|
Born to Run | 
 enlarge | Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $3.10
You Save: $10.88 (78%)
New (51) Used (50) Collectible (5) from $3.10
Avg. Customer Rating:  262 reviews
Sales Rank: 1082
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 33795
UPC: 746433795266
EAN: 0746433795266
ASIN: B00000255F
Release Date: October 25, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Music
|
| Tracks:
| • | Thunder Road | | • | Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out | | • | Night | | • | Backstreets | | • | Born to Run | | • | She's the One | | • | Meeting Across the River | | • | Jungleland |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential recording
Few albums are as fueled by hope, possibility, and the lure of the open road as Born to Run, a virtual concept album about small-town Jerseyites in search of a better life via hot-rodding out on the turnpike, scoring some small-time hustle, or blowing out of town altogether, either across the river to New York City or west for parts unknown. Songs like "Jungleland," "Thunder Road," "Backstreets," and the title track are epic productions, both sonically and lyrically, borrowing from Phil Spector, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, and West Side Story. When Born to Run was released in 1975, it earned then-unknown Springsteen the rare honor of simultaneous covers on both Time and Newsweek. The attention was warranted then, and it still is now. --Daniel Durchholz
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 257 more reviews...
The greatest album ever? Yep. November 1, 2008
It's almost impossible to write an adequate review of "Born to Run", because so much has been written about it, ultimately you'll just be echoing others' sentiments. You can try to find different ways of wording it, but in the end you're just heaping more praise upon an album that is universally considered a masterpiece.
Not that you'll get any argument from me on that front. If the perfect album is impossible to create, than BTR is a close as it's going to get. Why? Because it transcends being simply music. This truly is a cinematic album, like a soundtrack to a movie never made, except that the album IS the movie. It really draws you in that way. You don't listen to BTR, you experience it. Yes, it's THAT good.
From the gentle opening of "Thunder Road" (which just may be the greatest rock song of all time) to the pure exhilaration of "Night" and the title track, to Springsteen's tortured howl that ends "Jungleland" and the album, every note is perfect. There's not one line that doesn't fit. Every song is just plain great, nothing even comes close to filler. There's no way to really explain it if you haven't listened; It all just fits perfectly. Because Springsteen knew this was a make-or-break album, there's an unmistakable air of actual meaning behind everything sung here. Just incredible.
Some (if not most) Springsteen albums are made to be listened to under specific conditions. I mean, you wouldn't take "Nebraska" in the CD player as you cruise on a Summer day, would you? Some work fine in the car, but others you need to just sit back and 'feel' (indeed, every album of his should be listened to this way, save for "Human Touch", which is strictly background music). BTR is perfect no matter how you listen to it. Sit back and let "She's the One" and the haunting "Meeting Across the River" strike you right in the heart, or drive down main street while "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" plays. Driving at night with "Night" and then "Backstreets" as your background music is positively electrifying; I know from first-hand experience.
BTR is sort of a transitional album in that it combines some of the romanticism of Springsteen's first two albums with tales of loss and despair that would come to the forefront on "Darkness on the Edge of Town" and beyond. "Thunder Road", "Night", the title track, and even "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" all rely on youthful hope and nighttime redemption; the need to get out of whatever situation these characters find themselves in and try to find something, anything better. But where there's some optimism in those songs, "Backstreets" "Meeting Across the River", and "Jungleland" all point to dashed dreams, dead-ends, and even death. Springsteen employed a method where each side of the original vinyl would begin hopeful, and end in despair (an effect that is sadly lost in the CD translation). "Darkness..." would use this method, albeit with a much darker undercurrent.
In the end, it's hard to find any fault in "Born to Run". It's one of those rare albums that garnered monumental hype, and managed to completely live up to it, if not surpass it. Only the aforementioned "Darkness on the Edge of Town" comes close. No doubt about it, this is the greatest album ever made.
Bruce Springsteen at his best October 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Born to Run is the album that started Bruce Springsteen to the fame he enjoys now.
The album has a raw charm, but it is a kick back to the Rock of the 50's and 60's.
Bruce at one time wanted to become a premier guitarist but realized his efforts were in vain. He decided to concentrate on writing and performing instead. In time he has become one of the very best writers in Rock.
This is his signature album (arguably with Born in the USA).
If you like Bruce Springsteen this album is a must.
Born to Run September 11, 2008
In his ever expanding writing style to desribe the plight of the everday working man, his desparate need to create a hit record turns out one of the best albums of rock and roll and the best part is that you can hear his desparation through the singing. During the time of disco and progressive rock, it seemed as if rock would never be able to return to its roots, but Springsteen combined a big band sound or his own version of the 'wall of sound' with complex yet straight forward lyrics about escape for a better future. No better is this displayed than in the album opener, "Thunder Road," which serves as an invitation to the listeners to escape with the singer and Mary on that "dusty beach road."
Every song on this album has its own niche. Clarence Clemons has his part on nearly every song that adds a certain amount of texture to each track. Roy Bittan's piano work is legendary especially for the song, "Jungleland," perhaps the greatest story song ever told about living on the streets. The album does provide an escape for the listener to delve into the stories of gangs rumbling in the street and tales of love lost and found.
Bruce Rocks, almost as hard as the Stones August 8, 2008
Bruce is really quite inovative, if you look at him in the history of music. Who sound like Bruce, and came before Bruce? Not much, maybe a few Phil Spector creations, but thats it. And, quite simply, he rocks harder then most. I'd say only the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix can rock harder. Every song here is an all time classic, each a mini story told with the perfect accompiament. Every instrument in the entire CD sounds fantastic, streched to its highest potental. One of the best, a top ten for me.
I need an asterisk - this is five stars plus! July 28, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Rarely do heavily hyped artistic endeavors come even remotely close to living up to the expectations. Born to Run is as notable an exception as you'll ever encounter. After an ordinary debut and an extraordinary but under-appreciated sophomore effort Springsteen released Born at the end of the 1975 summer. While The Wild, the Innocent... sounded as if it had been hastily put together Columbia, Bruce and the E Street Band pulled out all of the stops on the new recording. The result is a sonic blast never before heard. It is over the top in the manner of Phil Spector and it works.
Lyrically Born continues Springsteen's string of personal Jersey stories of love, regret, violence, street life and heartache. Musically he leaves behind most of the R & B, jazz and Latino influences and turns to straight ahead rock and roll. Whereas the previous records sounded somewhat muddy this one is crisp and clear with Springsteen's self-assured vocals leaping out at the listener over layers of well-defined instrumentation. Again, as with The Wild, one strong song is followed by another - there are no let downs.
For me Springsteen is just one of the dozens of great artists who I have admired over the course of my rock and roll life. I am not what you would call a great fan. Van is the man. Bruce is just a man! However, whenever I listen to this cd I cannot help but be amazed and energized. It truly is a landmark in the history of American popular music. Five stars aren't enough. There should be a super category for the likes of Pepper, What's Goin' On, Nevermind, Pet Sounds and the other really important records. I need an asterisk.
|
|
|
|
