Bruce Springsteen --- where to start? And why ? *

Born to Run ? Greetings? The River ?

 

Honestly, I would do chronological with Bruce and just stop when you stop feeling it. For me, I stop at Born in the USA and then skip around a bit after, but YMMV. Everything up to that one is pretty great though.

 

Wild, Innocent
Best Boss ever. Sweeping and epic is the very definition of this brilliant East Coast Astral Weeks

 

Born To Run if you want early.

Born In The USA if you want mid.

Magic if you want later.


Pretty simple.

 

"Born In The U.S.A."; where the Bruce legend was born for so many.
The 'next Dylan' & the covers of both "Time" and "Newsweek" at the same time [which was BIG news back-in-the-day].

EDitEDbyED:
me second 'were too start' post & for the second time it's were i startED as well.

 

I think the "why?" is the real question here.

 

Darkness. His best songs still, then he was at his peak. Had many many songs to choose from when he did that record. Candy's Room and Adam Raised A Cain and Badlands are 3 of his greatest songs.

 

I would agree with this except that I'd extend it to include the next album Tunnel Of Love, which I hold in very high esteem.

1973-87, that's your core Bruce, studio wise.

 

Here, with this song:

 

Born To Run - It's epic and where I first heard Bruce.
Darkness on the Edge of Town - Great songs. Worth it for Candy's Room, Prove It All Night & Badlands.
The River - Shows Bruce's diversity.
Born in the USA - chockfull of hits. You'll probably know every song here.

 

Good question.

 

While the Wild & The Innocent... is my favorite I think Born to Run is the place to start. Why? It's a masterpiece. It contains the title track and Thunder Road, probably his two greatest songs. After that I'd go with Darkness where he left behind the romance and poetics of the early albums and went for the bard of the working class thing and a much more stripped down sound, a bad he's more or less been in since.

 

Depends how you want to approach it: street-savvy poet, with some Latin-influenced rhythms? Go for Wild & Innocent. Spector-esque melodrama? Born To Run. Big, bombastic production? Born In The U.S.A. Guthrie-type troubadour? Ghost Of Tom Joad.
Ah, f it. Just take kdl6769's advice above and enjoy!

 

I started at the beginning when I came virtually "virginal" to Bruce 2 or 3 years ago. I got the "1973-84" box set which is a great little set at a good price. I spent a couple of weeks minimum with each album before progressing on to the next one and it helped me to really see how he progressed, and from where.

Chronological all the way! (which I'm currently doing with John Martyn also)

 

Start here with this great overview box, then: The River, then Born In The USA, then Nebraska, then Born to Run. After that, it's up to you. (Lucky Town and Magic maybe)

 

Probably this best of...

 

The River. That way you get a feel for what he used to be able to do, and you don't peak early with Darkness.

 

As others have said, go chronological up to and including the magnificent Tunnel Of Love, all those albums constitute an amazing musical journey. After that it's pick and choose.
That said, I think "The Wild, the Innocent...." is his best album, something happened there that he was never able to capture again. Very magical.

 

Wild&Innocent and then Born To Run.
Or, Born To Run and then Wild&Innocent.
Wild&Innocent is the sleeper favorite among many, as you can see here, and you just can't pass judgment on the music one way or another without BTR in its entirety.

Then pick up a used copy of Live 1975-85 for a taste of the live legend. I'd argue that the center of that box -- middle of CD2, or side 5 of vinyl -- is the core of his entire songwriting/performing identity. They're all Darkness-era songs, but better here.

 

download a couple of recent live shows from down under.

 

I started with Greetings many years ago - probably around 1973. Went on to Wild and the Innocent and then Born to Run. That was where I stopped since I had no interest after that. I still listen to Wild and The Innocent once in awhile.

 

Bruce has yet to really click with me... Someday I'll give him another shot. Nebraska is the only album that I've enjoyed to the point of purchasing. If you're into Bob Dylan/Neil Young/guitar+harmonica, this might be a place to start.

 

Oops -- I meant this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EooiBaW1BA

 

I think this is essential. A fantastic early show when the band still included violinist Suki Lahav. Has one of the best Dylan covers ever recorded in "I Want You".

 

Another vote for The Wild, The Innocent . . .
But be prepared to be let down when after that you discover be abandoned this path for more straightahead rock and roll and massive success.