Best Springsteen album

[sydneyfan]

(take 2)

There are far fewer than six degrees of separation between RA and Springsteen.

Which is your personal favourite album by the Boss?

(I ignored compilations and special releases because the list would be too long...)

[Rosebud]

Um, I see very little correlation between Bruce and Ryan to be honest.

I did snag an awesome recording of Bruce from Hartford last fall 10/7/05 if anyone's jonesin' for a Devil's & Dust show.

[sydneyfan]

Originally Posted by Rosebud

Um, I see very little correlation between Bruce and Ryan to be honest.

I did snag an awesome recording of Bruce from Hartford last fall 10/7/05 if anyone's jonesin' for a Devil's & Dust show.

The album cover (and some of the contents) of "Gold" suggest otherwise.

Shadowlands oozes early Springsteen, so does (surprisingly) "Wish You Were Here" amongst others.

[Rosebud]

Well you can spend the better part of a week citing Ryan songs that smack of other artists but really, I'm not trying to be a contrarian, I just don't see much correlation by content.

[sydneyfan]

Originally Posted by Rosebud

Well you can spend the better part of a week citing Ryan songs that smack of other artists but really, I'm not trying to be a contrarian, I just don't see much correlation by content.

I think at least two weeks .... I'm currently working on the little discussed Ryan Adams-ABBA connection.

Musical influences are tricky,subjective things to pin down, especially as you say, with someone like Ryan. There's no right and wrong here; we're all going to hear different things at times.

Glad to see Nebraska is out in front at this stage.

[Factory Boy]

Sorry Sydders & I'm probably on my own round here with this but the ol' Bossman has always left me totally cold. Not saying he isn't any good or anything but I've been hearing his music for many years now & it never does anything for me. Think he really blew it with me when all that Born In The USA stuff came out. I couldn't stand it, especially all those videos where he's standing there looking like he has a baseball under each arm!!!
So I'm afraid I'll be residing in the Don't Care Too Much For Brucie section & feeling rather lonely I shouldn't wonder.

[Nix]

How much do I love DOTEOT. That takes me back, jumping roung the bedroom pretending I could sing.

Although I have never heard Nebraska !

[sydneyfan]

Originally Posted by Factory Boy

Sorry Sydders & I'm probably on my own round here with this but the ol' Bossman has always left me totally cold. Not saying he isn't any good or anything but I've been hearing his music for many years now & it never does anything for me. Think he really blew it with me when all that Born In The USA stuff came out. I couldn't stand it, especially all those videos where he's standing there looking like he has a baseball under each arm!!!
So I'm afraid I'll be residing in the Don't Care Too Much For Brucie section & feeling rather lonely I shouldn't wonder.

Haha, it is true that Born in the USA probably wasn't his finest hour. Although it did make him a multi-millionaire, so I'm sure he isn;t losing too much sleep over it. It's okay that you don't like Bruce - I have enough Boss-love for us both.


And Nix - go and get Nebraska at once. It's an essential album, and if you loved Darkness, I think you'll like it very much.

[Factory Boy]

Originally Posted by sydneyfan

Haha, it is true that Born in the USA probably wasn't his finest hour. Although it did make him a multi-millionaire, so I'm sure he isn;t losing too much sleep over it. It's okay that you don't like Bruce - I have enough Boss-love for us both.
.

Well, it's nice that you took it with such good grace, Sydders & yes, I'm sure you're right, the Bossmeister can probably just about get by without my support!! If it's any consolation, I do have a bit of a soft spot for the song, The River.

[Rosebud]

My story was a lot like Factory's until I went to see him in Hartford to tape for my buddy on his birthday. The man put on a splendid show and I have a greater appreciation for him than I did.

sydney, again, I'd me more than happy to mail the 10/7/05 Hartford to you. It may be the best AUD stealth I've ever gotten, esp for a civic center.

[sydneyfan]

That's very kind of you, much appreciated. I'll send you a PM.

[hgrunwell]

woooooooot

[sydneyfan]

Hahaha - poor Bruce, he's got the baseball under the arms thing going in that pic.

I still love him though.

[Campaigner]

Folks, it's all about The Wild, the Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle!

My favourite album of all-time, bar none...

[paulc]

For all you doubters who have only heard commercial pap like Born in the USA & Dancing in the Dark you really need to get Darkness & Nebraska, then like me you'll believe that he's right up there with Dylan & Woody Guthrie as a songwriter.

[Factory Boy]

Originally Posted by paulc

For all you doubters who have only heard commercial pap like Born in the USA & Dancing in the Dark you really need to get Darkness & Nebraska, then like me you'll believe that he's right up there with Dylan & Woody Guthrie as a songwriter.

Hey paul, how you doin'?
Have to say, I've heard most of 'em & agree those two are the pick of the bunch but up there with Dylan & Woody? I'm afraid I could never go along with that. For me, Dylan (for a good 10 year period at least) has probably never been equalled as a songwriter.
How dull life would be if we all agreed though, eh?

[sydneyfan]

Originally Posted by paulc

For all you doubters who have only heard commercial pap like Born in the USA & Dancing in the Dark you really need to get Darkness & Nebraska, then like me you'll believe that he's right up there with Dylan & Woody Guthrie as a songwriter.

So true. I honestly think he's one of the very best songwriters ever - and unlike some of his peers, has been able to still keep producing relevant, quality work over a long period. Sure,not every Springsteen release has been classic, but has he ever produced a truely bad album? Even Born in the USA has its merits I think.

[kees]

Not trying to step out of the fishie-nets here, but while I agree that Darkness & Nebraska are the two that stand out, and that after Nebraska Master Springsteen hasn't really made his best work (I blame the Redhead), I have to say that 70's Bruce & E Street Band made some kick ass music, especially live... Right now, while I'm supposed to be working real hard, I'm listening to the Hammersmith Odeon '75 thing.... Oops, this is really something!!! What a band!

[Rosebud]

Yes, that Hammerstein '75 dvd is awesome.

...cept, he shoulda lost the stupid dread hat!

[Campaigner]

Originally Posted by kees

(I blame the Redhead)

I dunno, being with the redhead behind his first wife's back gave him the muse he needed for Tunnel of Love, which I didn't like too much at first, but now I rank it in his top five albums. "Valentine's Day" is a kick ass song!

Born in the USA is something I don't listen to all the time, but when I do, I find that it's actually pretty darn good, even a song like "Cover Me" which, if you'd asked me three years ago what I thought about it I would've said that I wouldn't have cared if I'd ever heard the song again, has certain charms.

For me, it goes like this;

1) The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle *****
2) Born to Run *****
3) The River *****
4) Nebraska *****
5) Tunnel of Love ****1/2
6) Darkness on the Edge of Town ****1/2
7) Born in the USA ****1/2
8) Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ ****
9) The Rising ****
10) Lucky Town ***1/2 (very underrated)
11) Devils & Dust **1/2
12) The Ghost of Tom Joad **
13) Human Touch *1/2

Needless to say, I fookin' love Bruce. You could have an album made up of just outtakes from The River that were found on disc 2 of Tracks and it would almost be one of the best albums of the 80s, but they weren't good enough for Bruce to put out originally...