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We Say...
Way back in the day, the Boss was what you’d call a "singer/songwriter," and the music industry was on a non-stop search for the "new Dylan." Understand, though, that as singer/songwriters go — or we should say, went — the South Jersey-based Springsteen was different. No sensitive wet noodle, this veteran of several Jersey shore bar bands was as rangy and tough as he was romantic and verbally dexterous. Hence, when Springsteen auditioned in the early ‘70s for legendary talent scout and record man John Hammond, who had discovered the old Dylan a decade and change prior, Hammond really did hear something new. And for all the classic rock influences audibly evident on his debut album—Dylan, of course, but the Band and Van Morrison are the more obvious antecedents — the passion and the humor and the crazy imagery of songs such as "For You," "Growin’ Up" and the epic "Blinded By the Light" still vibrate with a distinctive energy. David Bowie was impressed — he covered "Growin’ Up," for potential inclusion on his Young Americans album. Prog Brits (and longtime Dylanologists themselves) Manfred Mann dug Bruce too—their synth-driven cover of "Blinded" became a US Top 40 hit.
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They Say...
Bruce Springsteen's debut album found him squarely in the tradition of Bob Dylan: folk-based tunes arranged for an electric band featuring piano and organ (plus, in Springsteen's case, 1950s-style rock & roll tenor saxophone breaks), topped by acoustic guitar and a husky voice singing lyrics full of elaborate, even exaggerated imagery. But where Dylan had taken a world-weary, cynical tone, Springsteen was exuberant. His street scenes could be haunted and tragic, as they were in "Lost in the Flood," but they were still imbued with romanticism and a youthful energy. Asbury Park painted a portrait of teenagers cocksure of themselves, yet bowled over by their discovery of the world. It was saved from pretentiousness (if not preciousness) by its sense of humor and by the careful eye for detail that kept even the most high-flown language rooted. Like the lyrics, the arrangements were busy, but the melodies were well developed and the rhythms, pushed by drummer Vincent Lopez, were breakneck.
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| 01. |  |
Blinded By The Light |
5:02 |
|
| 02. | |
Growin' Up |
3:05 |
|
| 03. | |
Mary Queen Of Arkansas |
5:20 |
|
| 04. | |
Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street? |
2:05 |
|
| 05. | |
Lost In The Flood |
5:14 |
|
| 06. | |
The Angel |
3:23 |
|
| 07. | |
For You |
4:39 |
|
| 08. | |
Spirit In The Night |
4:58 |
|
| 09. | |
It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City |
3:13 |
|
09 Total Tracks, 36:59 Total Length
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Credits
- Bruce Springsteen - Guitar (Acoustic) // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar (Acoustic) // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar (Acoustic) // Bruce Springsteen - Bass // Bruce Springsteen - Bass // Bruce Springsteen - Bass // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar // Bruce Springsteen - Harmonica // Bruce Springsteen - Harmonica // Bruce Springsteen - Harmonica // Bruce Springsteen - Piano // Bruce Springsteen - Piano // Bruce Springsteen - Piano // Bruce Springsteen - Arranger // Bruce Springsteen - Arranger // Bruce Springsteen - Arranger // Bruce Springsteen - Conga // Bruce Springsteen - Conga // Bruce Springsteen - Conga // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar (Electric) // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar (Electric) // Bruce Springsteen - Guitar (Electric) // Bruce Springsteen - Vocals // Bruce Springsteen - Vocals // Bruce Springsteen - Vocals // Bruce Springsteen - Vocals (Background) // Bruce Springsteen - Vocals (Background) // Bruce Springsteen - Vocals (Background) // Bruce Springsteen - Handclapping // Bruce Springsteen - Handclapping // Bruce Springsteen - Handclapping // Bruce Springsteen - Main Performer // Bruce Springsteen - Main Performer // Bruce Springsteen - Main Performer // Richard Davis - Bass // Richard Davis - Bass (Upright) // David Sancious - Organ // David Sancious - Piano // David Sancious - Keyboards // David Sancious - Saxophone // Clarence Clemons - Saxophone // Clarence Clemons - Vocals // Clarence Clemons - Vocals (Background) // Clarence Clemons - Handclapping // Mike Appel - Producer // Vini Lopez - Drums // Vini Lopez - Horn // Vini Lopez - Vocals // Vini Lopez - Vocals (Background) // Vini Lopez - Handclapping // Garry Tallent - Bass // Garry Tallent - Horn // Harold Wheeler - Piano // Jim Cretecos - Producer // Louis Lehav - Engineer // Jack Ashkinazy - Remixing // John Berg - Cover Design // Charles Burr - Liner Notes // Fred Lombardi - Back Cover // Fred Lombardi - Cover Photo // The E Street Band - Group
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