Born in the U.S.A. - Springsteen, Bruce (CD 1984)

Although you would't tell it from the reviews on this site, with Born in the U.S.A. it seems to be a matter of love it or hate it. One of my friends, also a Springsteen fan, simply said: Born in the U.S.A. isn t a good record. Another (and he should recognize himself, the fellow writes amazing reviews for this site) once mentioned in a comment on a review o mine that Bruce would hardly ever be able to top this record. So there you go, everyone feels different about it.


I m finding myself listening to Bruce rather often lately. Last week it was Nebraska, somewhere at the weekend his E Street Band 2001 reunion performance from Madison Square Garden. And whenever I hear Born to Run, Jungleland, Two hearts, Badlands, Atlantic City, Murder Incorporated (why in the world this song was made a B-side is beyond me) I feel like I m listening to some of the best music in my life. Sadly enough, that s the feeling I never get listening to this album.


As if all the constituents are here. Professor Roy Bittan shines on the record, and so does Danny Federici, who delivers a near legendary piano performance on the album s title song. Bruce s lyrics are as moving as always, although the characters are never elaborated on to the level found on Nebraska, where each story would paint a whole class of society. Still, songs like Darlington county and especially Working on the highway boast yet another couple of Bruce s most memorable characters. The secretary of the brotherhood Clarence Clemons is in the house, BORN IN THE U.S.A. is an E Street Band record but why oh why is da man featured on only three or four songs? And where have all the ever so fabulous guitar solos gone? I see Steve van Zandt credited in my booklet and indeed I can hear him play mandolin on I m going down and Glory days, but wait, it s not the mandolin this guy is famous and loved for playing so well, now is it? Finally, is this a guitar Bruce is holding or what? If it is, then where are the trademark double solos Springsteen/Clemons (leave alone Clemons for goodness sake Springsteen!!) of Born to Run? Is this rock music at all?




Oooooh. Sorry, just had to let it out on you people. I understand I now sound like a person who cannot handle a change. Wait up, I love when people and especially musicians change. One condition granted: they must be able to handle a change.




The problem of this record to me personally seems to be that, having changed and become pop the band and Bruce are left with much less to say. Truly Nebraska (1982) wasn t an easy listen, music all stripped down (which was the reason some found it unlisteneable), and the lyrics almost all bitter as wormwood (the reason why most everyone else found the album unlisteneable). Yet if we looked beneath we d discover the album is such a tough listen because it talks people no one wants to hear about. Well, and I just can t see Born in the U.S.A. (1984) come up with a single character to rival the depth of those from Nebraska. It hardly becomes the characters from Born to run, Darkness on the edge of the town and The River (take already the title song) either. To do it justice, the record can touch you on some songs, like the opener:


Got in a little hometown jam so they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land to go and kill the yellow man

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says son if it was up to me
Went down to see my VA man
He said son don t you understand now



or the wonderful Working on the highway -


I met her at a dance down at the union hall
She was standing with her brothers, back up against the wall
Sometimes we d go walking down the union tracks
One day I looked straight at her and she looked straight back

I saved up all my money and I put it all away
I went to see her daddy but we didn t have much to say
Son, can t you see that she s just a little girl
She don t know nothing bout this cruel, cruel world

We lit out down to Florida, we got along alright
One day her brothers came and got her and they took me in a black and white



but that s about the best it can do. Most stories (unlike on previous Springsteen records) fail to grab me completely.




The music well, it s pop. Doesn t mean it s bad. Born in the U.S.A. has to be one of Springsteen s best songs ever. Working on the highway (another of his best moments to me) will have you dancing or tapping your feet all the way. Downbound train and I m on fire are some of the Boss s most touching ballads, no matter how pop, these are wonderful songs. No surrender could even contend for a place on Born to run - so wonderfully the song manages to express both hope and desolation, which is very characteristic of Bruce. Dancing in the dark blech. Sorry.


And then we have some songs here that drag. Bobby Jean has good lyrics but never really takes off musically. When Bruce shouts Let s rock! before the bridge on Glory days nothing happens. Wait guys, you ve got Clemons, you have guitars let s rock, indeed! But they don t.


Darlington county and Cover me are okay at the very best. I just don t know what else to say about these songs. They re okay. I only keep wondering why wasn t Murder Incorporated - one of the B-sides to this album included, maybe because it is actually one of the few songs of the 1984 session that rock? That the song is genuinely awesome we can tell from the frequency with which it has been performed live.




I really don t want to make anyyone who loves this album feel badly now. I m afraid by now I already have, well in that case I m really sorry. With Bruce Springsteen it I guess depends on the album every single one of us connects him- or herself with. If Born in the U.S.A. was there with you while you were growing up in mid 80s or even later, I ve nothing but due respect for you. After all, this is anything but a bad record. And the three stars I ve given it only represent my highly subjective sentiment. Simply this wasn t the record that discovered Bruce for me and went on to become one of my very favorite.


So, please don t be mad with the poor Foxy if somebody asks him if Born in the U.S.A. is a masterpiece. I ve only one answer and I believe that s what I ll say to them.




An enjoyable listen? Granted. A masterpiece? Well, I just go Nah, give me another copy of Born to Run.




Thanks for reading.