Many bands on the shore revelled in the ‘Jersey Swing’ sound, loving to take their blues and soul arrangements into long, extended jams with the full complement of an aggressive and energetic band. The first album, with the apt title and postcard album cover, came straight from the Jersey shore and a musical heritage of blues, soul, jazz and swing. When Springsteen came out with multiple guitars, piano, organ, sax, bass and drums and none were dominant, it was a new direction for rock music. Soul bands could be large because of the horns and backing singers, but again those elements were a focus. Piano was assurgent with the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel, but only served to replace the guitar as the lead instrument. Until then most rock bands were four or five players and focused on guitar, bass, and drums. He was a solo artist with a big band sound, one of the first to pack rock songs with a multitude of instruments. Springsteen was a conundrum for his label and rock fans. When Bruce showed up at the studio with a busload of musicians the label was taken aback – this was not what they had in mind. Columbia thought they’d found the next Dylan, the next great poet-singer-songwriter. Bruce performed a few songs in Hammond’s office on his guitar, and the passion and lyrical depth of his songs excited the famous producer, who quickly got Bruce signed and into a studio to record his first album. Springsteen finally caught his break when he hooked up with Mike Appel as his manager, who finagled a meeting with John Hammond at Columbia Records in New York, famous for signing many great folk and blues artists including Bob Dylan. He had to get out while he was young.ĭoes this Bus Stop at 82nd Street? It’s Hard to Be A Saint in the City \ Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ (1973) He determined the problem was that no one was going to discover him no matter how good he was if he stayed in Asbury Park, New Jersey. But in 1972 he was frustrated at not having been discovered despite knowing he was as good or better than those he was hearing on the radio. It was a decision he made early and would hold to throughout his career. However, he knew he could only attain his musical vision by maintaining control over his songs and his career. He was also a forceful and committed leader, resulting in the nickname ‘The Boss,’ a moniker he has forever decried given his general disdain for authority. As he entered his early twenties, he had established himself as a guitarist and singer of some repute in the Jersey shore scene, a notable performer of blues and rock offered up in a passionate display. Travelling up and down the shore playing every bar along the way, he scraped enough money together to put food on the table, though sometimes had to sleep on the floor of a few places or on friend’s couches. Zoom and the Sonic Boom and then The Bruce Springsteen band. He did so by moving to Asbury Park and playing in bands, first The Castiles, then Steel Mill, and then eventually his own acts, Dr. I find that fact alone rather amazing, especially when taking into account his parents moved to California when he was eighteen and he stayed in New Jersey, left to fend for himself. It’s the only way he’s ever made a living, for better or worse. Amazingly, Springsteen has never held a job other than as a musician. Inspired by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and the rise of rock n’ roll, he started playing the guitar and, after a false start or two, dedicated himself to a life of music. Raised in an Irish-Catholic tradition, he watched his family struggle to make ends meet. My fandom has waned at times over the years, but otherwise has held on for almost forty years.īruce Springsteen was born in Freehold, New Jersey in 1949, a blue-collar town just in from the shore. It is a testament to his music that he broke through and imprinted on me an appreciation for his music and vision. While he did this for many other artists of the 1960s and 1970s I didn’t grab onto them the same way I did Springsteen. I grew up listening to Springsteen’s music from when I was young since my brother played it all the time and talked about Bruce often. And as I prefer for artists of this nature, I won’t focus on his best-known work since we all know that all too well, but do a 'deep dive' and use the lesser known tracks to highlight his talent and musical history. It’s my goal here to offer some argument as to why he is not just a good songwriter and musician, but why he’s worthy of the highest accolades and stature as one of the greatest performers in the history of rock n’ roll. Depending on your perspective he can be everything that is great about rock n’ roll or just another aging dinosaur rocker who should be sent out to pasture. Springsteen is an artist that has travelled through many stages in his career, seen the highs and the lows, and developed many die-hard fans, casual followers, and detractors large and small.
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