Bruce Springsteen- Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ, 1973
Label: Columbia
Producers: Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Though a commercial disappointment upon its initial release in early 1973, Bruce Springsteen’s debut album is today regarded as a classic, and easily ranks among the many epics that would later make him one of rock music’s true icons. As would be expected on a rookie release, Springsteen sounds a bit green in some of his deliveries, still yet to demonstrate the ferocious conviction of his later performances. Nevertheless, his raw and ever spirited vocal turns provided these tales with both earnest restlessness and somber tragedy, two hallmarks of the coming-of-age challenges that he would soon explore thoroughly on further albums. As a songwriter, it was clear from the outset that he ranked among a special class of rock scribes.
Sprawling character sketches and the raw folk longings of a track like “Mary Queen of Arkansas” (featuring his first, but not final big-top setting) instantly hailed the Boss as a Dylan successor, with lyrics that were simultaneously intricate and ambiguous all the same. Such contradictions only elevated the enthralling aura of cinematic pieces like “Lost in the Flood”, with its shoot-out finale and hints of Vietnam aftermath, as well as the multi-faceted temptation of “It’s Hard To Be A Saint In the City”. While the coming-of-age “Growin’ Up” predicted his future role as a hero to a young generation of rock fans, surprising gems like “The Angel” illustrated his depth and maturity as a storyteller. On paper, the song reads like a greasy biker hard-on. On record, it’s ripe with tender sensuality, subtle layers of romanticism, and a stark fate for the song’s subject, as a woman “strokes the polished chrome” of her fallen lover.
Though not quite settled into his E-Street domain musically, (band centerpiece Clarence Clemons and his sax only appeared on the project’s two singles, added last-minute at the insistence of the label), the record offers an engaging and accessible backdrop to its story, combining electric rock licks with David Sancious’ stellar piano and organ work. It is precisely when Clemons appears on the aforementioned singles that the foundation for the future really starts to take shape. “Blinded By the Light”, the rollicking mouthful that opens the set, was of course Springsteen’s first hit as a songwriter when covered by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band three years later. But it’s on the jazz-inflected “Spirit in the Night” where the Boss and the sax man really capture their magical footing on record for the first time, effectively hinting to critics that Springsteen’s stylistic influences were as diverse and expansive as anyone in rock and roll.
Although it would be rightfully overshadowed later in the year by his sophomore release (another commercial dud despite being his first true masterwork), Greetings is a hallmark in its own right. Essential, both as a stunning introduction to one of American music’s most important figures, but also on its own merits alone.
Track Listing:
- “Blinded by the Light” (Bruce Springsteen) *Single Release 1973
- “Growin’ Up” (Springsteen)
- “Mary Queen of Arkansas” (Springsteen)
- “Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” (Springsteen)
- “Lost in the Flood” (Springsteen)
- “The Angel” (Springsteen)
- “For You” (Springsteen)
- “Spirit in the Night” (Springsteen) *Single Release 1973
- “It’s Hard To Be A Saint In the City” (Springsteen)
Previous: Artist In Residence Introduction
Next: The Wild, the Innocent & the E-Street Shuffle
The 706 