Born to Run
Born to Run is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. Co-produced by Springsteen, his manager Mike Appel, and Jon Landau, the album was Springsteen's effort to break into the mainstream following the commercial disappointment of his first two albums. Springsteen's perfectionism led to arduous sessions with the E Street Band; recording sessions lasted from January 1974 to July 1975 in New York City, and six months were spent on the song "Born to Run" alone. Early radio play of "Born to Run" generated anticipation towards the album's release.
Born to Run | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 25, 1975 | |||
Recorded | January 1974 – July 1975 | |||
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Length | 39:23 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
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Bruce Springsteen chronology | ||||
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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band chronology | ||||
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Singles from Born to Run | ||||
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Born to Run encompasses genres from rock and roll and pop rock to power pop and R&B, and features production similar to Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. The album's lyrics focus on characters who feel trapped and want to escape to a better life through roads and traveling. Springsteen envisioned the songs taking place over one long summer day and night. They are also more wide-reaching and 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 musicians and in other media.
Accompanied by an expensive promotional campaign, Born to Run was a commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart in the United States, and reaching 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. A large media hype surrounded the album's release, 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 revitalized Springsteen's career and made him a star. 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. Retrospectively, the album is 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.