Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle If Springsteen's debut, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. revealed just how ambitious a talent he was, it also fell just short of realizing those ambitions. No such problem with this, his second album. The Dylanesque wordplay is there, but with more narrative detail, as on "4th of...	Darkness on the Edge of Town The pain of a protracted legal battle with his former manager and the release of being allowed to record again after a three-year layoff are equally apparent from the piercing hard rock and harsh lyrical content of Darkness on the Edge of Town. Betrayal and hard work that comes t...	Born to Run Few albums are as fueled by hope, possibility, and the lure of the open road as Born to Run, a virtual concept album about small-town Jerseyites in search of a better life via hot-rodding out on the turnpike, scoring some small-time hustle, or blowing out of town altogether, eith...	The River Despite the acclaim accorded Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town, this is the album that broke Springsteen into the big leagues, thanks to "Hungry Heart," then his most pointedly commercial song; it had new fans swooning but some old ones grumbling for the "poetic" Sprin...	Born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. is an album painted in big, broad strokes. But it was still too subtle for some--namely politicians who tried to tap the title track as a jingoistic anthem when it is in fact a bitter diatribe by a Vietnam War vet whose country forgot him. The rest of the album...
Nebraska Hot on the heels of The River, his commercial breakthrough, Springsteen's decision to release the stark, demo-quality Nebraska seems downright perverse. But the genius of the album is unmistakable--with just an acoustic guitar and his howling harmonica to back him, Springsteen te...	Magic Thirty-five years as a justifiable rock musician allows Bruce Springsteen an opinion on the state of over-the-air radio, and he takes it--and takes the medium to the woodshed on the ruthless "Radio Nowhere." The opening smash sets the tone, with the ageless Boss wondering, "Is th...	Tunnel of Love After several years at the top of the rock world, Springsteen pulled back the reins on Tunnel of Love--a lot, not just a little. Members of the E Street Band played on the album but seldom in full-band arrangements. Then, too, there are the deeply conflicted songs--"Brilliant Dis...	Live: 1975-85 (3CD) To say that Springsteen's live shows with the E Street Band were legendary is the height of understatement. On a good night, the set might extend to three and four hours of exhilarating, pulse-pounding rock & roll. How best to capture that on CD? Or was it possible at all? As it ...	The Ghost of Tom Joad Bruce Springsteen followed his muse on this haunting 1995 release. Perhaps that's why it barely made a dent in the marketplace, even while it thrilled the faithful who were willing to take another dark, Nebraska-like journey with him. It's abundantly clear that Springsteen had be...

Springsteen hits the ground running - an impressive 5* debut
The sound is hardly audiophile quality and at times the rhymes are forced. On the other hand it is 1973 and this is Springsteen's first album. I challenge anyone to name another debut so full of top quality songs - each of the songs later covered by Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded by the Night, For You and Spirit in the Night would be a show-stopper on any other LP. In addition Springsteen gives us other great songs - Lost in the Flood, Growin' Up and It's Hard to be a Saint in the City. I think that this is a mind-blowing initial effort. It is one that clearly marked Springsteen as a talent to tab for the future. Over the course of three decades Springsteen has veered this way and that, both musically and lyrically. There is a world of difference between Greetings and Born in the USA and another world between USA and Nebraska. Lyrically Greetings is undeniably influenced by Dylan - sprawling, poetic, witty, abstract, amusing and dense. Although Clarence is, as always, featured prominently, this Bruce Springsteen is, like The Byrds before him, more folkie than he is rocker. He is a singer songwriter in the best traditions of that genre. Long standing Springsteen fans hold the debut in high regard. I agree with those who believe that this album and The Wild, together with Born to Run and Stranger represent the pinnacle of his catalog. Quibbling as to whether one is superior to another is rather like arguing whether it is Revolver, Rubber Soul, Pepper or Abbey Road - an interesting debate in which there can be no winner.

It's a grand beginning
When I first heard Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, I was totally blown away. If there'd been an Amazon, I'd have given the CD 5 stars for sure. The sound was different, rougher, a jazzier and more understandable Dylan. In retrospect, this is not Bruce's best work, but it's still really good stuff. "Growin' Up", "Blinded by the Light," "Spirit in the Night", and "The Angel" still stand up as some of his best. I think if you're going to get Bruce, you need to have everything. Every CD has meaning for a time in his life and you can trace his history as well as the history of this country in his lyrics. He's one musician whose work I have loved from beginning to now and probably will continue to love throughout our lives. I can mark a lot of occasions by the Boss playing in the background. Rebecca Kyle, June 2008

Amazing Raw Original
This is one of the best, along with the The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle.

Greetings from Asbury Park
I reveived the CD in very good condition, on time. I am now enjjoying listening to my favorite group of all time, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E-STREET BAND. I already have the new CD MAGIC on order and am awaitng it's arrival after it's October 2nd release date. I have ordered may CD's from Amazon and have always been very satisfied with my purchases. All have been received in very good condition and exactly what I ordered. My experience in dealing with Amazon has always been a pleasurable one, Phil.

there's a new kid in town...
and he would become the Boss. Springsteens first release is full of fun, originality, witty lyrics and pure rock and roll. A great collection of songs topped by BLINDED BY THE LIGHT, GROWIN UP, ITS HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY, and SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT. The Boss and The E Street Band come alive here in the beginning of what would become a beautiful and creative relationship.