On September 23, 1949, Bruce Springsteen, “The Boss” of rock music, was born. With the recent release of “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,” a biopic following Springsteen’s early career; the time has come to look back on one of rock music’s biggest idols and greatest poets.
With his career beginning in the ‘60s, Springsteen would mark the first milestone of his career after signing with Columbia Records in 1972. As with most artists, he had a slow start, with his original two albums; “Greetings from Ashbury Park N.J.” and “The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle,” receiving next to no sales. His ability, however, was on display from the get go, with both albums receiving high critical acclaim, and his debut being ranked in the top 100 best of all time by the Rolling Stones.
Springsteen was raised working class, shouldering not just financial instability as a child, but also an alcoholic father. Despite these hardships, however, Springsteen’s experiences set the kindling for his music, and his prolific songwriting on the working class experience became a constant source of praise. He connected to that community like no other rock artist had before, capturing the dreams of ordinary people, rather than flaunting wealth and women.
Though his message remained the same, Springsteen would get his first big break in 1975 with “Born to Run.” The eponymous lead single became a massive radio success, sung out as an anthem of America for years, and the rest of the tracks followed suit, generating a massive wave of popularity. The album also marked the first time Springsteen used studio production, rather than his typical replication of live instrument noise. He would later remark in 2005, “I wanted it to sound enormous, to grab you by your throat and insist that you take that ride, insist that you pay attention—not just to the music, but to life, to being alive.”
Following a massive legal dispute with his manager Mike Appel, Springsteen would buy out of his contract, fully taking ownership of his records, before releasing his next two albums. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” released 1978, and “The River” released 1980, maintained Bruce’s consistent lyricism and new studio production. With these albums, Springsteen brought a new level of experimentation. Delivering lyrics over introspective ballads and party songs along with rock and roll in “The River.” While providing mixes of country and punk rock elements in “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Both albums were received with heavy acclaim and popularity, with “The River” being his fastest growing album to date.
Stripping away the popularity and the studio, however, “Nebraska” released 1982, was recorded in Springsteen’s home with only a guitar and harmonica for instruments. A more somber tone for an album, he depicts the stories of loners, set back by life at every turn. “Nebraska” is the search for deliverance from blue collar workers over stark instrumentals. Though failing to reach the popularity of his previous three works, the album exists as a standout within his catalogue, beloved by critics for its simplicity and raw emotion.
Perhaps what he is best known for however is “Born in the U.S.A.” released in 1984. His most popular album to date, Springsteen leans into the more pop rock sound of the ‘80s, with an emphasis on synthesisers and snare. His lyrics, however, contrast heavily the production, as he continues his deep exploration of working class life, and delivers political messaging about the lingering effects of the war in Vietnam. “Born in the U.S.A.” stands as his most impactful album, fully bringing his conscious lyrics into the mainstream and popularizing his sounds forever.
Springsteen would go on to release several more albums throughout his career, most notably “Tunnel of Love” in 1987 and “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” in 1995. Continuing his trademark storytelling and appeals to the working class, while continuing to experiment with acoustics and contemplative sound. At the heart of his music, however, the message was the same; the American struggle.
Springsteen was a true revolutionary of rock and roll, delivering a focus on injustice and poverty that had not been seen before. He was the poet of a generation, and “The Boss” of rock, leaving an unforgettable legacy on the genre.
