Fifty years ago, Bruce Springsteen’s third studio album, Born to Run, catapulted him into rock stardom. Written by his biographer and author of Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run, Peter Ames Carlin, the book recounts the making of this iconic album.
Released in 1975, Born to Run held at number three on the Billboard charts, featuring Springsteen’s raspy vocals and resonant lyrics that painted vivid imagery. The album is divided into eight tracks, each song telling a story – “Thunder Road” about success, “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” about band formation, and “Jungleland,” a noir-like tale of failure.
Born to Run was the result of Springsteen’s ambitious goal: to create the greatest rock album ever. At 25, he faced a turning point in his career, with his previous two albums failing to sell despite critical acclaim. With producers Mike Appel and Jon Landau by his side, Springsteen pushed hard to craft every note and word.
Recording sessions took place at 914 Sound Studios in New York, with the band rehearsing for their promotional tour while mixing went on in one room. The album’s completion was marked by a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction, as Springsteen finally walked into the rehearsal room to find the work finished.
The album’s release on August 25, 1975, marked the beginning of Springsteen’s rise to stardom, with newsweeklies Newsweek and Time featuring him on their covers. The original artwork for the Time cover is now part of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, showcasing a graphic rendering of Springsteen in his signature hat and guitar.
Fifty years later, Born to Run continues to captivate audiences, estimated to have sold seven million copies in the US alone over the past five decades. It has been listed for its cultural importance in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-bruce-springsteen-created-the-greatest-rock-album-ever-180987105