Bruce Springsteen :: Born to Run

My first vinyl single was a 12" "Dancing in the Dark" (Columbia / 44-05028) which included the "Blaster" and "Dub" mix of the song. My 3 year old self loved it. I probably would not enjoy the remixes so much today, although I still like the song. I remember one the first albums I obsessed over was Born to Run, which my dad really liked to play. I remember being entranced by the story and the length of "Jungleland" and trying to understand all the lyrics. As I got older, I didn't really keep up with Bruce. When I like an artist, I want to like all of his material almost equally. There are quiet a few good musicians and bands I probably can't do that with. Over time, I have realized that although I have not keep up with a certain act doesn't mean I can't go back and enjoy their older stuff. And although I can't say I have the same love for all of the Boss's material, he has not had any large musical missteps, unlike many other artists. His sound continues to influence newer artists that I enjoy. And what can be better than trying to sing along to "10th Avenue Freeze Out" on a warm spring day. I think Springsteen's vocal delivery is what makes this song especially enjoyable. He sings like there is something so important going on he has to let it out. And raw emotion is one of the common denominators in a lot of music that speaks to me personally (along with hand claps, organ, idiosyncratic vocal delivery, and a few other things). Bruce, when I get time maybe I can catch up with all your albums past 1990. Maybe then I will find out I really like all of them after all.