Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

Bruce fan? buy it!
Ive bought this book at a discount price of 13 dollars, withs in euros is...about 9 euros so it was a top deal, nice book great quality!

Marsh is never harsh
As one reviewer observed: Dave Marsh is biased since he is Springsteen's personal biographer. As such, he's rarely critical of Bruce (and I'm not sure fans really even want to read that in a book about The Boss) but can border on the edge of being sycophantic.

As a Springsteen fan, I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice blend of photos, concert details, and touring information. I liked that while the topic was touring, it wove in and out of Bruce's life events and how those and the album releases influenced his touring. This was especially important when writing about his lawsuit against original manager Mike Appel in the 1970s as well as the allegations of infidelity when he was married to Julianne Phillips and hooked up with Patti. It was especially interesting to read how quickly Patti and Nils were added to the band with such short notice before the tours. It was also nice to get an impression of how the non-American audiences acted towards Bruce.

One thing that could make this a real treasure (i.e., 5 stars) would be if it had set lists; maybe not the entire bunch because they change with practically every show but perhaps a few of the better ones from each tour. Or, perhaps a compendium of the songs played on each tour. This information shouldn't be hard to come by, especially based on the way the various songs are documented in the timeline bar at the bottom of most pages of the book. There, rarities are highlighted such as "March xx, 19xx - first time Seaside Bar Song played live". Unless I missed it, I was disappointed to see my town of Milwaukee not mentioned in any of the tour highlights, either for the mid-1970s "Bomb Scare Show" or for the 2000s Harley Davidson Anniversary show.

The photographs were very nice, but I had seen some of them before in other materials. Some more of the behind-the-scenes ones while on tour rather than the "on stage" ones would have been better. There were a few photos that took up both the left and right pages of the book and had no caption on the photo nor could one be found on previous pages.

I'm also a fan of Genesis, and I just read a book called "Chapter & Verse" about them whereby each band member from founding members through their very last incarnation contributed. The style of that book is great; perhaps one can be written like that whereby each E Street Band member gives thoughts about life in the band or touring, sort of like what Clarence wrote recently in his book "Big Man" but a collection of every band member's take on life in the band.

Issue handled and resolved!!!
The true test of how good a retailer is, is not when everything goes great in a transaction, but rather, when there are problems, how well a customer is treated. I am extremely pleased with the ultimate resolution of a problem I had with a product I ordered. There was not a question of whether I would be treated right. The problem was handled and handled well. This is why we continue to look first at the Amazon network when we need a product. A great company to do business with. Thankyou!!

Read this while Listening
This is simply put, a wonderful retrospective of Bruce's career as THE consummate live entertainer. Just saw him in Hartford yesterday for the second time on his WOAD tour and he and the band were nothing short of spectacular.

Highly recommended reading and best done in conjunction with the band's music complementing the chapters. Loved starting with his earlier stuff and reading the early chapters up through the present. A multi-sensory experience I can highly recommend.

Beautiful and interesting!
An interesting tale of how a talented musician struggled to become the best rock artist the world has ever seen. Accompanied by a lot of pictures from his career it's truly a beautiful book. ... Read more

Product Description

Revised to include an original autobiographical introduction by Bruce Springsteen and a new chapter featuring all of the lyrics to his most recent Grammy Award-winning release, The Rising, as well as 32 pages, of never-before-seen photographs.

This is the complete collection of Bruce Springsteen's recorded lyrics, illustrated with hundreds of never-before-published images from some of rock & roll journalism's greatest photographers, including Annie Leibovitz, David Gahr, Lynn Goldsmith, Bruce Weber, and many others. From Jim Marchese's informal backstage shots during the European leg of the 1980 The River tour to Neal Preston's amazing documentation of the Born in the U.S.A. days to Pam Springsteen's portraits showing a side of the musician rarely seen by the public, this is the most intimate look at Bruce Springsteen ever published. The photos and lyrics are accompanied by original commentary by Springsteen, in which he reflects on the songs, the performances, and the quarter-century career that for many defines the American dream.

Customer Reviews (29)

Wowwwww great bruce springsteen book
4 me the best bruce book with extra pages with info from bruce and all the song texts from his songs, really great!

Book damaged, return policy perfect
The book I ordered was second hand. This was not mentioned very well on the Amazon site; I really thought the book was new. It also turned out that the book was delivered by a third party, not being Amazon.com. That also was not mentioned very well on the site. So I was very disappointed when the book arrived! Fortunately, the return poliscy was perfect! I got my money back very fast. So my lesson was to look better when ordering a product at Amazon.com.

Excellent book and resource
I enjoyed this book very much.Being a Springsteen fan for 30 years, it was interesting to get Bruce's input on his inspiration for writing specific songs, and learning the background to them.I actually used the information in book for a research paper that I wrote for my college English class.
Very good and entertaining, any Springsteen fan will enjoy this.The only thingnegative I would say is, I do wish Bruce had written more on each song, going into more detail.Some songs you get a lot of insight from him on why/how he wrote the song, but some are just a couple of lines.

Book with soul
one statement is definitely true about this book - it has soul. that's not surprising, because that's true for all springsteen songs. every Bruce admirer should at least take a look at it, if not own it.

Okay, But Could've Been Better
I usaly don't read these types of book , but this was okay not the best but okay.



If you liked this book then check out all of Bruce Springsteen's cd' Book, And Movies ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Christmas gift
This was a Christmas gift for my sister in law but she loved it and I would rate this book as a great buy.

Well-intentioned, but lightweight
This is a pretty lightweight analysis of the deeper themes of Bruce Springsteen's songs.His exploration of the songs would seem to be on par with an average college essay.Some of the song discussions are only a sentence or two long, and many times the author fails to go in-depth in his interpretations of the songs.For example, how could someone who writes a book exploring spiritual themes (especially one who is a minister) fail to recognize the symbolism of rebirth through water in "The River"?This will be a disappointing book for anyone who wants more than a Cliff's Notes analysis of Springsteen's works.

Thought-provoking for all
One does not have to be a die-hard Springsteen fan to enjoy this thought-provoking study of each of Bruce's albums from Greetings from Asbury Park in 1973 to Magic.It is fascinating to follow Springsteen's evolution and response to such life-altering events of our generation as 9/11, the war in Iraq, and the Bush years.I enjoyed the analysis of the lyrics, album by album and the memories that many of these songs evoked.In the end, we're left with the message that salvation will come only through love, faith and care for each other.I have bought several copies of The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen for friends and family.Keep working on a dream! Can't wait for the next chapter!

Don't judge a book by its cover!
Unfortunately the best part of this book is its cover. It all goes downhill from there.It is a very superficial look at the prose and poetry of Bruce Springsteen. There is no spiritual and or poetic insight into the very profound lyrics. In all due respect in order to due such a profound undertaking it will require many more pages and perhaps further listening and attending more shows; in order to allow the author(Bruce) to present his written words in a prolific and spiritual way. I would have liked to seen deeper analogies and imagries, spiritual or Christian, throughout the book. A template that could be used is Christopher Rick's book entitled Dylan's Vision of sin.It is broken up into three main chapter's.The Sins.The Virtues and The Heavenly Graces. For those interested in Dylan's work and or Christianity should give it a look.Obviously you get my point and I am one of those 100+ show types so one could say I am a little biased. I do applaud the authors attempt but it does need more research. Perhaps someday a writer will take the ardous task of completing such a project, untill that day at least we have another new CD to delve into.

Rock and redemption?Absolutely!
As a seminary grad, I have long been interested in the intersection between faith and popular culture.And as a confessed long-time diehard Springsteen fan, I found myself nodding in agreement with much of this book, as the music of Bruce Springsteen has certainly been a part of my own spiritual journey.Music has the power to move us viscerally, and there are times when the right song at the right moment articulates that which is too deep for us to verbalize ourseleves.Many others have noted the explicit religious references in Springsteen's body of work; he himself has admitted in recent years how his Catholic upbringing has shaped his worldview and permeated his music.But Symynkywicz offers deeper analysis and new insights grounded in sound theology and presented in an engaging style.The book would also lend itself to use in small group discussion for both the casual listener and the devoted fan. ... Read more

Product Description
Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts is the definitive biography of one of the most important songwriters and performers of the last three decades.Critic Dave Marsh has traced Springsteen's career from its beginning, and has earned the singer's respect through his careful documentation and critical description of Springsteen's work.This biography brings together for the first time Marsh's two previous biographies, Born To Run (which covered Springsteen's early career through the mid-'70s) and Glory Days (which took him through the mid-'80s).Both were widely praised for their insightful and near definitive coverage of Springsteen's life and music.For this book, Marsh has written a new chapter covering major developments in Springsteen's career to today, particularly focusing on his albumThe Rising and its impact on American culture.
Until Springsteen writes his autobiography, this book will stand as the best single introduction to a major force in American culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

great book - thanks!
item rec'd in good readable condition, just as promised. very happy with this transaction.thanks!

Loved this book.A great find for any Bruce fan big or small.
Dave Marsh is certainly a bias writer, but who better to write this tribute to Bruce than a friend.I loved it.

It's a re-hash!
First, Kindle: for whatever reason, this book did not translate particularly well to Kindle.About 70% of the time that Clarence Clemons is referenced, his name comes up as "demons" instead of Clemons.Also, whether it's poor editing in the original or a poor conversion to Kindle, at one point one of Springsteen's most popular albums comes up as "Orn to Run."Amateurish.

Second, the content: To me, too much of the content was culled from newspaper articles, magazine articles, or was transcribed from Springsteen's live shows.I get the sense the author had little to no access to Springsteen, or those close to Springsteen, in spite of his Rolling Stone credentials and personal friendship with Jon Landau, and without that access decided to take what was out there and compile it.I got about a third of the way through and realized it just wasn't very good or very well-written, but I decided to muddle through in hopes that there was something redeeming to come.Unfortunately, there was not.(And holy crap, how many pages were devoted to the food banks and charities on the Born in the USA tour?So completely and unnecessarily excessive!)

Don't Buy Kindle Format
Now that I've read this fantastic book on my Kindle, I need to purchase the print version just so I can read and enjoy it without all the conversion to Kindle errors - most notable Clarence Clemons constantly referred to as Clarence demons.This is the first book that I've purchased for my Kindle that I did not enjoy reading on my Kindle.

Good Book!
A must if you do not already have Glory Days and Born to Run by Dave Marsh.If you do not really worth another chapter from Dave Marsh, the rest is identical as the first two books.However, if big Bruce fan, you might still want it.I bought it.What can I say it is about Bruce. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
In two essays, Bruce Springsteen discusses the making of his classic album, Darkness On The Edge Of Town, as well as his forthcoming album The Promise which features 21 new tracks taken from the Darkness sessions.

The first essay is taken from Springsteen's 1998 book, Songs.The second essay appears in Springsteen's forthcoming releases, The Promise and The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Was Finished Before It Even Got Started
Very brief essay.Very.Not really that interesting.The Boss used to be the Boss, but not so much anymore in my world.It's always nice, though, to catch a peak into the artist's mind during the creative process.

Really, really, really short
Well, it's Bruce in 10 pages.It was free so I can't complain too much :). What there was was sort of interesting, though, if you're a fan.

The Boss' Promise
Bruce's thoughts on The Promise and Darkness on the Edge of Town are words that ring with artistry and truth. Most of what I read in the free essays I already knew, but was written with such resonance that it felt new.

The spirit that Bruce and the band infused into Darkness on the Edge of Town made that a king-size album that will be forever relevent. The characters he's created for the songs are small pieces of everyone who hears them. The emotions are universal and undeniable.

These are free essays that are exceprts from one published book and one upcoming book. Make no mistake, Bruce is the Boss.

Great For All Boss Fans
Thank you for Having this Available and for Free!! Sorry that a lot of Fans couldn't get it, hopefully that will be fixed soon, would like to see reviews on the content not the availability as this ruins the True rating of the item. ... Read more

Product Description
Greetings from E Street celebrates the passionately loved group that has been entertaining the world for 35 years. Written with their cooperation, this fully illustrated informal biography combines rare photographs with 30 removable facsimiles of E Street memorabilia, including Bruce Springsteen's first business card and hand-written set list, and even two fabulous posters. Longtime band intimate Robert Santelli captures the ecstatic highs and devastating lows on the E Street Band's roller coaster ride to stardom. He follows the band from the early days in Asbury Park, New Jersey, to the critical acclaim of Born to Run, the mania of Born in the U.S.A. and international touring, and each member's unique projects. Throughout, the band's signature combination of friendship, humor, and stellar musicianship is revealed in stories, snapshots, and the ephemera of life of the road. Warm and personal, Greetings from E Street is a postcard from the most famous address in rock and roll. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Standard bruce springsteen book
Nice book but not the best.

Why?
Its a standard book with nice 2 know text and some nice facsimile things but not that much info and pictures. Ive bought it 4 almost free (10 euro) so i give it 4 stars.

Springsteen and E Street
What an outstanding purchase! My husband loves all things Bruce and has most everything.But not this.He loved it.Pull out copies of set line-ups, notes on potential songs, letters written, and on and on.So very much info in this book.He's loving it.I scored HIGH on this gift from Santa.This is must-have if you're a Springsteen fan!

Peace, Love, Justice, and no mercy....
You gotta have this book if you're a Bruce fan. Great history and old photos. Great back stories and nostalgia. I was a bit dissapointed with the reproductions - both in terms of relevance and also the quantity of them, but all in all it is well worth the money. I mean, people actually paid $50 for the Madonna book a few years back. Puh-lease.... there is only one BOSS!

Great for Young andOld
I recently took my 10 year old to a Springsteen concert and he is hooked. At his urging we went to the local library to see if they had a book on the Boss..we found this one and he loved it so much I ordered it..the great thing about it was that I loved it too !!Nothing better than something you can enjoy with your kids. I give this a thumbs up !!

Cool book !
My daughter got this book for me for X-Mas,
and it's the neatest thing !
Great chronological history of Bruce and his
various bands, along with the cool artifacts
placed throughout the book, including 2 great
posters !
Great bargain and must-have for any fan of the Boss !! ... Read more

Product Description
This all-inclusive volume contains 76 songs from his first seven albums plus 17 more titles written or co-written by Bruce Springsteen, in 'fakebook style' that includes many transcribed parts and chord frames for guitar plus all the vocal parts with complete lyrics. There are also six pages of full-color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

the best that's out there
OK, so it doesn't have guitar tab.Never mind.Its got a helluva lotta songs in it with the guitar chords I need and the lyrics.I'll just have to use my ears to get the actual guitar bits being played.Having said that, some of the songs do have the music notation for the guitar part.For example, the intro to Nebraska is scored.Now, what I did was learn some rudimentary music reading.Like, the key signature, and note values and where the notes sit on the stave.That now means I can work out the guitar picking in Nebraska with the aid of the music notation from this book (and my ears).Brill!

And no harp score for Nebraska!Woe is me!What shall I do?I know!I'll just have to work it out myself then won't I?

As for songs being in the correct keys, I'm not sure.For instance, Open all Night is scored in G.When I play along to that song, F# seems to be the key.And Nebraska is scored in D, but Spring plays it in Db. Whatever.This book still aids me with the chord sequences used.

Now, I rated it a five because, with one mouse click, I was able to look at sample pages so I knew what I was purchasing.It never claimed to be a guitar tab book.

I don't get people who don't research a product and then grizzle about it.

You won't find anything else better out there with this much material on Spring Brucesteen's music.

Complete, but Inconvenient
This is a Fakebook of the vocals, not the music so much.So no musical bridges, and it's aimed at solo instruments rather than piano or guitar.It does have all (or at least a very large amount of) his songs, but it's the vocal part it has, with a few areas of instrumental notes called out.

The biggest problems with this book are that it has a glued binding, so it won't lie flat easily without loosening the pages, and that the songs most often begin on the right-page and require a page flip even when only two pages long.The music is good, and it has a lot of great stuff he wrote but wasn't famous for such as "Because the Night" (made famous by 10,000 Maniacs) and "Blinded By The Light".But be prepared for some annoyances due to the binding and layout.

EXCELLENT GUITAR BOOK
I found this book with my dad's old guitar.....I started reading it and I realized that I had just found a gold mine.... I loved it 'cause it helped me improve my guitar skills and I enjoyed practicing because I love Springsteen's songs..... His work is known to be excellent and this book just goes to prove it.......

I think it's a great gift for anybody who plays the guitar (even if you don't master the instrument, this book could actually help you)!!!

Useful book, though somewhat uninformative.
When I purchased this book, I did not know exactly what "fakebook" style meant.Apparently, it means that the notes correspond not to the notes actually played by the guitar, but to the notes sung by Bruce.Personally, I was rather disappointed with this discovery, and had hoped for a more in-depth transcription of the music.The chords and chord charts are useful if you just can't quite figure out exactly which chord is being played in certain songs, although a lot of Bruce's early stuff is pretty easy to figure out by ear, if you've got an ear for music.Overall, I've given the book two stars, however, in all fairness, I think that any review of a book like this will be influenced by the reviewer's experience level as a guitarist.This book would be great for beginners and lower-level intermediate players, or for players who just want to learn the basic chord structure of the songs.If you want to learn solos, or the more nuanced stuff that you can't always pick out of the background, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
This sensational album-matching greatest hits collection features Bruce's best from the past 20 years as well as three great new songs. Titles include: Atlantic City * Badlands * Better Days * Brilliant Disguise * Blood Brothers * Dancing in the Dark *Glory Days * Human Touch * Streets of Philadelphia * Thunder Road and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

FOR GUITAR PLAYERS
Why are so many of you complaining about the piano parts being wrong in this book? This is not a vocal/piano/guitar chord book. This is an authentic note-for-note guitar transcription book, which means that the music in this book is written mainly for guitar!

An upset hardcore fan of The Boss
I bought this book all ready to be able to sit down with my harmonica and piano and bust out Thunder Road.The piano music doesn't follow Bruce Springsteen's piano at all.It was really upsetting.Instead they throw in the vocal melody in with the piano music.So all those people who love to sing along with Bruce don't need to because it's in the piano all ready.Other songs leave out important musical parts to include the vocal melody in the transcription.I want to know if there's anywhere you can buy the real note for note transcriptions.Honestly, I would have rather saved my money and spent my time figuring out the songs myself.

Piano Men
Four stars for there is no perfect book, I think that this a must for Springsteen fans who play the Piano. It also has lyrics which is good if you want to impress friends by playing and singing at the Piano, 'Causenobody listens to the Piano nowadays. But Bruce is a Rock Legend who makesthe Piano Rock! Get it, it's cheaper and {says I} more complete. It's greatwhen you play alone and maybe better when you play with your band. Greatfor beginners {me} Features my favourite Bruce Springsteen song ThunderRoad, The Oscar Winning Streets of Philadelphia, Glory Days, Badlands andmore. Have fun, the Piano never dies! ... Read more

Product Description
A series of new, original, and provocative essays on the music, myth, and meaning of The Boss

Bruce Springsteen is an institution unto himself. Over the course of a career now in its fourth decade, he has earned one of the largest, intense followings in all rock 'n' roll. He's selling more records and concert tickets in his fifties than he did in his twenties. Yet even after millions of record sales and thousands of concerts, there are still essential questions about his music that fans continue to ponder. How did he become the only first-rank rock 'n' roller not to fall apart? How has he maintained his integrity and his audience over all these years? What makes him different, unique?

Guterman, an accessible and entertaining music writer, has been writing about Springsteen since the late '70s. In this book, he delves into dramatic moments from every phase of Springsteen's career, looking deep into the music, the man, and culture at large to deliver a nuanced portrait of The Boss, which both new fans and longtime followers will find compelling. You don't have to be a Springsteen fan to enjoy this book, but you might be when you're finished. Runaway American Dream is a series of pointed, provocative, and surprising essays about Springsteen and his music that focus on the work and the times that created them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

fun read, fun ride
Okay, this might not be a "definitive" history of Spingsteen's music - for that, look for Marsh's TWO HEARTS or more recently Kirkpatrick's WORDS AND MUSIC OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - but Guterman's might be the most entertaining read in the Springsteen book "canon."Entertaining, quirky, and (usually) right on target.

A Springsteen book for fans and non-fans alike.
Bruce Springsteen is a Rust Belt rocker who made a splash by writing Manfred Mann's psychedelic No. 1 hit "Blinded by the Light." Springsteen's career as a solo artist, however, has been marked by play-it-safe arrangements and heavy reliance on do-re-mi melodies (better for mumbling, I suppose). As Guterman notes, his music hasn't progressed all that much over the decades.

Springsteen does shine as a live performer and lyricist, which Guterman documents with his unmatched blend of insight, anecdotes and self-deprecation. Springsteen's strengths play into the built-in biases of mainstream art criticism. That's because it's easier to accessibly discuss lyrics and shows than to write about melody and music theory, even though lyrics are to a song what paint is to a house - important, but easily changed and unindicative of its potential beauty. But frankly, Guterman, who's the greatest rock journalist in the business despite being a part-timer, could make any subject interesting and entertaining, and his essays on Springsteen are no exception. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Can't Compare to a Bruce Concert, But What a Treat!
Mazur is both a fan and a scholar, and both come through loud and clear in this new examination of arguably the quintessential Springsteen LP, Born to Run. There is a little redundancy here about Bruce's life, band and background in the earlier years, but it's necessary context if, unlike me, you have not already read dozens of books about Springsteen and the E Street Band.

This could not have been published at a more perfect moment in time; for the late summer and into the fall of 2009 the band is touring and playing individual LPs from beginning to end, and Born to Run is the one most frequently played. On a drive to Chicago to see a show that featured BTR, I read the individual sections aloud in the car and we followed it up by listening to the song we just read/heard about. Although I have probably listened to this album, cassette, CD, DVD, and MP3 iterations of this disc thousands of times, I learned both about the context of the lyrics of the songs and the instrumentation and composition. The section about the locations that populate the album was also extremely informative to anyone not born in the shadow of Freehold, NJ.

It's a real treat to read something written by both a passionate fan and a dedicated scholar. If you are lucky enough to have tickets to a show this fall that will feature Born to Run, buy this book immediately. If fate does not deal you that lovely circumstance, buy the book, pull out whatever format you have this music on, and take the time to go through each song after you have read the section on the lyrics and the music. I would be dumbfounded if you didn't learn something new--and I have been to +-150 Springsteen concerts and read everything I could get my hands on, and this was enlightening in many ways. In short, a real treat.

Runaway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision
Very interesting book by an academic (who happens to be a huge Springsteen fan) on the significance of Born to Run to Springsteen's career and its expression of American culture.

Bruce's book
Book in very good conditions!

Thanks a lot!

Vitor França

A nice read, not much more
If you're purchasing this book, it's because your already probably a Springsteen fan. The info presented about the album "Born to Run" is interesting, though you leave the book feeling there could have been more. Springsteen is quoted, but these quotes are items that were presented from the past, nothing new. The book (in my opinion) could have been better had there been some "new" info/quotes from people involved with the making of the album. The role of Clarence Clemons on Born to Run is huge -- so why not have some info from him about his role in the making of this masterpiece?? What about other band members? What were their feelings??

The other problem I had with the book is that about midstream, it moves away from Born to Run and tries to cram in more facts about Springsteen and his professional life after Born to Run. Is the book a reflection of Born to Run, or, a biography of Springsteen? The author can't seem to make up his mind. The book also feels rushed when it makes this transition -- probably because you can't cover that much ground in less than 200 pages.

With that said, you would think I didn't like the book; but I did. As a fan of Springsteen, this book was a good, quick read; and the author's love of the subject clearly shines through. In the end, there is a passage about the author feeling renewed after seeing Springsteen in concert and being able to now reconnect with the world. I couldn't agree more.

If you love Springsteen, this book will renew that feeling. If you're looking for more than that, I don't think you'll find it.

I greatly enjoyed this book
but I knew prior to reading it that it was NOT a bio of Bruce Springsteen, nor was it a lenthy discussion of the characters involved in the making of "Born to Run." When I finished the book, I felt like I had spent a great evening talking to old friends about how the album had grabbed us and influenced our lives.(Actually, I immediately e-mailed those old friends to do just that.) The book is really more of an exploration of what it means to be an American teen, where we came from, and what we learned as we grew up.It leads to self-examination and reconnects us to our ideals following life's disappointments.To be truthful, I'm more a fan of the book than the artist; I haven't purchased a Springsteen album/CD since "The River." I think I understand why Mr. Masur's classes at Trinity College are rumored to be challenging, but popular.Buy this book if you are interested in the historical, social, and even personal framework of the album. ... Read more

Product Description
This highly praised celebration of Springsteen's artistryand influence is the most perceptive portrait yet of the remarkablygifted musician who, since the media anointed him the future of rock'n' roll in the mid-1970s, has redefined the image of the rock starand emerged an authentic American hero - a man to whom millions ofloyal fans look as a voice for their yearnings, hopes, fears, anddreams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Perfectly Captures the Fan Experience
I picked up this book when I first discovered the music of Bruce Springsteen. I was immediately taken by the way Alterman described his own experience as a fan. Everything that I was feeling and lacked the language for was perfectly described: all of the admiration, all the of the love and all of the indescribable feelings that I had were perfectly explained and outlined within this book. He very eloquently explains why Springsteen's music resonated and still resonates with so many of us. He analyses songs and without sounding too trite or pretentious, explains why the songs and their lyrics affect us the way that they do.

In addition, as a fan I was able to learn a lot about the man that I had recently come to admire as an artist. I learned about his upbringing, influences, recording process and began to piece together the man that I come to know as a very important figure in rock culture and in my own life. In coupling a biography with his own personal stories Alterman helps to tell the story of Springsteen while also shedding light on what the life of a fan is and the effect that he has on so many people in America and across the world. Sure sometimes it might sound like he's gushing but if you're a Springsteen fan you feel like he's right there with you.

A fan's love letter
This is certainly not the definitive Bruce bio- nor does it pretend to be.All one has to do is read the introduction and get that all this book pretends to be is "something to say".In some ways, that's a lot like Bruce.

As this is a fan letter, it's obviously pro- pro- Bruce.It tends to gloss over some of the more disappointing aspects of his life and career. But, then again, most people who actually read the book are in that camp.You can pretty much ignore the one star reviews for that reason.In addition, the author makes it pretty clear what his favorite albums are, and even if you are a hard-core Bruce fan, you may disagree.

I think this is worth a read, then if you are really interested in Bruce one should read other accounts of him to get a broader perspective.

Great little book about Bruce
This book is not THE Bruce bio but a rather personal view at the songs and the impact Bruce has had on many of us who grew up with him. Some fans will not find that much truly new here but may appreciate the overview and the description of how Altermans own relationship with the songs.
Great little book

A good introduction
This book serves as a good introduction to learning about Bruce Springsteen and his music, his band, and career. But it is by no means a great literary masterpiece.In fact, it is not literary, at all.What it is is a good way to learn about Bruce.However, I have found the best way to learn about Bruce is to listen to his interviews, watch his concerts, listen to his albums, read articles in unbiased magazines, and read his lyrics.Bruce is not an intellectual on par with some of the great minds of today, whoever they are, but he does have something to say and he tends to do it well.His meat and potatoes are in his live performances.That is where you'll find the real Bruce Springsteen.When on stage and behind a telecaster, he is simply unbeatable, even at age 54.
Alterman does a good job of laying the basics down.That is about it.One has to be care when reading about Springsteen because people either love him or they don't get it and then they try to tear him down.Most people who don't like Bruce and write about him are simply too negative and their lack of understanding what he is all about becomes evident.Also, writers who knock Springsteen usually have an axe to grind about some other issue, such as Springsteen replacing Dylan or some other crap that doesn't matter.Saying things like "fans ought to get a life," is a good example of that.People who really like Bruce, like Alterman, tend to soft pedal the questionable aspects of his career, and their worship of him comes through like glossy paint.
I'm still waiting for the definitive biography of Bruce Springsteen, this is not it.

Absorbing tribute-bio
Half biography, half love letter, Eric Alterman's dissection of the impact of Bruce Springsteen on america is well informed, expertly reported, and in a way that you don't see coming, completely gripping and emotional.The tale he tells of being kicked out of a car while sick for wanting to see a local Springsteen concert on Yom Kippur is priceless, and this book is full of moments like that which fuse respect and biography until they're inextricable.It makes the argument that an artist's life, no matter how interesting (and I find Springsteen's fascinating), is just there to serve the listener's passion for his work.I wouldn't recomment it for non-Springsteen fans like some reviewers here (why'd they even go past page 10?), but if you've found yourself drawn into the promise and messages of a certain artist, you'll find emotions to bury yourself in here. ... Read more

Product Description
Backstreets began in 1980, when Seattle-based Springsteen fan Charles R. Cross printed 10,000 copies of a 4-page tabloid he called Backstreets. He passed it out for free at Bruce's October 24, 1980 Seattle Coliseum show. Most copies of this first issue wound up trampled under foot, soaking in puddles by the end of the night; original copies of this three-color premiere issue now sell for three figures.In 1989, for the first edition of the Backstreets book, "Springsteen: the Man and His Music," Cross wrote: "Little did I know at the time that a decade later the damn thing would still be around as a quarterly magazine and be called by some 'the world's greatest fanzine.'" Now nearing the quarter-century mark, Backstreets continues an uninterrupted run of quarterly publishing and is a Music Journalism Award winner for Best Fanzine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good read!
I have the hard cover of this book.It was really interesting and enjoyable. ... Read more

Product Description

Exposing the depth of two major artists' philosophies, creative visions, stylistic tendencies, and contributions to their craft, this unprecedented comparative analysis synthesizes biographical material, critical interpretation, and selected exemplars of the writers' work. Smith reinterprets their work in a new and fascinating light, presenting Dylan as a songwriter of enigmatic wordplay and Springsteen as the melodramatic narrator of a specific community's life struggles.

Both songwriters have had unique responses to the celebrity singer/songwriter tradition begun by Woody Guthrie. Smith reveals the power of authorship and the creative drive necessary to negotiate an artistic vision through the complicated mechanisms of the world of commercial art. Both have discovered their own means of traveling this difficult terrain, and Smith probes their lives and work to reveal the myriad ways in which two distinct, equally significant artists have learned from and contributed to an ongoing and important American musical tradition.

Customer Reviews (2)

Outstanding
Mr. Smith manages to capture the very essence and nature of the two artists' craft and work. A stunningly insightful glimpse into two of America's greatest singer-songwriters!

"Must" reading for the legions of Dylan and Springsteen fans
Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, And American Song is a combination dual biography and musical critique of two great and much beloved modern-day American songwriters and performers. Their distinct flavors, creative drives, and musical works are discussed in detail and contrasted in depth throughout the pages of this respectful, informative, and thoughtfully presented commentary. Simply put, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, And American is "must" reading for the legions of Dylan and Springsteen fans, and a very highly recommended addition to academic and community library American Music History collections. ... Read more

Product Description
"Working On a Dream" is powerful and engaging study of this songwriter and performer's art. Springsteen has consistently summoned his creative power and artistic vision to indict political developments and demand the cultivation of a more compassionate and progressive society. For almost four decades, Bruce Springsteen's music has directly inspired, influenced, and uplifted millions of devoted fans, who hold a special place in their hearts and minds for his work. Springsteen's rise to the top of American music coincided with the triumph of American conservatism, and the veneration of marketplace values above democratic principles and humanistic priorities. Springsteen has consistently summoned his creative power and artistic vision to indict these political developments and demand the cultivation of a more compassionate and progressive society. And yet his often harsh critique of the status quo and radical ideas for reform have either been ignored or misunderstood, as a result of his 'All American' image and his narrative storytelling style.On nearly every major issue - poverty, racism, urban decay, war, and peace - Springsteen's music has offered a unique vision for moving forward with the agenda of creating the 'country we carry in our hearts' - as he called it in an op-ed for the "New York Times". Filled with provocative analysis of Springsteen's best known hits and his most obscure songs, comparisons to other important works of American culture - ranging from "The Sopranos" to "Edward Hopper" - and a wealth of information about the last fifty years of American politics, culture, and society, "Working On a Dream" is a powerful and engaging study of this songwriter and performer's art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

BS politics
Being a European and a Bruce Springsteen active fan since only 7 years now I find the book very informative about Springsteen lyrics and the connection to life in USA. Many new points of view, the "truth" often being quite depressive.Some matters are repeated in the book.Reading the book it seems somehow a paradox because BS has given me so much joy and happiness.

Dave Masciotra has successfully and powerfully finished "Working on His Own Dream"
Well I can say with all honesty that I have NOT read over 80 books on or about "The Boss"...(hell there can't even be that many about Jesus Christ... can there be?) But I have read "Working on a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen" and it is a comprehensive and very passionette study...putting it in the simplest of terms..this book is about Bruce Springsteen's concern and love for his fellow man. Not only that, Dave Masciotra's in depth study and history about Sprinsgteens political views are exciting and quite educational. As a musician I have not read a book like this about any of my other musical heroes other that the typical..."wild and crazy lifestyles" dime novel docudramas you can purchase at any magazine rack in town. Many people think that Bruce's political views exploded after 9/11, but I realize now, after reading this book that his voice has always spoke of the common man ..the plight of the underpriviledged and hope for the hopeless. That's putting it mildly. I can also relate to Daves recognizable musical love and affection for the Boss... And rightfully so..what better way to get Springsteen's political views out there than to research, study, and write about one of your own heroes who you trust and believe in? Well done Dave! This book is heart-felt not a political rant. I encourage all, and especially my musician brothers and sisters out there to pick up Dave Masciotra's book and be inspired as a musician to play your clubs and venues with an attitude of change and service to your fellow man...in other words...sing your songs,that they may make a difference and inspire enough to pay it forward.

Chaper 1, first line
It turned out to be a very well written book. Was concerned though as there is a mistake right in the first sentence of the first chapter, Springsteen was born on 23rd of September and not on 29th.

Wrestling Eric Alterman for #2 Spot of Best Bruce Books--#1 Of Course, is Bruce's Own "Songs"
I don't think there's a Bruce book that's ever been published that I haven't read, and this one is nothing short of spectacular. I don't want to cast aspersions on reviewers, but I can't help but think that the person who really disliked the book is one who can't help but love Bruce, even if he loathes his politics and pretends that he only writes about girls and cars.

This author really GETS IT; that Bruce's writing has been informed from the very beginning by lives that are lived in the margins, by people who are cast away and considered dispensable.

I wish Bruce would have blurbed the book--I think this represents what he thinks as much as anything I've ever read. Every day I thank Bruce for his part in speaking for those whose voices are not heard; now I need to thank this brilliant author as well.

Sometimes I wonder when I read a review so positive if I'm really the author's mother, or cousin, or whatever. For the record, never met him, though I'd love to sit down and have a beer and talk Bruce with him someday. Bravo!!

A must read

This is not only a great book on Springsteen,but an amazing analysis on our politics and culture. ... Read more

Product Description
Arranged for Guitar Tablature & Standard Notation With Lyrics. Matching songbook to Springsteen's break through album from 1975. Contents: Thunder Road, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, Night, Backstreets, Born To Run, She's The One, Meeting Across The River & Jungleland ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Exactly what I was looking for!!!
Buy this if you are looking to learn these songs on the piano.This book is excellent.There are some really great solo piano compositions on this album; thunder road, backstreets, jungleland.This book has everything you need to play these songs.

Way Off Base
I have NO idea what the guy above me is writing about.Certainly not THIS ITEM!In the first place it is published by Alfred, not Hal Leonard, and the thing is NOTHING BUT TAB AND CHORDS!This is as good as it is going to get if you want to play the songs from "Born To Run" on the guitar!

Someone Didn't Do Their Homework...
I figured Hal Leonard Publishing; it would probabally be a decent book. But nope, it's page after page of no guitar tab. with only chord boxes and no suggestive strum pattern, it's like a lyric book. ... Read more

Product Description
Arranged For Piano, Guitar & Lyrics With Chords & Chord Frames. Matching songbook to Springsteen s smash 2007 album. Includes 4 pages of color photographs ofThe Boss . Contents:Radio Nowhere *You'll Be Comin' Down *Livin' In the Future* Your Own Worst Enemy* Gypsy Biker* Girls In Their Summer Clothes *I'll Work for Your Love* Magic* Last To Die *Long Walk Home *Devil's Arcade* Terry's Song ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for learning songs
A solid book to learn the songs from the CD, with lyrics, chords and tabs. Everything seems accurate. ... Read more

Product Description
Born and bred in a working class environment in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen has, over the past 30 years, established himself as one of the most influential songwriters and performers in American popular music. Winner of three Grammy Awards for The Rising, he continues to entertain and inspire millions of fans around the world.Also born and bred in a working-class New Jersey home was photographer Frank Stefanko, who crossed paths with Springsteen thanks to an introduction by a mutual friend, musician Patti Smith. This meeting spurred a photographic collaboration that lasted five years and produced cover photos for two of Springsteen's most significant albums, Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River. Stefanko's archive of several thousand Springsteen photos has never been published-that is, until now. Days of Hope and Dreams presents an unforgettable selection of Stefanko's most significant and most personal images from his time working with Springsteen, and Stefanko's recollections offer behind-the-scenes stories of his work and friendship with this legendary musical talent. Featuring a fascinating introduction written by The Boss himself, this is a must-have guide for Springsteen fans and music lovers everywhere! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

friendship
this is not only a book about an era in the beginning of the career of bruce, but a book about friendship as well. very nice photos. i recommend it to bruce fans

Cover Shot Was Taken In Haddonfield, New Jersey
Just thought everyone would like to know that the cover photo was taken in front of Frank's Men's Hairstyling on Kings Highway in downtown Haddonfield, New Jersey!

Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift
This is a wonderful book.The photographs are uniformly compelling and insightful, as is the text.The reader is treated to a rare, unvarnished glimpse of an American hero about to "burst like a supernova."The images are timeless, and harken back to a simpler, perhaps more poignant time -- before MTV and the Internet changed the way we obtained and enjoyed our music.The author's spare text is thoughtful without being intrusive; a perfect compliment to the compelling images that accompany it.The text conveys a straightforward warmth and appreciation for the author's subject that are both refreshing and inspiring.This is a book to pore over, savor, and return to.Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift -- and thank you, Bruce, for recognizing his genius, and for allowing us a little glimpse of yours.

TRIBUTE TO LATE WIFE SHEILA WAS TOUCHING
This book engrosses you from the moment you start reading you cant stop.I am giving this book to my clients and friends as it makes the perfect gift for Bruce Springsteen fans.I was also very moved by Authors tribute to his late wife Sheila and feel there may be another story there Frank ?

amazing -- some of the best Bruce photos ever
1978 was a key moment in Bruce Springsteen's career, and Frank Stefanko was there to capture it in black and white.In these photos, you see a rock star breaking out, but still struggling and working his [tail] off.Stefanko had not even heard the Darkness album when he took the photos that would lead to its cover (and the cover of The River), but he captured the mood and the tone perfectly, of both the music and the musician.Even if you're not into photo books, if you have an interest in Springsteen, do yourself a favor and get this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Die 100 besten Springsteen-Songs.

Bruce Springsteen, der bis heute mehr als 250 Songs schrieb, ist der singende Poet, der Rockbarde, ein politischer Intellektueller.

'The Boss' selbst sagte einmal über die Struktur von guten Songs: 'Gute Songs funktionieren auf verschiedenen Ebenen, und darum sind sie gut, darum sind sie unvergänglich.'

Die Autorin June Skinner Sawyers wählt aus dem Gesamtwerk Springsteens 100 Songs, jedoch versteht sich ihr Buch nicht als musikalische Analyse, sondern liefert eine Synthese aus Geschichte, Anekdoten, Interpretationen und persönlicher Meinung. So beschäftigt sie sich mit der Erzählstruktur, dem historischen und kulturellen Rahmen und Ursprung oder Inspiration der einzelnen Songs.

Ungewöhnlicherweise sind in diesem Kanon zum Beispiel auch die zehn lustigsten Springsteen Songs enthalten.

Die Songs sind chronologisch geordnet, angefangen von 'Greeting From Asbury Park, N.J.' aus dem Jahre 1973 bis 'Devils and Dust' von 2005. Um die Chronologie von der Erstveröffentlichung bis zum 2009er Album 'Working On A Dream' zu vervollständigen wurde ein weiteres Kapitel hinzugefügt.

Weiterhin bietet dieses Buch als Bonus kurze Ausschnitte zu weiteren 60 Songs, Fotos, Zusatzinformationen und eine komplette Songliste plus Diskographie und Bibliographie.
Dies ist eine wunderbare Hommage an den vollendeten Performer und perfekten Geschichtenerzähler und an seine Songs voller Leidenschaft und Kraft.

Product Description
The Rising is Springsteen's first album of new songs recorded with the E Street Band since 1984. Nominated for five Grammy® awards, this album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and has drawn superlative reviews from critics and fans. Alfred's album-matching guitar songbook edition features music and photos which were personally approved by ""The Boss"" himself! Titles are: Lonesome Day
* Into the Fire
* Waitin' On a Sunny Day
* Countin' On a Miracle
* Nothing Man
* Empty Sky
* Worlds Apart
* Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)
* Further On (Up the Road)
* The Fuse
* Mary's Place
* You're Missing
* The Rising
* Paradise
* My City of Ruins. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Springsteen Tabber (what were you thinking)
My first thought when i saw the tablature icon down the bottom left of the book was a feeling a happyness from a search. However to my amazement, this $50 investment was the biggest waste of money,some of the flaws include wrong notes, Some of the songs dont even have tablature, just stupid acoustic chords with 1 strum pattern, im not joking, For those who are interested in buying some of my rising work that i myself have completed,Please email me,It will cost money. This book is only worth the lyrics. ... Read more