the bridge.
That closing solo is a thing of beauty!
66) Murder Incorporated (Greatest Hits)
So the comfort that you keep's a gold-plated snub-nose thirty-two
Murder Incorporated sits right near the very top of Bruce’s angriest songs. There are only two others which come close.
This track destroys all in its path with the amount of omnipotence it carries with it. It leaves no one standing, right from the off. It hits you with a hurricane of force and blows you away with its power.
That killer guitar intro, with the organs and the heavy pounding on the snare sets up a song that is a real knockout. The bridge is one of my favourites too.
Evidently, it appears to be a song about a guy on the run from the mob, constantly checking over his shoulder, and thinking everyone and everything is against him.
The backing vocals on this track are really underrated I believe. It’s easy to miss them with everything else going on, but I feel they add a great element. And if you’re not a fan of the three different steaming guitar solos that take the song out, see a doctor.
One of the angriest tracks in his collection, and there are probably only a handful of songs where he has more conviction in the vocal.
Everything about Murder Inc is insanely high octane. Those solos at the end really turn up the heat way past 11, and with Max bashing away behind, it’s so easy just to not give a shit about anything else than the mighty E-Street Band at full force.
If you need to open a can of kickass, this is IT!
65) You’re Missing (The Rising)
I got dust on my shoes, nothin’ but teardrops
This has to be one of the most poignant and heartfelt songs Bruce has written. The piano rips out your heartstrings, and the vocal definitely hits you right in the heart, too. The violin which also is prominent throughout also amplifies the feeling of loss.
You’re Missing doesn’t try to hide anything, or shy away from the fact about that a widow is missing their significant other.
The lyrics are powerful and you can almost feel a sense of mourning growing over you as the song continues. The breakdown in that last verse is a killer and the emotion of the song finally erupts in that final sequence.
The organ on the studio release is exceptional and is some of Phantom Dan’s best work. It is spectacular in the heights it reaches.
Below however, we’re treated to a harmonica outro which is stunning in its own right and I find it adds an entirely new element to the song.
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you some place higher
Into The Fire’s imagery is incredibly powerful, and perhaps up there with some of the best he has created. It’s stark, unembellished and sits front and centre, impossible to avoid.
Much like The Rising, it tells us the story of a fireman, rescuing the injured from the Twin Towers. Its first verse is heartbreaking, and a lot of the song follows that same lead. The firefighter in this song is painted in this extraordinary image of a hero, and rightly so. "I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher", the latter part of that line is exceptional and highlights that even after 30 years in the business, Bruce had not lost his lyrical deftness.
Into The Fire speaks of incredible loss, hardship, death and selflessness. And that selflessness is reflected in that third verse “You lay your hand on me, and then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave.” I mean, read that line back, that is incredibly stark and raw. Not to mention the sheer power of the imagery created with that line.
Another song where yet again Patti’s vocals are outstanding and an entirely new element to an already great song.
Its composition and arrangement really masks the devastation the song carries with it. If it was completely stripped back it’d take on a whole new stance.
68) So Young And In Love (Tracks)
Everybody's reelin' when the band hit's the ceilin'
So Young And In Love is relentless in its pursuit of making the listener feel happy. From its vibrant opening with a drum roll, straight into sax with the band in support, it is impossible not to get swept away in the joy that bursts effortlessly from this track.
It also gets bonus points for sharing a line with Night.
The sax is the star which shines brightest here though.
Ecstasy. Pure, unrivalled ecstasy.
67) Lucky Town (Lucky Town)
When it comes to luck you make your own
One of a handful of good things to come from the disbanding of The E-Street Band is this song. It has plenty of attitude about it, and the growl it’s sung with is a nice addition.
The guitar in the intro sounds tight and it kicks hard enough without hurting. He’s employed this country twang when playing, and you can really hear it in the solo, and it sounds so damn good.
There is plenty of self depreciation in Lucky Town – especially in the bridge.
That closing solo is a thing of beauty!
66) Murder Incorporated (Greatest Hits)
So the comfort that you keep's a gold-plated snub-nose thirty-two
Murder Incorporated sits right near the very top of Bruce’s angriest songs. There are only two others which come close.
This track destroys all in its path with the amount of omnipotence it carries with it. It leaves no one standing, right from the off. It hits you with a hurricane of force and blows you away with its power.
That killer guitar intro, with the organs and the heavy pounding on the snare sets up a song that is a real knockout. The bridge is one of my favourites too.
Evidently, it appears to be a song about a guy on the run from the mob, constantly checking over his shoulder, and thinking everyone and everything is against him.
The backing vocals on this track are really underrated I believe. It’s easy to miss them with everything else going on, but I feel they add a great element. And if you’re not a fan of the three different steaming guitar solos that take the song out, see a doctor.
One of the angriest tracks in his collection, and there are probably only a handful of songs where he has more conviction in the vocal.
Everything about Murder Inc is insanely high octane. Those solos at the end really turn up the heat way past 11, and with Max bashing away behind, it’s so easy just to not give a shit about anything else than the mighty E-Street Band at full force.
If you need to open a can of kickass, this is IT!
65) You’re Missing (The Rising)
I got dust on my shoes, nothin’ but teardrops
This has to be one of the most poignant and heartfelt songs Bruce has written. The piano rips out your heartstrings, and the vocal definitely hits you right in the heart, too. The violin which also is prominent throughout also amplifies the feeling of loss.
You’re Missing doesn’t try to hide anything, or shy away from the fact about that a widow is missing their significant other.
The lyrics are powerful and you can almost feel a sense of mourning growing over you as the song continues. The breakdown in that last verse is a killer and the emotion of the song finally erupts in that final sequence.
The organ on the studio release is exceptional and is some of Phantom Dan’s best work. It is spectacular in the heights it reaches.
Below however, we’re treated to a harmonica outro which is stunning in its own right and I find it adds an entirely new element to the song.
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Hmmm, my top 10 has changed a bit in the last couple of years - seems pretty solid for now and would take something pretty special to change things up.
Top 3-5 are concrete.
- Jan 7, 2018
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close enough.
- Jan 7, 2018
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'You're Missing' way too good coming in at 65.
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- #8,784
The thing is it's just favourites. It's better than other tracks that will come, I just like others more.
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64) Don’t Look Back (Tracks)
Angel writes her name in lipstick on my dash
There is something about Don’t Look Back that reels me in every time I listen to it and I love it just as much each time.
Thematically, it’d fit right in on Born To Run, with our guy ready to launch off into the sunset with his girl Angel, and not worrying about what they’re leaving behind.
There is nothing jaw dropping about Don’t Look Back. The lyrics aren’t special, there is no standout solo, but not every song needs that, and Don’t Look Back proves that.
It’s a simple rock song, and sometimes that’s all you need. It’s straight forward, and there is no mucking around. It takes you straight from A to B with no fuss.
What I will say is, this song is all Max. His commandeering of his drum kit to navigate the song is great.
63) Sundown (Western Stars)
Sundown ain’t the kind of place you wanna be on your own
Sundown is so refreshingly calming. It effortlessly takes you away with its relaxing, lush strings and soothing vocal. You can close your eyes and feel yourself being whisked away to a world where things don’t matter – even if it us just for just a few short minutes.
The song deals with loneliness and it seems the narrator is spurred on by the fact the person he’s lost will come back.
The trumpet that sits in the mix is a neat little addition too. The backing vocals here deserve a good wrap too.
The big note at the end where you hear him go high is great.
62) The E-Street Shuffle (The Wild, The Innocent And The E-Street Shuffle)
All the little girls’ souls grow weak when the man child gives them a double shot
The E-Street Shuffle is an explosion of chaotic fun right from the very beginning. There’s an eruption of brass, and before you know it, it’s all happening. Come the chorus, there is a hell of a lot going on, and it is definitely not to the song’s detriment.
There are so many great lines E-Street Shuffle that I reckon I could pick out seven and still think there are far more than that.
The E-Street Shuffle also holds host to hands down, one of the greatest character names in the Springsteen songbook; Power Thirteen. Blink and you’ll miss it.
And one of the great catch cries was also spurned here – “everybody form a line!”
The live arrangement is something else, especially with all the horns, the duel between Anthony and Max the real highlight, before everything completely dropping off for a bar or two, and then an explosion of noise comes crashing down and you’re swept up in the ecstasy of it all over again.
Here’s the current arrangement;
I would love to see the band tackle arrangement from the Hammersmith Odeon show. The delivery of that opening line is something else, there is such an enthusiastic innocence to it. The song has been stripped of its bombardment of sound and is transformed partially into a ballad, before Steve gets to let loose. Slowed right down, the song has a whole new face. It’s magical.
61) Bobby Jean (Born In The USA)
We liked the same music, we liked the same bands
From its opening sequence, you can hear the melancholy right away.
Bobby Jean’s lyrics have that feeling of regret, loss and wanting to be able to do more. But it appears it’s too late, though, it won’t stop our protagonist wishing whoever this may be good luck as he says goodbye.
You can hear the longing and regret in the voice, it’s sad.
The sax taking the song out really has that feeling of longing and regret about it and makes you feel for the character.
All Bruce has ever said was that it was a “youthful song about friendship”, and that’s probably all we’ll ever get. And rightfully so.
60) Roulette (Tracks)
The night speaks in searchlights
Roulette wouldn’t have worked on The River, but again, imagine how great The River could have been.
Roulette is ferocious in its musical pursuit and does not allow you to ever catch your breath. It explodes to life immediately and takes you on a rocking ride for its timespan as this hits you with an adrenaline shot straight to the heart.
The drumming is outstandingly intense and Bruce sings like he can’t spit the words out venomously fast enough.
This song stands next Adam as his angriest song in my opinion. It is relentless and leaves absolutely no one standing in its wake.
Angel writes her name in lipstick on my dash
There is something about Don’t Look Back that reels me in every time I listen to it and I love it just as much each time.
Thematically, it’d fit right in on Born To Run, with our guy ready to launch off into the sunset with his girl Angel, and not worrying about what they’re leaving behind.
There is nothing jaw dropping about Don’t Look Back. The lyrics aren’t special, there is no standout solo, but not every song needs that, and Don’t Look Back proves that.
It’s a simple rock song, and sometimes that’s all you need. It’s straight forward, and there is no mucking around. It takes you straight from A to B with no fuss.
What I will say is, this song is all Max. His commandeering of his drum kit to navigate the song is great.
63) Sundown (Western Stars)
Sundown ain’t the kind of place you wanna be on your own
Sundown is so refreshingly calming. It effortlessly takes you away with its relaxing, lush strings and soothing vocal. You can close your eyes and feel yourself being whisked away to a world where things don’t matter – even if it us just for just a few short minutes.
The song deals with loneliness and it seems the narrator is spurred on by the fact the person he’s lost will come back.
The trumpet that sits in the mix is a neat little addition too. The backing vocals here deserve a good wrap too.
The big note at the end where you hear him go high is great.
62) The E-Street Shuffle (The Wild, The Innocent And The E-Street Shuffle)
All the little girls’ souls grow weak when the man child gives them a double shot
The E-Street Shuffle is an explosion of chaotic fun right from the very beginning. There’s an eruption of brass, and before you know it, it’s all happening. Come the chorus, there is a hell of a lot going on, and it is definitely not to the song’s detriment.
There are so many great lines E-Street Shuffle that I reckon I could pick out seven and still think there are far more than that.
The E-Street Shuffle also holds host to hands down, one of the greatest character names in the Springsteen songbook; Power Thirteen. Blink and you’ll miss it.
And one of the great catch cries was also spurned here – “everybody form a line!”
The live arrangement is something else, especially with all the horns, the duel between Anthony and Max the real highlight, before everything completely dropping off for a bar or two, and then an explosion of noise comes crashing down and you’re swept up in the ecstasy of it all over again.
Here’s the current arrangement;
I would love to see the band tackle arrangement from the Hammersmith Odeon show. The delivery of that opening line is something else, there is such an enthusiastic innocence to it. The song has been stripped of its bombardment of sound and is transformed partially into a ballad, before Steve gets to let loose. Slowed right down, the song has a whole new face. It’s magical.
61) Bobby Jean (Born In The USA)
We liked the same music, we liked the same bands
From its opening sequence, you can hear the melancholy right away.
Bobby Jean’s lyrics have that feeling of regret, loss and wanting to be able to do more. But it appears it’s too late, though, it won’t stop our protagonist wishing whoever this may be good luck as he says goodbye.
You can hear the longing and regret in the voice, it’s sad.
The sax taking the song out really has that feeling of longing and regret about it and makes you feel for the character.
All Bruce has ever said was that it was a “youthful song about friendship”, and that’s probably all we’ll ever get. And rightfully so.
60) Roulette (Tracks)
The night speaks in searchlights
Roulette wouldn’t have worked on The River, but again, imagine how great The River could have been.
Roulette is ferocious in its musical pursuit and does not allow you to ever catch your breath. It explodes to life immediately and takes you on a rocking ride for its timespan as this hits you with an adrenaline shot straight to the heart.
The drumming is outstandingly intense and Bruce sings like he can’t spit the words out venomously fast enough.
This song stands next Adam as his angriest song in my opinion. It is relentless and leaves absolutely no one standing in its wake.
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- #8,786
Planet14 Gasometer pjcrows
59) Living Proof (Lucky Town)
Searchin’ for a little bit of God’s mercy I found living proof
As a parent, it is hard not to connect and like Living Proof. Its lyrics are so evocative and the belief in the delivery of the vocal is outstanding
Livin’ Proof is profoundly deep and dives in to the journey of the birth of his son, Evan.
It’s raw, and we’re privy to a slight glimpse into Bruce’s soul.
The lyrics are powerful, and the imagery is strong – particularly from the very beginning. And the delivery bursts with conviction and determination.
It’s easy to picture that vivid image of mother, father and newborn sitting in this “dusky room”, but we are told boldly that the birth of his son has made him see the light in a world that may have been dark for many years prior.
I love the whole final verse. Life can be fragile, but if you’ve found happiness and salvation with those you love, it doesn’t matter, because you’re in it together, and you’ve found that Livin’ Proof.
That organ backing the guitar on the outro is a real delight too.
58) Maria’s Bed (Devil’s & Dust)
I keep my heart in my work and my trouble’s in my head
Maria’s Bed warming tenderness pulls you in and lets you stay in close.
Maria’s Bed is our character’s safe place it appears, or a place that seems to offer solace when things aren’t going so well.
The studio cut has a large country feel to it, particularly with its instrumentation and the twang it’s sung with.
The live versions are slightly different; the twang is gone and it’s just acoustic guitar and harmonica.
In either format, the song is a success.
57) Trapped (Live 1975-1985)
Good will conquer evil and the truth will set you free
While he may not have written it, Bruce Springsteen has ironically freed this song from the unknowns.
Trapped tells the story of a man stuck in a relationship he can’t – or won’t – leave at this point in time.
Trapped reaches its summit at each chorus when everyone is involved. It is an excellent example of how great the E-Street Band is when everyone is on. I love that with each chorus the drums build and set as a lead of when the others are to follow. The sax – as always – is great and really has that yearning for an escape. It unleashes the shackles and you can feel the freedom leaping out at you.
You can hear the wanting to escape in the vocal, but our guy knows he’s gonna get out of this, and when he does, he’ll be the winner.
56) Devil’s Arcade (Magic)
You said heroes are needed so heroes get made
Devil’s Arcade is another one of those tracks that can haunt you.
The organ at the beginning is a phenomenal start and slowly sets the mood. It stirs and swirls around you uncomfortably before the violin takes off some of the edge.
The composition of this track is tight and you can feel the increasing tension with each passing moment.
The guitar solo is fiery and driven with the intensity it deserves.
Devil’s Arcade reaches its peak toward the end of the vocal where the line “the beat of your heart” is repeated, over and over, with crashing drums backing it.
As the song draws to a close, the drums are mimicking a heartbeat, when all of a sudden they fall silent, in a stunning end.
Just a stunning, hauntingly intense track.
55) My Love Will Not Let You Down
I got a time bomb tickin’ deep inside of me wanna tell you what I wanna say
My Love Will Not Let You Down comes charging at you, as fast as it can, like a bull in a china shop. It’s fist pumping, heart thumping, adrenaline inducing rock and roll.
It is relentless, unforgiving, powerful and will leave nothing standing in its path.
The guitars here are strong, the drumming pushes things along at an urgent pace, and the piano lends its support to the cause.
Three electric guitars, with multiple solos, pounding drums with a drum solo, a ripping vocal performance full of conviction, what’s not to love?
59) Living Proof (Lucky Town)
Searchin’ for a little bit of God’s mercy I found living proof
As a parent, it is hard not to connect and like Living Proof. Its lyrics are so evocative and the belief in the delivery of the vocal is outstanding
Livin’ Proof is profoundly deep and dives in to the journey of the birth of his son, Evan.
It’s raw, and we’re privy to a slight glimpse into Bruce’s soul.
The lyrics are powerful, and the imagery is strong – particularly from the very beginning. And the delivery bursts with conviction and determination.
It’s easy to picture that vivid image of mother, father and newborn sitting in this “dusky room”, but we are told boldly that the birth of his son has made him see the light in a world that may have been dark for many years prior.
I love the whole final verse. Life can be fragile, but if you’ve found happiness and salvation with those you love, it doesn’t matter, because you’re in it together, and you’ve found that Livin’ Proof.
That organ backing the guitar on the outro is a real delight too.
58) Maria’s Bed (Devil’s & Dust)
I keep my heart in my work and my trouble’s in my head
Maria’s Bed warming tenderness pulls you in and lets you stay in close.
Maria’s Bed is our character’s safe place it appears, or a place that seems to offer solace when things aren’t going so well.
The studio cut has a large country feel to it, particularly with its instrumentation and the twang it’s sung with.
The live versions are slightly different; the twang is gone and it’s just acoustic guitar and harmonica.
In either format, the song is a success.
57) Trapped (Live 1975-1985)
Good will conquer evil and the truth will set you free
While he may not have written it, Bruce Springsteen has ironically freed this song from the unknowns.
Trapped tells the story of a man stuck in a relationship he can’t – or won’t – leave at this point in time.
Trapped reaches its summit at each chorus when everyone is involved. It is an excellent example of how great the E-Street Band is when everyone is on. I love that with each chorus the drums build and set as a lead of when the others are to follow. The sax – as always – is great and really has that yearning for an escape. It unleashes the shackles and you can feel the freedom leaping out at you.
You can hear the wanting to escape in the vocal, but our guy knows he’s gonna get out of this, and when he does, he’ll be the winner.
56) Devil’s Arcade (Magic)
You said heroes are needed so heroes get made
Devil’s Arcade is another one of those tracks that can haunt you.
The organ at the beginning is a phenomenal start and slowly sets the mood. It stirs and swirls around you uncomfortably before the violin takes off some of the edge.
The composition of this track is tight and you can feel the increasing tension with each passing moment.
The guitar solo is fiery and driven with the intensity it deserves.
Devil’s Arcade reaches its peak toward the end of the vocal where the line “the beat of your heart” is repeated, over and over, with crashing drums backing it.
As the song draws to a close, the drums are mimicking a heartbeat, when all of a sudden they fall silent, in a stunning end.
Just a stunning, hauntingly intense track.
55) My Love Will Not Let You Down
I got a time bomb tickin’ deep inside of me wanna tell you what I wanna say
My Love Will Not Let You Down comes charging at you, as fast as it can, like a bull in a china shop. It’s fist pumping, heart thumping, adrenaline inducing rock and roll.
It is relentless, unforgiving, powerful and will leave nothing standing in its path.
The guitars here are strong, the drumming pushes things along at an urgent pace, and the piano lends its support to the cause.
Three electric guitars, with multiple solos, pounding drums with a drum solo, a ripping vocal performance full of conviction, what’s not to love?
- Jan 7, 2018
- 7,942
- 7,271
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Love Devils Arcade.
ExileOnArdenStreet
Serenity Now...Insanity Later
- Jan 21, 2021
- 53
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- North Melbourne
Yes it's great, a shame he never plays this live.
- Thread starter
- #8,789
54) Janey Needs A Shooter (Letter To You)
He probes with his fingers but he only knows her heart only through his stethoscope
Siri, play me a song that sounds like Bob Dylan wrote that Bruce Springsteen sings.
There is so much I adore about this song. The wild and whacky lyrics, the harmonica solo, the clarity and crispness of Bruce’s guitar, Roy’s work on the piano, Max’s solidity behind the kit, the conviction in the delivery of the vocal, the soaring organ.
It’s got early 70s written all over it with its arrangement, lyrics (there are a lot of them!), and sound, but I am so damn glad this finally got released.
Those final few deliveries of “man who knows her style” is bang on in its confidence and assertiveness.
53) Long Time Comin’ (Devil’s & Dust)
I reach ‘neath your shirt, lay my hands across your belly and feel another one kickin’ inside
This would be another track that could lay claim – in my opinion – to one of the best he’s written in the 21st Century.
Long Time Comin’ is another song about fatherhood – to an extent
There is so much hope in its opening chords that make you feel like life is on the up. It’s odd, but Long Time Comin’ is a song that gives me a tremendous feeling of like anything I want to achieve is possible, and nothing can stop that. I feel reborn listening to the guitar.
There are plenty of life lessons that can be taken from this song.
Well if I had one wish for you in this god forsaken world, kid
It'd be that your mistakes will be your own
That your sins will be your own
He wants his children to learn from their mistakes, and in fact make them, so they have a better grasp and understanding on life, and not make the same mistakes he did as his own father.
The final verse is powerful especially with its last line “and I ain’t gonna **** it up this time”. He wants to better himself, for his own sake, and his own future child.
And could the Rosie mentioned be Rosalita? Who knows?
The track is an absolute masterpiece.
52) If I Was The Priest (Letter To You)
And the Holy Ghost is the host with the most
I can’t really work out what If I Was The Priest is about, but I don’t really care. Because I bloody love it. I love the organ, I love the characters, I love the imagery, I love how adamant the vocal is in its delivery to the listener.
It’s a song that just has feel good written all over it. And I really particularly enjoy watching Max just bop along during the verses.
That solo from Steve to bring it home is a real sizzler!
51) Girls In Their Summer Clothes (Magic)
Love’s a fools dance
Girls In Their Summer Clothes succeeds perfectly in creating a great wall of sound. Its lushness invites you in to sit down and make yourself comfortable. The bass swoops and slides, and is absolutely magnificent throughout (particularly in the intro), the vocal is strong and the piano is a more than apt driver. And any track that uses a 12 string gets two thumbs up.
The key change in the bridge hears his voice being pushed to its limits while still being within his range.
The saxophone solo is lush, warming and uplifting.
It may have suffered a little from overproduction in the studio which made it lose some of its charisma live.
This song is all about that deep, sweeping bass guitar. It’s gorgeous to listen to.
Unfortunately, it’s another song that’s been relegated to the halls of neglect.
50) My Hometown (Born In The USA)
Son take a good look around, this is your hometown
I always thought Downbound Train was the best song on Born In The USA. I always thought it stood out much further in front than the other tracks on the album. Then one day, My Hometown really caught my attention. It is exceptional.
The synth evokes something, and it can take you to the places in this song. The imagery used in My Hometown is quality and I believe it’s hard not to think about your own town growing up when you hear the chorus.
The song tracks from our narrator being a boy at the beginning, to racial tensions as he’d got older, and his town ultimately in a bit of a dark place, and then a loss of jobs, and the song closing about how he is now a father, and sitting with his boy, just like his dad did with him.
If you’ve not had the privilege of singing this back in the songs closing, I can’t really describe how special it sounds, especially when it’s in your own hometown.
He probes with his fingers but he only knows her heart only through his stethoscope
Siri, play me a song that sounds like Bob Dylan wrote that Bruce Springsteen sings.
There is so much I adore about this song. The wild and whacky lyrics, the harmonica solo, the clarity and crispness of Bruce’s guitar, Roy’s work on the piano, Max’s solidity behind the kit, the conviction in the delivery of the vocal, the soaring organ.
It’s got early 70s written all over it with its arrangement, lyrics (there are a lot of them!), and sound, but I am so damn glad this finally got released.
Those final few deliveries of “man who knows her style” is bang on in its confidence and assertiveness.
53) Long Time Comin’ (Devil’s & Dust)
I reach ‘neath your shirt, lay my hands across your belly and feel another one kickin’ inside
This would be another track that could lay claim – in my opinion – to one of the best he’s written in the 21st Century.
Long Time Comin’ is another song about fatherhood – to an extent
There is so much hope in its opening chords that make you feel like life is on the up. It’s odd, but Long Time Comin’ is a song that gives me a tremendous feeling of like anything I want to achieve is possible, and nothing can stop that. I feel reborn listening to the guitar.
There are plenty of life lessons that can be taken from this song.
Well if I had one wish for you in this god forsaken world, kid
It'd be that your mistakes will be your own
That your sins will be your own
He wants his children to learn from their mistakes, and in fact make them, so they have a better grasp and understanding on life, and not make the same mistakes he did as his own father.
The final verse is powerful especially with its last line “and I ain’t gonna **** it up this time”. He wants to better himself, for his own sake, and his own future child.
And could the Rosie mentioned be Rosalita? Who knows?
The track is an absolute masterpiece.
52) If I Was The Priest (Letter To You)
And the Holy Ghost is the host with the most
I can’t really work out what If I Was The Priest is about, but I don’t really care. Because I bloody love it. I love the organ, I love the characters, I love the imagery, I love how adamant the vocal is in its delivery to the listener.
It’s a song that just has feel good written all over it. And I really particularly enjoy watching Max just bop along during the verses.
That solo from Steve to bring it home is a real sizzler!
51) Girls In Their Summer Clothes (Magic)
Love’s a fools dance
Girls In Their Summer Clothes succeeds perfectly in creating a great wall of sound. Its lushness invites you in to sit down and make yourself comfortable. The bass swoops and slides, and is absolutely magnificent throughout (particularly in the intro), the vocal is strong and the piano is a more than apt driver. And any track that uses a 12 string gets two thumbs up.
The key change in the bridge hears his voice being pushed to its limits while still being within his range.
The saxophone solo is lush, warming and uplifting.
It may have suffered a little from overproduction in the studio which made it lose some of its charisma live.
This song is all about that deep, sweeping bass guitar. It’s gorgeous to listen to.
Unfortunately, it’s another song that’s been relegated to the halls of neglect.
50) My Hometown (Born In The USA)
Son take a good look around, this is your hometown
I always thought Downbound Train was the best song on Born In The USA. I always thought it stood out much further in front than the other tracks on the album. Then one day, My Hometown really caught my attention. It is exceptional.
The synth evokes something, and it can take you to the places in this song. The imagery used in My Hometown is quality and I believe it’s hard not to think about your own town growing up when you hear the chorus.
The song tracks from our narrator being a boy at the beginning, to racial tensions as he’d got older, and his town ultimately in a bit of a dark place, and then a loss of jobs, and the song closing about how he is now a father, and sitting with his boy, just like his dad did with him.
If you’ve not had the privilege of singing this back in the songs closing, I can’t really describe how special it sounds, especially when it’s in your own hometown.
I would have a few of these further up my own list purely on how they stir up my sentimentality
Letter to you was the right album for a miserable Covid time in my life and was on such heavy rotation in my life to the same extent as Born in the USA was as a 14 year old teenager trying to figure out life. Had you have said to me after the back to back concerts in 2017 that he would ever make such a brilliant album again, I would have scoffed but here I am today enthralled with what he created.
Maybe it’s also the album that ties in with that stage in my life as I zero in on 60. Reliving the past and trying to define where I have been over the years with people and situations and reliving them in my mind, trying to give meaning with a more mature minds eye. And this album stirs up the emotions attached.
Just a thought or two on how subjectivity impacts the ranking of his songs from poster to poster
Letter to you was the right album for a miserable Covid time in my life and was on such heavy rotation in my life to the same extent as Born in the USA was as a 14 year old teenager trying to figure out life. Had you have said to me after the back to back concerts in 2017 that he would ever make such a brilliant album again, I would have scoffed but here I am today enthralled with what he created.
Maybe it’s also the album that ties in with that stage in my life as I zero in on 60. Reliving the past and trying to define where I have been over the years with people and situations and reliving them in my mind, trying to give meaning with a more mature minds eye. And this album stirs up the emotions attached.
Just a thought or two on how subjectivity impacts the ranking of his songs from poster to poster
Gough
Moderator
- Sep 29, 2006
- 75,394
- 140,762
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
- Moderator
- #8,791
The whole Tunnel of Love album changed for me as I got older. I was too young when it came out, drawn in by Born in the USA and it seemingly simplistic message and sound I just didn't understand the album when it came out. As I got older and put a few miles on the clock it started to make sense to me and I started to love it. I still think it's one of his rawest albums.
Yeh same
As an immature 19 year old it packs a punch 35 years on; a “love” album that cuts deeply into the complexity of human relationships
- Thread starter
- #8,793
You know you're gonna have to share your lisst!
LTY is a great album. Some absolute ripsnorters on there.
And yep, everything is subjective when it comes to lists of course.
Tunnel is very dark. You can see he was battling with some of the issues he talks about in his book in that album.
- Thread starter
- #8,795
49) Does this Bus Stop at 82nd Street (Greetings From Asbury Park)
Drink this and you’ll grow wings on your feet
Wind all the way back to 1972, and his song writing – for the most part – was yet to fully evolve.
Bus Stop is fun, zany, chaotic, exciting all wrapped up into one. The horns are vibrant and alive, and the drums have a fun sense of urgency about them. The vocal is loose and just as fun as everything else happening.
It was written on a spur of the moment when he was a on bus to New York City, and he was describing what he saw through the window.
Fun fact: The song wouldn’t have made the album – according to Bruce himself – without the line “there’s still hope”
There is a sweet innocence and naivety that lends itself to Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street. It’s hard to describe, but the song sounds so innocent – in a good way – almost like it’s unaware of all the bad things that can happen in life.
48) Nightshift (Only The Strong Survive)
Gonna be alright o the the nightshift
From its smooth entrance with bongos and keys, and with its close to flawless vocal, Nightshift glides effortlessly in its pursuit of relaxing the listener.
Nightshift details loss and reflection and does it so well. And while this isn’t one of his own he’s made it his own. The delivery is sincere and genuine and the brass backing is the perfect addition.
Curtis’ falsetto is something that words cannot do justice and it leaves me breathless each and every time.
47) Dancing In The Dark (Born In The USA)
I need a love reaction
From a personal standpoint, Dancing In The Dark created the spark to burn so strongly for me 23 years ago.
There is so much more to this song than meets the eye – or ear.
Under the incredibly upbeat melody there is a deep and moody story in there, and it shows the vulnerability of human beings. It’s a cry for help.
Our character, possibly Bruce himself is in a world of discontent.
“Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there, baby, I could use just a little help
I check my look in the mirror
Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't gettin' nowhere
I'm just livin' in a dump like this”
Unhappiness has sprung both internally and within his own view of himself.
Dancing is fun, incredibly exciting and uplifting, joyous and it’s so easy to ride the wave of happiness it creates. You can lose yourself in it all and drift away.
The synths are out of this world good, the sax solo is great and that 80s drum sound couldn’t get any better if it tried, the vocal is also incredibly strong too.
But man, what a track.
46) Real World (Human Touch)
We’ll take it to here to hell and to heaven and back
When Bruce performed at two benefit shows in LA in 1990, his voice peaked. It did not, and has not sounded better than it at those two shows.
As for the performance itself, it has a tenderness, vulnerability and rawnwess to it that we so rarely ever get to see.
The rendition from the Christic Shows of Real World is, in my opinion, his best vocal performance. This is also the version that should have been on the album.
The lyrics are strong, and you can still see some pain from the Tunnel of Love era there, but the cracks appear to be healing and the pain lessening.
The love is there, with this woman, and our protagonist – most likely Bruce – has successfully navigated through the troubles that walked beside him a few years prior.
“It's just me and you and the love we're bringing
Into the real world”
45) Atlantic City (Nebraska)
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
Atlantic City has so much swagger and attitude about it. The big, booming beat, with the gritty vocal is a perfect combination for this track.
The drums are the highlight for me throughout, but the organ is also stellar itself, as well as the mandolin.
The simmering in the last two or so minutes of that final verse is great before the slow build and an eruption of sound takes over and everybody is jamming out.
Drink this and you’ll grow wings on your feet
Wind all the way back to 1972, and his song writing – for the most part – was yet to fully evolve.
Bus Stop is fun, zany, chaotic, exciting all wrapped up into one. The horns are vibrant and alive, and the drums have a fun sense of urgency about them. The vocal is loose and just as fun as everything else happening.
It was written on a spur of the moment when he was a on bus to New York City, and he was describing what he saw through the window.
Fun fact: The song wouldn’t have made the album – according to Bruce himself – without the line “there’s still hope”
There is a sweet innocence and naivety that lends itself to Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street. It’s hard to describe, but the song sounds so innocent – in a good way – almost like it’s unaware of all the bad things that can happen in life.
48) Nightshift (Only The Strong Survive)
Gonna be alright o the the nightshift
From its smooth entrance with bongos and keys, and with its close to flawless vocal, Nightshift glides effortlessly in its pursuit of relaxing the listener.
Nightshift details loss and reflection and does it so well. And while this isn’t one of his own he’s made it his own. The delivery is sincere and genuine and the brass backing is the perfect addition.
Curtis’ falsetto is something that words cannot do justice and it leaves me breathless each and every time.
47) Dancing In The Dark (Born In The USA)
I need a love reaction
From a personal standpoint, Dancing In The Dark created the spark to burn so strongly for me 23 years ago.
There is so much more to this song than meets the eye – or ear.
Under the incredibly upbeat melody there is a deep and moody story in there, and it shows the vulnerability of human beings. It’s a cry for help.
Our character, possibly Bruce himself is in a world of discontent.
“Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there, baby, I could use just a little help
I check my look in the mirror
Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't gettin' nowhere
I'm just livin' in a dump like this”
Unhappiness has sprung both internally and within his own view of himself.
Dancing is fun, incredibly exciting and uplifting, joyous and it’s so easy to ride the wave of happiness it creates. You can lose yourself in it all and drift away.
The synths are out of this world good, the sax solo is great and that 80s drum sound couldn’t get any better if it tried, the vocal is also incredibly strong too.
But man, what a track.
46) Real World (Human Touch)
We’ll take it to here to hell and to heaven and back
When Bruce performed at two benefit shows in LA in 1990, his voice peaked. It did not, and has not sounded better than it at those two shows.
As for the performance itself, it has a tenderness, vulnerability and rawnwess to it that we so rarely ever get to see.
The rendition from the Christic Shows of Real World is, in my opinion, his best vocal performance. This is also the version that should have been on the album.
The lyrics are strong, and you can still see some pain from the Tunnel of Love era there, but the cracks appear to be healing and the pain lessening.
The love is there, with this woman, and our protagonist – most likely Bruce – has successfully navigated through the troubles that walked beside him a few years prior.
“It's just me and you and the love we're bringing
Into the real world”
45) Atlantic City (Nebraska)
Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
Atlantic City has so much swagger and attitude about it. The big, booming beat, with the gritty vocal is a perfect combination for this track.
The drums are the highlight for me throughout, but the organ is also stellar itself, as well as the mandolin.
The simmering in the last two or so minutes of that final verse is great before the slow build and an eruption of sound takes over and everybody is jamming out.
ExileOnArdenStreet
Serenity Now...Insanity Later
- Jan 21, 2021
- 53
- 114
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
