Born to Run
Born to Run is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. Springsteen co-produced the album with his manager Mike Appel and the producer Jon Landau. The album was recorded in New York City, and designed to break him into the mainstream following the relative commercial failures of his first two albums. Springsteen sought to emulate Phil Spector's dense, crisp, energetic but difficult to achieve Wall of Sound production, leading to prolonged and grueling sessions with the E Street Band lasting from January 1974 to July 1975. The band and producers spent six months alone on the title track "Born to Run".
For the song, see Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen song). For other uses, see Born to Run (disambiguation).Born to Run
The album incorporates musical styles including rock and roll, pop rock, R&B and folk rock. Its character-driven lyrics describe people who feel trapped and fantasize about escaping to a better life, conjured via lyrics imagery steeped in the romantic images of highways and travel. Springsteen envisioned the songs taking place over one long summer day and night. They are also less tied to the New Jersey area than his previous work. The album cover, featuring Springsteen leaning on E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons's shoulder, is considered iconic and has been recreated by various musicians and in other media.
Supported by an expensive promotional campaign, Born to Run became a commercial success, reaching number three on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, and the top ten in three others. Two singles were released, "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", the first of which became a radio and live favorite. The album's release received extensive publicity, leading to backlash from critics who expressed skepticism over whether Springsteen's newfound attention was warranted. Following its release, he became embroiled in legal issues with Appel, leading him to tour the United States and Europe for almost two years. Upon release, Born to Run received highly positive reviews. Critics praised the cinematic storytelling and music, although some viewed its production as excessive and heavy-handed.
Born to Run was Springsteen's breakthrough album. Its success has been attributed to its capturing the ideals of a generation of American youths during a decade of political turmoil, war, and issues for the working class. Over the following decades, the album has become widely regarded as a masterpiece and one of Springsteen's best records. It has appeared on various lists of the greatest albums of all time and was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 2003. Born to Run received an expanded reissue in 2005 to celebrate its 30th anniversary, featuring a concert film and a documentary detailing the album's making.
Production history[edit]
914 Sound Studios[edit]
The recording sessions for the album began at 914 Sound Studios in January 1974.[15][18][19] Springsteen and Appel acted as co-producers; Greetings and Wild producer Jimmy Cretecos had departed Springsteen's company in early 1974, citing low profits.[1] Louis Lahav, the engineer from both albums, returned for these sessions. The members of the E Street Band were saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist Danny Federici, pianist David Sancious, bassist Garry Tallent, and drummer Ernest Carter;[20] Carter had replaced Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez, whom Springsteen fired in February over poor personal behavior.[1][21][22] The band went back and forth between studio recording and live performances.[23] Springsteen used the latter to develop new material,[15] and he spent more time in the studio refining songs than he had on the previous two albums.[24] The album's working titles included From the Churches to the Jails, The Hungry and the Hunted, War and Roses, and American Summer.[23]
Recording for "Born to Run" lasted six months.[18][25] Springsteen's perfectionism led to grueling sessions:[26] he obsessed over every syllable, note, and tone of every texture, and he struggled to capture the sounds he heard in his head onto tape.[11][27][28] His aim for a Phil Spector-type Wall of Sound production meant multiple instruments were assigned to each track on the studio's 16-track mixing desk; each new overdub made the recording and mixing more difficult.[18][26] As he kept rewriting the lyrics,[29] Springsteen and Appel created several mixes containing electric and acoustic guitars, piano, organ, horns, synthesizers, and a glockenspiel, as well as strings and female backing vocalists.[30] "Born to Run" reportedly had up to five different versions.[31][25] According to Springsteen, the final song had 72 different tracks squeezed onto the 16 tracks of the mixing console.[29] Springsteen was pleased with the final mix,[26] completed in August 1974.[3] CBS/Columbia refused to release "Born to Run" as an early single, wanting an album to promote it.[4][32]
Adapted from the liner notes:[293]
The E Street Band
Additional musicians
Technical