The Boss- Bruce Springsteen turns 63 years old today.

Ten Notes On Bruce Springsteen

1. The first concert I ever went to- December 1st, 1980-Pittsburgh Civic Arena- Bruce Springsteen. What a great concert to start out with. I have asked people over the years “What was your first concert” and some are embarrassed to say something like “Styx” or “REO Speedwagon”  I’ve been to 250 plus concerts since but that is the only time I’ve seen Bruce. That was on “The River” Tour, a week before John Lennon’s assassination. Great concert, still would rank among the Top 5ive concerts I’ve been to. {Elvis Costello 1982 was the best-front row, center} I remember Bruce coming out and his first song “Born To Run” doesn’t get any better than that.

2. Springsteen’s prime I believe was from 1975’s- “Born To Run” album through “Tunnel Of Love” in 1988. Since then his career has been rather spotty in my opinion. My favourite Bruce Springsteen albums -My Mount Rushmore of Bruce Albums would be- “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” “Nebraska” “The River” and “Born To Run” His biggest selling album “Born In The USA” was great too. I think a lot of people got sick of that album because of all the hits on it, you couldn’t turn the radio on in the mid 1980’s without hearing a song from that album. But I think the album holds up rather well.

3. The Boss in concert gives you his money’s worth. No 90 minute concerts from him. Marathon concerts running over three hours long. The only reason I’ve only seen him once,  two reasons. After Born In The USA he became large. I wasn’t interested in going to see him at some stadium. Another reason when he plays somewhere smaller it’s difficult to get a ticket.

4.Bruce was born and grew up in a working class family in Freehold, New Jersey. At least from what I have read over the years about him, he seems to always remember his working class roots. A lot of tension growing up between Bruce and his father Douglas. A common story his father didn’t see the point in playing that damn guitar. {similar to John Lennon and his Aunt Mimi who couldn’t see where all that time spent with the guitar was going to do him any good} Bruce has wrote a lot of songs dealing with that relationship.

5. Bruce’s first album “Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey” was released in January 1973, coming up on forty years ago. In 40 years Bruce has released 17 studio albums. Eight of those albums have hit #1 on the Billboard Charts. He has had 18 singles hit the Top 40. He has never had a #1 single. The highest song he had on the charts was “Dancing In The Dark” that peaked at #2. His most famous song “Born To Run” peaked at #23. Bruce always more of an album artist than a singles artist.

6. Bruce Springsteen has sold over 65,ooo,000 albums in the United States and over 120,000,000 albums worldwide.

7. Bruce is a well known liberal. He is also known for giving money to different causes and appearing at concerts for political causes. I disagree with a lot of his political leanings but that is alright, it’s America, he can believe what he wants to believe. He seems like a pretty genuine person. For someone has big as he is, he has handled his success well

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8. A lot of Bruce’s songs are about America. He also writes a lot of songs about ‘the underdog” cars are a common topic. My favourite Bruce Springsteen song I believe is “The River” I remember the first time I heard it. It was before the album was released. There was a concert that became a movie -No Nukes which was organized by Graham Nash I believe. Bruce sang “The River” I couldn’t wait for the album to come out so I could hear it again. 30 plus years later I still think it’s my favourite. “Born To Run” and “Thunder Road” have to be in the top 5ive also.

9. Bruce Springsteen’s best albums I think are the ones he has recorded with his band the E-Street Band. Little Steven Van Zandt went on to even bigger fame playing Silvio Dante, Tony Soprano’s right hand man in “The Sopranos” Van Zandt was great in that series.

10. A review of the lastest Bruce Springsteen album “Wrecking Ball” in two sentences. Great songs over produced. There was a great album there thatwas over cooked.