The River the 5th studio album by Bruce Springsteen from 1980 was the first album of his that I bought on vinyl at the time of release.(the only other one being Western Stars).
I played it half to death around then. As his popularity grew many of the songs, and in particular, Hungry Heart, were played continuously on the radio and soon lost their allure.
The title track popped up on the I-pod the other day when I was peeling apples and stopped me in my tracks - I know any opportunity. The lyrics are astonishingly good.
It was followed by the even more brilliant Nebraska and then came Born in the USA and it was pretty much downhill from there on in.
It is the only Bruce album I own (like you bought when it first came out). Still enjoy listening to it but not enough to make me want to buy more.
ReplyDeleteI bought the album as a cassette in a supermarket in California in 1982 and it accompanied us for weeks on our route through the western United States. Great stuff
ReplyDeleteSounds like the ideal place to listen to it.
DeleteIf only they hadn't played his songs on the radio...
ReplyDelete" it was pretty much downhill from there on in."
ReplyDeleteI hope you are not expecting a tedious, juvenile comment from me
We always live in hope...
DeleteCoincidentally it's also the only Springsteen album I owned, for many years. I too got it when it came out, and also saw him live on the River tour - a fantastic experience. I still listen to the vinyl.
ReplyDelete