Let us say, for the sake of conjecture, that I wanted to make my own collection that we will call "The Best of Bruce Springsteen" by downloading individual tracks that I am more likely to enjoy and avoiding some of his later work that I don't much care for. Using his two "Greatest Hits" albums as a starting point, and (in the beginning at least), using only songs from before 1984, here's a list that might work.
Blinded By the Light
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)*
Born to Run
Thunder Road
Badlands*
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Hungry Heart
The River*
Atlantic City*
Dancing in the Dark**
Downbound Train**
*Songs I've never heard (that I know of) but fit the time frame.
**Songs from 1984 (Born in the U.S.A.) that I can still tolerate. Actually I quite like "Downbound Train," which according to Wikipedia, really came out of the Nebraska sessions.
I used to know someone who was a fan of Springsteen's older stuff but hated Born in the U.S.A., which he regarded as a "sell-out." Brer and Babel will know who I'm talking about. (We spoke at length about this one night when no one else was around--at the old place on Nance Street.) Lamentably, he is no longer with us, but I would like to put this together as my own small memorial to him.
Any recommendations for other songs that should go on this list? I'm thinking "Dancing in the Dark" is too upbeat and optimistic for the list. Any thoughts?
Can't help you there. Never liked Springsteen much. Don't hate him, either. Just never liked him.
ReplyDeleteThat comes as a shock to a lot of people from varying backgrounds.
You...HEATHEN!!! Heh, just kidding. I can take his voice only in small doses. Kind of like Bob Dylan.
DeleteStrangely enough, I have pretty much done exactly what you are proposing just a couple of days ago. I love his version of "Fire", and would consider it essential. I like "I'm on Fire" and "I'm Going Down" a lot, too. Don't sell his later stuff too short, though, "Brilliant Disguise" is an ingenious song, and "World's Apart" is one of my very favorite Springsteen songs; so good in fact that that person you referred too changed his ways and really dug "The Rising" album!
ReplyDeleteCool, thanks. I'm not going to include "I'm On Fire," though. I've heard enough of that song to last my lifetime.
DeleteYeah, I'm that way on "Dancing in the Dark" and "Born in the USA". "Cover Me" is another great one though, where Little Steven really goes off. If you haven't heard any of "The Seeger Sessions" tracks, check this out, one of several goodies from that album.
Deletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWjzCFAAaw0
I've always liked "Point Blank" from The River.
ReplyDelete