Born to Run it is
4 Likes
Best track on Nebraska
- Nebraska
- Atlantic City
- Mansion on the Hill
- Johnny 99
- Highway Patrolman
- State Trooper
- Used Cars
- Open All Night
- My Fathers House
- Reason to Believe
0 voters
Highway Patrolman is so good. I knew Johnny Cash had covered it, but it was only googling just now that I learnt he did Johnny 99 on the same album as well
1 Like
Iām listening to The River for the first time in Several years. It contains some of his strongest material, but also the worst material of his imperial period. To be expected as itās a double album, but some of the songs/ideas could be developed just a bit more (or dropped entirely, specifically āPoint Blankā)
Please also drop āCrush on Youā Bruce
4 Likes
Haha, think heās acknowledged Crush on Youās (lack of) quality before, Iām sure heās jokingly introduced it as āmy masterpieceā from time to time.
The River is a weird one, the quieter more introspective stuff is a clear bridge from Darkness to where heād go on Nebraska, and it feels like he just decided to break it up with straight-up bar-band rockers throughout (most of which are fun, but pretty lightweight and not likely to make many best of lists). From Crush on You onwards (so track 8-20) there isnāt a single great upbeat song - Ramrod is good to hear live, but thatās it.
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There must have been a conscious decision to release a load of pub-rock songs (probably incorrect categorisation) on the album, though he really could have done with more quality control. Most of the songs have something interesting, but mostly they could do with being combined, shortened or eliminated.
The āTies that Bindā single set album he issued must have been an attempt to re-write the history of that period and remove some of the bloat. If not for the River his run from Born to Run to Tunnel of Love would be completely perfect, though thatās still pretty much one of the best runs anyoneās ever had.
Think there was some kind of idea that the album would be like a Springsteen gig, so presumably those songs were all thrown in to have the E Street Band in party mode.
Like 99% of all albums of that length, you could trim it down to an incredible 12 track album. Havenāt listened to the Ties That Bind reissue thing since it came out, will give it another go.
3 Likes
Remember being so disappointed when I heard The River (album) after loving The River (song) so much. Like what the hell is thisā¦still never go back to it. Bought it on vinyl from oxfam as well
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thatās weird - that follows the exact trajectory with that album - right down to the oxfam vinyl bit (wasnāt headingley oxfam was it?)
listened his back catalogue recently, noting songs i thought ākeepersā along the way and with 7 of these, the river had 2 more than any of his other albumsā¦ jackson cage, hungry heart, the river, point blank, stolen car, the price you pay, wreck on the highway
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One personās coffee is another personās teaā¦
Love Point Blank and that was one of the songs carried over from the āDarknessā¦ā sessions. Agree with your feelings on Crush On You. That and songs like Iām A Rocker and, great C sax solo aside, Drive All Night couldāve been left off. As others have already said, think the album maybe loses something if you donāt have it all on the table. Special props for Wreck On The Highway too- gets me every time and that instrumental fade out is magic!
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Got The River when I was 12 or 13. It was one of my first albums, and listened to it non-stop for weeks. Loved every track. Probably changed my life in more ways than one.
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Drive All Night had a better previous life as a middle section in Backstreets (about 5 minutes into this):
(You might have already known this version, but posting for anyone who hasnāt heard it cos itās great)
6 Likes
Great version, there. In fact, on some days, āBackstreetsā may legitimately be my favourite Bruce song.
3 Likes
henley on thames in about 2004. got some good stuff from there. and also some terrible stuff
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HEadiNgLEY
He says in his book (and someone mentioned this above) that it was suppose to sound like an E-Sreet gig.
He had so much good material to chose for this album. If you check out the deluxe version and also all of The Promise , you can create an absolute amazing double album. Some of the B sides are way better than the album tracks. He acknowledges that now and isnāt really sure what he was thinking with some of his track selections.
Enjoyed listening to Nebraska in the rain just now.
7 Likes
Good springtime album. Then blast Born in the USA in the summer
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Technically not a double album but suggestions for a decent 12 track edit of Lucky Town / Human Touch would be gratefully received because theyāre still my biggest Springsteen blind spots.