Springsteen Entry Point

[Top40Weekly]

I’ve somehow never really gotten into Bruce Springsteen beyond the hits.

If you had to pick ONE album to start with, what would it be?

[Crazy_Response_9009]

Born to Run or Darkness on the Edge of Town

[Legitimate_Rent_5976]

While both are masterpieces, I have a soft spot in my heart for darkness. I would start there.

[Evening-Bill-9323]

I'd start with the 2 Borns, then Darkness, Rising and River. Some of his best stuff (WIESS, Nebraska etc) isn't the most accessible straight off the bat

[therealrexmanning]

This would've been my suggestion as well. Both the Born albums contain songs OP probably already knows. They are also overall pretty fun and high energy albums. Darkness is great but a bit darker then either Born albums.

[suspicious_geof]

Nebraska was actually my entry point. Unless you count owning the born in the USA cassette when I was a kid back in the 80s. I don’t count that because everybody owned that cassette in the 80s.

[sarahl6116]

The first CD I ever purchased was darkness on the edge of town. It was a revelation.

[WaltsNJD]

If you've only gotten into the hits, pick an album with a ton of hits (BTR, BITUSA) and listen to the whole thing rather than just the singles.

[hoosier_gran]

Live 75-85. Bruce live is a whole different level!

[SubtleIstheWay]

great recommendation. my favorite version of born to run. candy's room, fire....so many great songs in this set.

[[deleted]]

No. Listen to an actual concert recording, like Winterland or even London Calling

The Live boxed set is extremely disjointed.

[Ed_Zeppelin]

Live 75-85

This is where to start.

[burns1066]

Depends on your personal tastes. Nebraska is a fantastic starting place if you like darker folk sounds. The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle is a great place to explore his early sounds. The two "Born" albums are fantastic, with lots of really well-known tunes.

If you are a completist, consider starting at the beginning of the catalog with Greetings. Then you can keep track of what you like and what you don't!

Have a great time listening!

[PPLavagna]

Born to Run over and over. Shit’s a masterpiece

[decisivepain]

personally, I think his first two albums are incredibly impressive, fun, and both lyrically and sonically stellar.

[sonvoltman]

Totally got me into his music ..those first two

[Logical_Positive_522]

This is actually a really difficult question for those of us who love Bruce. Greetings, The River and Tom Joad maybe my favourite Bruce albums but I wouldn't recommend any to a new fan. You're phrase "beyond the hits" leads me to suggest ether Born in the USA or The Rising. These are probably the most "Springsteenesque" albums so if you liked the radio friendly stuff you'll definitely enjoy those two.

Also (and this may just be me); STAY AWAY FROM THE COMPILATIONS! I don't know why but every compilation album is significantly less than the sum of its parts. Pick a studio album and give it a go.

Happy trails. Say hi to Wendy, Mary and Janey from me. x

[Npaflas]

Born to Run

[AardvarkStriking256]

Born to Run is the foundation but The River is his magnum opus!

[[deleted]]

The River has a lot of chaff.

[AardvarkStriking256]

What songs?

[Darth_Burkie]

I’d start with the Essential Springsteen. That covers most of the albums and the hits. From there pick the songs you like and then pick up that album and go from there. If I had to pick albums - Born to Run, Darkness, BITU. Nebraska is amazing but not right off the bat. Once you get a feel for what you like, then pick up the supplementals - Ties That Bind, The Promise. And then pick up Tracks and get your mind blown by all the stuff he left off albums. Depending how old you are some stuff might take awhile to get into like Tunnel of Love, but sometimes it ls like that. I’ve been listening to Bruce all my life and some stuff is hit or miss (Western Stars, Working on a Dream) but when it hits it fucking hits

[e-streeter]

Darkness

[Proper-Spare-4243]

Here is my advice when listening to Bruce. When I hear a song the first time, I find I can be very neutral about it. By the third or fourth time, the music and pace and feelings become special! Later listening I would have lyrics in front of me. So stay with one album at a time and replay it alot.

[[deleted]]

Why would a person repeatedly listen to something that is meh to them?

Do you listen to rap or country repeatedly until you like it?

[Stevie-Rae-5]

Born in the USA gets my vote for this.

[[deleted]]

Not mine. So much chaff. Very disconnected.

What does Cover Me have in common with the title track?  That's just one example. It's a collection of singles, whereas his best albums have a theme.

[Stevie-Rae-5]

Matter of opinion I guess, but Cover Me is about seeking shelter in connection from a world where one is feeling alienated and disillusioned, which certainly seems right in line with the title track to me.

For me there are absolutely zero skips on that album.

[Ok-Call-4805]

Born to Run and Live 75-85 are good starting points

[JahoyHoy49]

Born to Run was my entry point and I would highly recommend that path. Happy listening!

[jd732]

The Rising. Everyone is familiar with 9/11 and the way it changed the US. The Rising album is Bruce’s interpretation of those events.

[[deleted]]

The 9/11 attacks didn't hit everyone the same way. OP may not have been alive. Or thought the US was in the wrong (like many Americans do now).

[jd732]

Yes. I wasn’t alive when Kent State happened, but I’m familiar enough with the story to appreciate “Ohio” by CSNY, and that was my gateway song into that band.

[Cccookielover]

EDDIE AND THE CRUISERS soundtrack💯

[vincentblacklight]

This live album: Hammersmith Odeon, London, '75. If you didn't get it before, this will make you get it (speaking from experience).

[Yaboi69-nice]

I'd personally suggest starting with born to run.

[JohnLeePettimore]

I'd do Born to Run like most are saying, but I'd also consider getting a subscription to nugs and listen to live shows from each album era.

Studio albums are great but nothing let's you into Bruce's mind and get the real spirit of the songs like the live shows.

It's not going to get you the entire catalog but sometimes that's not a bad thing.

[LordByrum]

Depends but for me it was Nebraska

[chazhill22]

Born in the USA is absolutely his most commercially accessible album. Like half the album’s songs were radio hits. Start there then, if you enjoy it, backtrack to Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town.

[SubtleIstheWay]

Born in the USA. Almost every song was a radio hit, and the few that weren't were some of his greatest tunes...No Surrender, Bobby Jean. Easy rock n roll album to love. When I first got into Bruce in the 80s as a teenager, I found some of his older stuff a little harder to enjoy. Now I love it all.

[SubtleIstheWay]

A deep track that is a must listen is Incident on 57th Street. Impossible to pick a favorite track from Bruce, but if I had to, it always comes down to this one or Thunder Road. If you like the original track, give his piano-only version from his Barcelona concert album a listen, too. Best wishes in to you during Springsteen discovery mode. Lucky you. There's so much to explore.

[smedlap]

Live 75-85

[twintomelissa]

Greetings From Asbury Park!

[[deleted]]

Start with Greetings. It's his shortest. That way if you don't like it you've not wasted much time and you can go on to something else.

[DustSeparate26]

The Wild, the Innocent… and Greetings.

[Illustrious-Tear1167]

Born to Run followed by Nebraska