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Where to start with Springsteen????

ForceofNature101ForceofNature101 Posts: 1,282
edited August 2012 in Other Music
I have the Hammersmith Odeon show from 1975 and it is fantastic! I especially love "Kitty's Back"

Now that I am antiquated with the Boss, where do I go from here in terms of studio and live material?
Post edited by Unknown User on

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  • Bathgate66Bathgate66 Posts: 15,813
    at the beginning?

    start at the first 3 albums
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  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,172
    Bathgate66 wrote:
    at the beginning?

    start at the first 3 albums

    I never really understand these "where to start?" threads. Just go through each studio album.
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
  • Pearl Jam_iePearl Jam_ie Posts: 821
    I'd start by going to see him live at one of their shows. :P

    I had no appreciation for Bruce until I saw him in concert. I've only seen him twice now, but both shows are in my top 5 favorite shows of all time. The "LIve 1978-85" set would be a great way to start, I guess.
    "In certain trying circumstances...profanity furnishes a relief denied even to prayer." - Mark Twain
  • LanternjawLanternjaw Posts: 553
    Pearl Jam_ie wrote:
    I'd start by going to see him live at one of their shows. :P

    I had no appreciation for Bruce until I saw him in concert. I've only seen him twice now, but both shows are in my top 5 favorite shows of all time. The "LIve 1978-85" set would be a great way to start, I guess.
    Thats sound advice right there and the current tour is probably the band's best since the reunion tour in 99/00.

    I'd recommend the Live in NYC DVD and/or the Live in Barcelona DVD.

    Here's a great sample of Bruce the performer from the Live in NYC DVD:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r4gczUvJ3s

    My favorite part is roughly between the 3:00 and 6:00 marks... great entertainment! :D
  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 11,604
    It would make sense to start at the beginning. Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ is my favorite Bruce album, although it doesn't get much love from critics and the like.
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • barger395barger395 Posts: 855
    Pearl Jam_ie wrote:
    I'd start by going to see him live at one of their shows. :P

    I had no appreciation for Bruce until I saw him in concert. I've only seen him twice now, but both shows are in my top 5 favorite shows of all time. The "LIve 1975-85" set would be a great way to start, I guess.

    Best way to go, totally concur. Then I suggest the NYC show DVD/CD from 99/00. That dvd is great representation of Bruce and the E Street Band, why their shows are incredible.

    One of my best friends is just now getting into Bruce, and I started him off with the original "Born in the U.S.A." from the Nebraska sessions. He was so blown away by the transformation that he has gone back, starting with Live '75-'85 and then The River. I have been sending him the next record about every week. He was taken aback by "Nebraska" how dark and lonely it is. And the fact Bruce recorded most of that by himself in his basement on a 4-track recorder, getting echoes singing in the shower! Brilliant!!

    Cheers and enjoy The Boss!
    Barger
    Seen the Best Rock Band on the Planet a few times here and there.
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    I've never seen Springsteen live, but I understand and fully aware of how monumental the performances and shows are. So if you can start that way, that would be great.

    Otherwise, I'll go with what everyone else has said. Start from the beginning.

    Personally, I don't give "Greetings..." a lot of attention... something I intend on changing.

    "Nebraska"
    "The River"
    "Darkness On The Edge Of Town"

    Three albums you should definitely get, but don't take that as me saying his other records aren't good, because that's far from the truth.

    I started with "Born To Run"... then went to "Darkness" and fell in love with it.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    Oh,a nd having the Hammersmith show is a great first start... Fantastic live album right there. The performance of "Jungleland" is legendary.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    If you are looking for a really great overview of work get The essential Bruce Springsteen.

    Albums:
    Born in the USA
    Nebraska
    Born to Run
    Darkness on the edge of town

    Some latter ones:

    Magic
    Wrecking ball
    the rising
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    red mos wrote:
    The essential Bruce Springsteen.

    Albums:
    Born in the USA
    Nebraska
    Born to Run
    Darkness on the edge of town

    Definitely.
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
    9/03/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 1
    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • SVRDhand13SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,172
    Darkness and Nebraska are my two favorites. I LOVE these albums.
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
  • justamjustam Posts: 21,410
    I love Welcome to Asbury Park though too! :)
    Add that to the list with Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Nebraska and The River.
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • ForceofNature101ForceofNature101 Posts: 1,282
    red mos wrote:
    If you are looking for a really great overview of work get The essential Bruce Springsteen.

    Albums:
    Born in the USA
    Nebraska
    Born to Run
    Darkness on the edge of town

    Some latter ones:

    Magic
    Wrecking ball
    the rising
    Thanks for the reply!

    This is what I was looking for, I know people here are saying to start from the beginning but right now I want to focus on his most "essential" material or at least what is considered to be his best. Thanks for the recs :)
  • red mosred mos Posts: 4,953
    ForceofNature101 wrote:
    red mos wrote:
    If you are looking for a really great overview of work get The essential Bruce Springsteen.

    Albums:
    Born in the USA
    Nebraska
    Born to Run
    Darkness on the edge of town

    Some latter ones:

    Magic
    Wrecking ball
    the rising
    Thanks for the reply!

    This is what I was looking for, I know people here are saying to start from the beginning but right now I want to focus on his most "essential" material or at least what is considered to be his best. Thanks for the recs :)
    no prob! I started with "Essential Bruce Springsteen" 3disc myself, then casually got into albums through my friends and mom and dad.
    Essential is a great starting point to get a great overall feel for Springsteen music. If you like that, and want to dive into albums, those mentioned above are some I really enjoy.
    PJ: 10/14/00 06/09/03 10/4/09 11/15/13 11/16/13 10/08/14
    EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
  • Better DanBetter Dan Posts: 5,684
    Essential's a great start. Album wise, I'd start with Born to Run, then go through Darkness on the Edge of Town, Nebraska, The River, Born in the USA, Tunnel of Love, The Rising, Magic, and Wrecking Ball. After that, go back and fill in the blanks.
    2003: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Seattle; 2005: Monterrey; 2006: Chicago 1 & 2, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Detroit; 2008: West Palm Beach, Tampa; 2009: Austin, LA 3 & 4, San Diego; 2010: Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Indianapolis; 2011: PJ20 1 & 2; 2012: Missoula; 2013: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Seattle; 2014: Tulsa; 2016: Columbia, New York City 1 & 2; 2018: London, Seattle 1 & 2; 2021: Ohana; 2022: Oklahoma City
  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 11,604
    I only said start at the beginning because I think Greetings... is the most "essential" album, but obviously I'm in the minority, like I said. :lol:
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • Better DanBetter Dan Posts: 5,684
    Johnny Abruzzo wrote:
    I only said start at the beginning because I think Greetings... is the most "essential" album, but obviously I'm in the minority, like I said. :lol:


    It's not my favorite, but it's a good album. Growin' Up and Sprit in the Night are two of my favorite Springsteen songs. For You is another great one. The OP can't go wrong here either.
    2003: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Seattle; 2005: Monterrey; 2006: Chicago 1 & 2, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Detroit; 2008: West Palm Beach, Tampa; 2009: Austin, LA 3 & 4, San Diego; 2010: Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Indianapolis; 2011: PJ20 1 & 2; 2012: Missoula; 2013: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Seattle; 2014: Tulsa; 2016: Columbia, New York City 1 & 2; 2018: London, Seattle 1 & 2; 2021: Ohana; 2022: Oklahoma City
  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 11,604
    Better Dan wrote:
    Johnny Abruzzo wrote:
    I only said start at the beginning because I think Greetings... is the most "essential" album, but obviously I'm in the minority, like I said. :lol:

    It's not my favorite, but it's a good album. Growin' Up and Sprit in the Night are two of my favorite Springsteen songs. For You is another great one. The OP can't go wrong here either.

    All those (esp For You) and I find Blinded by the Light such an awesome start to the Bruce catalog. 8-)
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • MysteryTrainMysteryTrain Singapore Posts: 1,189
    Since most of the essential studio albums have been already covered, I'll recommend the Live '75 to '85 boxset, and the Live In NYC (from the Reunion tour) CD. Then there's the Live In Barcelona DVD from '02 (crazy awesome crowd) and most recently the Hyde Park show, by far the best looking and sounding video release. One more album worth getting is The Promise (2010), the double album consisting of 'outtakes' from the Darkness sessions. There are lots of GREAT songs on that.
  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 11,604
    Also I have to say Born in the USA is ridiculously stacked. Bruce earned his superstar status of the 80s.
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • Better DanBetter Dan Posts: 5,684
    Springsteen's fans have a very strong bootleg community dating back to the 70s so there are so many great bootlegs to choose from. And like PJ, Bruce really mixes up the setlist every night so it's always a different show.

    OP, please keep us updated as you go through the albums. I'd love to read your thoughts.
    2003: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Seattle; 2005: Monterrey; 2006: Chicago 1 & 2, Grand Rapids, Cleveland, Detroit; 2008: West Palm Beach, Tampa; 2009: Austin, LA 3 & 4, San Diego; 2010: Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Indianapolis; 2011: PJ20 1 & 2; 2012: Missoula; 2013: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Seattle; 2014: Tulsa; 2016: Columbia, New York City 1 & 2; 2018: London, Seattle 1 & 2; 2021: Ohana; 2022: Oklahoma City
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