Bruce Springsteen has returned to the spotlight recently thanks to the film “Deliver Me From Nothing”, directed by Scott Cooper, which traces the genesis of “Nebraska” (1982), the album in which the Boss chose artistic truth over the clamor of the limelight, recording in solitude with a simple four-track. The online magazine BBC Classical Music has dedicated an in-depth analysis to him, publishing the ranking of what it considers to be the best albums by the American singer-songwriter, ordered from worst to best. “Few artists in the history of rock have built a body of work as rich, varied and lasting as that of Bruce Springsteen – writes Classical Music in the introduction – Over the course of five decades, The Boss has moved effortlessly from stadium anthems to the driest acoustic confessions, from the great American narrative to intimate reflections on love, doubt and mortality. His albums do not just document a career: they trace the very evolution of modern rock, reflecting America's dreams, contradictions and difficulties… This chart traces all of Springsteen's studio albums, from the irregular experiments and changes of direction to the timeless milestones that have marked entire generations”.
Here is the ranking of the 20 best Bruce Springsteeb albums according to BBC Classical Music (here is the complete report).
20. High Hopes
19. Working On A Dream
18. Human Touch
17. Lucky Town
16. Letter To You
15. Western Stars
14. Devils & Dust
13. The Ghost Of Tom Joad
12. Wrecking Ball
11. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
10. Magic
9. Tunnel Of Love
8. The River
7. Nebraska
6. The Rising
5. Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ
4. The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
3. Born In The USA
2. Born To Run
1. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
“Deliver Me From Nothing”, directed by Scott Cooper, traces the genesis of “Nebraska” (1982) offering a glimpse into the musician's creative torment and the dynamics of the music industry. Alongside a confident Jon Landau – played by Jeremy Strong, a well-known face from “Succession” – appear Stephen Graham and Gaby Hoffmann in the roles of parents Douglas and Adele Springsteen, Odessa Young as Faye, Johnny Cannizzaro in the role of Steve Van Zandt, as well as Paul Walter Hauser, Marc Maron and David Krumholtz.
Director Scott Cooper, in a press release, said: “'Nebraska' is the moment when Bruce chose the truth over expectations, a decision that continues to resonate throughout his work. At that crossroads he could have chased the limelight and the roar of the arena, but he preferred to withdraw into himself, with a four-track recorder and the courage to face himself. The fact that he entrusted me with the task of telling that chapter, the most vulnerable of his life, is the greatest honor I have never had as a director.”
In parallel with the release of the film, on October 24 Sony Music released “Nebraska '82: Expanded Edition”, a box set that celebrates the acoustic masterpiece through previously unreleased recordings with the E-Street Band, solo songs and a full performance at the Count Basie Theatre. Among the archive materials announced there is also a rare version of “Born In The USA” in a reduced lineup.
The box also includes “Nebraska Outtakes”, which collects solo rarities such as “Losin' Kind”, “Child Bride” and “Downbound Train”, as well as songs recorded in a solo session from 1982, including “Gun In Every Home” and “On The Prowl”. To complete the picture, one performance filmed by Thom Zimny at the Count Basie Theater in New Jersey, where Springsteen performed the entire album live for the first time. “I think, playing these songs again to be filmed, their importance struck me – explains the singer-songwriter – I have written many other narrative records, but there is something in that group of songs on “Nebraska” that contains a kind of magic”.
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
