...E street shuffle

It's a great album and contains some of my favourite Springsteen tracks - 4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy), Wild Billy's Circus Story, and Incident on 57th Street. You should also listen to Greetings from Asbury Park. There are some great (if sometimes rambling) lyrics, and also a couple of seminal tracks - Growin' Up and Spirit in the Night for example.

I think it is a classic. Pre-arena rock god days and pre-Landau influence. I do have his later stuff which I do like but I find that his music was much more adventurous at ths start of his recording career. I will second TomK's recommendation of Greetings if you like the first one.

Regards
Matt

Also seconded. The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle is a classic Springsteen album. While perhaps not a desert island album for me like Born To Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town, it has some great tunes and some overlooked gems. While most Springsteen fans will point first to Rosalita and Sandy, songs like Kitty's Back and Incident also are excellent. I don't think the album has any weak songs. I also second the recommendations of Greetings. While that album does have a few (comparatively) low points, it also has a number of classic Springsteen songs, none of which are overplayed. If you are interested in exploring the Springsteen portfolio but prefer the "less popular" stuff, or the stuff that isn't immediately recognizable as Springsten, I also recommend Nebraska. It is a sombre, solo album that has exquisite songwriting.

Mike

Totally agree with all the above. The pre "Boss" era albums are very special. I worked for a company based in Oceanport, New Jersey in that era, and he was a real local hero. Along with guys like Southside Johnny he really did capture the spirit of the time and the place.

One of my favourite Bruce albums. Many of the tracks were 'live' favourites for years.

Probably my fave Springsteen album. IIRC Nick Hornby has "Kitty's Back" as one his fave tracks, and fair comment as it's an absolute blinder.

David Sanscious' playing is brilliant throughout. Roy Bittan's a great rock pianist but DS's jazzy and classical leanings give him that extra zing for me, and I miss it on subsequent E Street Band records.

Pete.

When would you define the 'boss' era, Born in the USA? I think Born to Run was his first really bombastic record but strangely that was followed by Darkness on the Edge of Town (probably his best ever). Nebraska followed soon after, to probably, misquote, Duke Ellington in many ways he is 'beyond category'.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
Totally agree with all the above. The pre "Boss" era albums are very special. I worked for a company based in Oceanport, New Jersey in that era, and he was a real local hero. Along with guys like Southside Johnny he really did capture the spirit of the time and the place.

Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes rock! Hearts of Stone is one of my all-time favorite albums (and he has many other great ones). Why Southside Johnny is not more popular still escapes me. In any event, great to see him mentioned by a fellow forum member.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by woodface:
When would you define the 'boss' era, Born in the USA? I think Born to Run was his first really bombastic record but strangely that was followed by Darkness on the Edge of Town (probably his best ever). Nebraska followed soon after, to probably, misquote, Duke Ellington in many ways he is 'beyond category'.

Agreed. While Born to Run includes some of my all-time favorite songs (Thunder Road, Jungleland), Darkness is, in my opinion, song for song his best album.

Mike

Born to Run is 10 for music. 5 for sound. Compressed and muffled. I have the Classic Records reissue vinyl and it is very disappointing, the worst sounding hi-dollar audiophile vinyl record I own. Great music for top down in the Mustang. Sounds like crap at home. My dos centavos.

If you know of a great sounding version on CD I would love to hear about it. Likewise for the others. I have been so turned off by the production on BTR I have never bought another Springsteen.

sc

quote:

Originally posted by Skip:
Born to Run is 10 for music. 5 for sound. Compressed and muffled. I have the Classic Records reissue vinyl and it is very disappointing, the worst sounding hi-dollar audiophile vinyl record I own. Great music for top down in the Mustang. Sounds like crap at home. My dos centavos.

If you know of a great sounding version on CD I would love to hear about it. Likewise for the others. I have been so turned off by the production on BTR I have never bought another Springsteen.

sc

Bruce came out with a 30th anniversary package for Born To Run that includes a remastered version of the album on cd. In my opinion, the sound quality is better than the original, although still not as great as some "audiophile" recordings.

The Essential Bruce Springsteen - a two cd greatest hits package with an extra cd of outakes and rarities, is remastered and contains better sound quality than the original studio albums. There are several Born to Run songs on this collection, and it is a good starting point if you want to explore Bruce's work a little more.

Live in New York City, a two-cd live album on his "reunion" tour with the E Street Band seven or so years ago is very sound quality and contains many Bruce classics.

Mike