Greetings From Asbury Park NJ - Bruce Springsteen

Advantages: doesnt sound like the boss
Disadvantages: a bit dated now

...and interesting work. Greetings From Asbury Park is a collection of small town stories, basically a Springsteen solo album before the E-Street band came into their own. Boardwalk romeos, back alley gangsters and small town heroes all come and go through out the album as does the constant theme of running away to something better. This debut was the creation of a man who was being touted as the new Dylan, and the similarities are very obvious, the ...
...the songs are really vehicles for the words and the stories they create. Blinded by the Light leads us in and will seem familiar as it was made famous by Manfred Manns Earth Band some time later. It sets the pace for the album and is about as upbeat as the album gets. Growing Up reminds us that even Bruce was young once and was able to sing of that period of youthful rebellion and defiance that we all experience. Mary Queen of Arkansas is rooted ... Read review

Advantages: Early sprinsteen
Disadvantages: Only 7 tracks

...Originally released in early september 1973 this was Bruce Springsteens follow up to his debut album Greeting's From Asbury Park, NJ. It shows the tallent that the E street do have, with Bruce playing - maracas, vocals, bass, guitar, harmonica, mandolin Clarence 'Nick' Clemons playing - saxophone, vocals Garry W. Tallent on - horn, background vocals, bass, tuba David L. Sancious playing - keyboards, electric piano, saxophone, clavinet, organ, piano Albee Tellone - saxophone (baritone) Richard Blackwell - conga, percussion Danny Federici - accordion, keyboards, vocals, organ, piano Vini Lopez - cornet, drums, vocals It all come together to make a great Springsteen record, moving from the folk-rock sound of his debut, to more of a jazz rock sound. With the sound of the album as a whole, you can here the poetic genious... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: An alternative view of what Springsteen could have been
Disadvantages: A little expensive - but you get a lot

...Bruce Springsteen released his first album on Columbia, “Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ” in 1973. He had been signed to the same label as Bob Dylan, by John Hammond, who also signed Dylan, and was heralded as Dylan’s successor on the release of the album. Someone from Rolling Stone magazine proclaimed “I have seen the future of rock and roll , and his name is Bruce Springsteen” . It was the kiss of death. The album sold poorly and Springsteen was saddled with a tag that he didn’t want. All credit to the man he shook it off to actually come somewhere near fulfilling that prophecy. Although quiet recently , Springsteen has been prolific throughout his career, apart from an enforced three year hiatus between “Born To Run” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town” due to management... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful