Twenty Five Years Ago Yesterday
4th June 1984 saw the release of one of the biggest selling and critically acclaimed albums of all time: Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen.
So how does the album stand-up to the test of time as they say. Well whilst there's no doubting that the album is probably his most successful in terms of sales and his most commercial offering I'd have to say that it doesn't really stand-up all that well when compared with his other albums, including Born To Run which was released eleven years earlier, or some other albums released during the same year.
For those unfamiliar with the track listing here it is:
Side one: Born In The U.S.A, Cover Me, Darlington County, Working on the Highway, Downbound Train and I'm On Fire.
Side two: No Surrender, Bobby Jean, I'm Goin' Down, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark and My Hometown.
What's obvious is how important running order was back in the days of vinyl. Side One opens with the anthemic, bombastic and, hugely misconstrued at the time, title track and by the time we reach I'm On Fire complete with Bruce's whistles fading out we can see the advantage that vinyl has over the one size fits all shake n'vac world that is the CD. Side Two kicks off with the powerful No Surrender and ends with another nostalgic view of Americana with My Hometown, Bruce reminiscing about riding into town on his Dad's lap looking at the hopelessness he would eventually inherit in the aftermath of the failure of trickle down Reaganomics.
1984 also saw the release of, among my personal favourites, The Smiths eponymous debut, Goodbye Cruel World by Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Some Great Reward by Depeche Mode and for me the album of the year Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole and The Commotions. Each one of those four albums still sounds great now, whereas Born In The USA sounds so 80's. Everything from the guitars, to the keyboards, the almost cheesy harmonies make the album one of and for its time. I know it's sacrilege, especially as I am married to one of Bruce's all-time greatest fans, somebody who still waits with almost childlike excitement for his next release, and I also know that there are thousands of artists who would love to have written an album that would sell as many as this but for me, without the aid of nostalgia tinted glasses, it's day was then not now.
10 comments:
I probably need to hear more of Springsteen's output to judge but I have not so far found myself captivated by his music in general. But that probably can be said of others about my choice of music...
Hi Gildy. I don't think he's somebody who grabs you straight away, took me years. I was the same with Dylan, I can remember my Damascus moment with Dylan even now, listening to an album I borrowed from the library (pre Internet days) and suddenly I got it.
I never got the Springsteen, thing. A mate of mine who's opinion I still rate as the most musically valid of anyone I've ever met loved him from the age of 10 though. Still never got it though.
I saw him at Wembley in the mid 80's, not because I was a particular fan but because I could get in to the concerts for free (U2 and Madonna too etc)
Bit like Six Years Crispin I don't really see the super star that many see.
Thanks Crispin and Span (I know your real name but won't use :-).
I have to thank Janis for getting me into him, like SYL mate she was a fan right from the start of her musical listening.
Span - I saw him on 4th July 1985 at Wembley and he started with Independence Day - what else?
Me too! I may have seen you...
;-)
Yes, at long last I've been tempted into FB...after several misfires (always backed out before because I didn't want to register to see family photos!)
Strangely enough, I've never got into Bruce Springsteen. O.K., I like the classics, Burn to Run and Born in the USA, but I really don't get why some people are totally sold on him.
A quote from my late mother may be in order... ...
"It wouldn't be doing if we were all the same"
Burn to run, Shytalk? I think that's what's on Gordon Brwon's mind...
Are you on hols Paul?
...watching rugby...live?
Hi Span - no, not on holiday, just unable to make the time for a variety of reasons.
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