It was July of 1974 when I first saw Bruce Springsteen in concert. I had a passing knowledge of his 1973 debut LP, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., and I recall reading about him as the “latest Bob Dylan”, an old cliché that was trotted out at least once a year about whoever was the newest, up-and-coming lyric-heavy singer-songwriter. I was more familiar with his follow-up, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, which I heard as a jazzy, R&B/rock hybrid. So I went with my then girlfriend to catch him at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, a small venue, not even full, where he was the opening act for Dr. John who served up a gumbo mix of boogie-woogie and rock & roll. What I remember from the show is that the band was tight, the energy was electric, and they played this arresting new number with tempo changes and a moving sax solo called “Jungleland”. Then a year later, Bruce released what today is universally recognized as his magnum opus, Born to Run. With its metaphors of nighttime streets, back alleys, and the open highway; its themes of risk taking, all-in commitment, brokenness, failure, love and freedom; its Phil Spector- infused, anthemic rock sweep; and Springsteen’s gritty, muscular vocals, the album was a revelation, hinting at the great, grand mystery of life and coming of age. Millions besides me must have heard it as well, for when I next saw him live at West Hollywood’s Roxy, Bruce was a celebrated headliner with his face staring out at us from the covers of both Time and Newsweek. The album has worn well- “Thunder Road”, “Jungleland”, and the title track are today genuine classics.
Fifty years on, Bruce is still wowing crowds, his reputation as one of the greatest live performers of all-time very much intact. The Boss, as the New Jersey native is known, has released a total of 21 studio albums, with his biggest-seller, 1984’s Born in the U.S.A., having sold a reputed 30 million copies, with the title track becoming a bit of a political football between the Democratic and Republican candidates for President. Other highly acclaimed LPs include 1978’s Darkness on the Edge of Town where Bruce began to explore the plight of the workingman; 1980’s The River, his double album; the dark, stark Nebraska; 1987’s Tunnel of Love, with its tales of love gone wrong; and 2002’s The Rising, his heartfelt response to the myriad tragedies of 9/11.
Can’t mention Bruce Springsteen without acknowledging the crack E Street Band that has accompanied him for much of his musical journey. Long-time members include guitarists Steven Van Zandt and Nils Lofgren; keyboard maestro Roy Bittan; Garry Tallent, Bruce’s bass player; Max Weinberg, his steady drummer; and Patti Scialfa, Bruce’s wife who sings background and plays rhythm guitar. Danny Federici (organ) and Clarence Clemons (sax) were with Springsteen from the beginning, but both have passed away.
There’ve been plenty of great individual tracks. Along with Born to Run‘s timeless gems, some of my favorites include- “Spirit in the Night”, “It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City”, and “Rosalita” (1973); “Badlands” and “The Promised Land” (1978); “The River” (1980); “Dancing in the Dark” (1984); “All That Heaven Will Allow” and “Brilliant Disguise” (1987); “I Wish I Were Blind” (1992); “Streets of Philadelphia” (1993); “Secret Garden” (1995); “You’re Missing”, “Mary’s Place” and “My City of Ruins” (2002).
With countless honors and awards and a fervent fan base like few others, there seems little doubt that Bruce Springsteen will go into the history books as one of the most consequential recording artists of all-time.
-Steve Williams (9/11/23) Greatest Recording Artists Blog Post #44
Greatest Recording Artists 
2 responses to “Bruce Springsteen (1949 – present)”
Have you ever witnessed greatness and didn’t realize it at the time? That was me in February 1973, as part of the audience in Monmouth College’s old Boylan gymnasium at a Bruce Springsteen show. It was called the “Save A Tree” concert, and admission was $1 plus a newspaper to be recycled. I remember little about the actual show other than that I was there.
Fast forward to 1975 and “Born to Run” had launched Bruce to stardom and onto the covers of Time and Newsweek. That is one of the most exciting albums ever made, and I was lucky enough to see him live a year later at the old Spectrum in Philly. A truly great show!
Bruce got even bigger a decade later, but real life turned my attention elsewhere and I never followed his career as closely as in the earlier years. I really don’t like the song “Born in the USA” and he talks, rather than sings, “Glory Days.”
But as a long- time resident of the Jersey Shore, I always loved his references to this area and his roots. Did you hear the cops finally busted Madame Marie? Last I heard Madame Marie’s granddaughter was “telling fortunes better than they do” on the Asbury Park boardwalk. And references to Route 88 and “sprung from cages on Highway 9” — I’ve sat in traffic on both roads. And “Main Street’s whitewashed windows and vacant stores”. — Bruce really did come from working-class Freehold, NJ — a 25-minute drive to the beach — and honed his musical talents in the small clubs of Asbury Park.
Several former colleagues of mine at the Asbury Park Press probably saw him live dozens of times over the years. Around here, he remains “one of ours” but also larger than life.
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I’m a late bloomer about developing my taste for Bruce Springsteen’s music. It took me almost 10 years to fall for his music, however once I heard “Human Touch” and “I Wish I Was Blind” I became a believer.
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