Well there’s no doubt that you would kick my ass so let me be the voice of reason: Dire Straits had about 7 studio albums where Springsteen had about 3 times that many. Granted, quantity over quality is not a good indicator but I would say that the debut album for DS as well as the album that had Money for Nothing overshadows everything else in their discography. Springsteen had Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska, Born in the USA, and Tunnel of Love all in a row before he released the subpar Human Touch along with Lucky Town (in the same day - should have put the best songs off both albums into just one album). Granted some of the stuff that has come after that has been hit or miss, but still solid with The Rising, Letter to You, etc. Even his throwaways like Pink Cadillac would be songs that other artists wished they had. Now, I have mad respect for Mark Knopfler as a musician and he is probably the better musician than Bruce, but when you put together singing, musicianship, band, longevity, songwriting, etc., I think Bruce wins. Now excuse me as I go run off and hide.
people always say bruce springsteen is the voice of the working man, but while he was singing about dancing the dark and tunnels of love it was dire straits who were out there actually singing about issues facing the working class... We got to install microwave ovens Custom kitchen deliveries We got to move these refrigerators We got to move these colour TVs Now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it You play the guitar on the MTV That ain't workin' that's the way you do it Money for nothin' and your chicks for free
Back in my tweenage years, we heard about Springsteen but dismissed him as some greaser New Jersey pretend rocker. He wasn't on the radio in Houston and nobody had an album. Finally, one of my buddies bought The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle. He wouldn't shut up about it so one day we put it on the turntable. It's an uneven album but Rosalita definitely held our interest (as did the E Street Shuffle) and when Born to Run came out we didn't wait so long to pick it up. We also kind of discovered Clarence and that made the New Jersey guy cool. For all my high school years, we'd put the 8-track in and drive around wailing out loud along with Bruce to the last strains of Born to Run and Jungleland (which is awesome). Part of the mystique that developed around him back then were the tales of his concerts and how they were longer than the 50-90 minutes and higher energy we were seeing with other acts. Turned out to be true. On my current Springsteen playlist, I only have three songs from the first two albums but six from Born to Run and 36 total. So yeah, he's good. Not my absolute favorite, but really, really good.
More specifically Mark Knopfler. He may not be the legend that Springsteen is but I would put his work up against just about anyone. He's a top 10 all time guitarist.
You should have seen Springsteen and the E Street Band almost 50 years ago at Liberty Hall in Houston in early March, 1974. There’s a beat up copy of a poster below from one of the nights. Tickets were $3.00 in advance, $3.50 at the door. I got mine in advance, took a girl and met some friends there. A really great Friday night with a few hundred jammed into the place. I tried to get tickets to Saturday night the next day, but they were sold out. Others clearly had the same idea, which was bad luck for me. One of my favorite concerts, and I went to a lot of them. They played for two and a half hours without a break and were sizzling! Blew the doors off the place, figuratively speaking. I loved their early albums, Greetings from Asbury Park and The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, the latter LP the one they were promoting on that tour, still trying to “make it” big. They were more about the band then, and just a little less about Bruce. Fantastic synergy live. I saw them at the Music Hall the following November. Another great show in Houston’s best venue. That was the last time I saw him. Born to Run, which was huge, came out in ‘75 and made Springsteen a star, big time. A really good album, but I still like the first two the most, especially the second one. …just read the rest of the thread and I won’t argue with @rimrocker. All I’ll add is that almost everything they played at that concert in ‘74 at Liberty Hall was from the first two records, it was mind blowing (everything a lot longer and “dense” than the LP’s), and I wore the groves off that 2nd LP. I’m prejudiced!
It's funny but most of my impressions of Bruce came during high school. Let's just say...I wasn't a big fan at the time. I remember a few of the "dumb jocks" loved Bruce. So, I didn't like Bruce much as I associated those that liked him as dumb jock types in high school. I still can't say I'm a big fan of the music. But, I respect the man, the talent, and the music. It's safe to say I never gave him a real shot at joining my musical library. I was always set with the heavier rock. I know what I really like. He's got a lot of music and I probably haven't heard 90% of it. Do I regret my bias and not giving him a fair shot? Perhaps.
I’m mutant as I’ve never been a Springsteen or Beatles fan. I don’t dislike their music but they I never really got into them. I certainly respect what Springsteen has done musically and he’s a great performer and songwriter. I especially like his collaborations with other acts like Dropkick Murphys and Social Distortion but just not a fan personally.
When I saw Springsteen at Bonnaroo (this was about 14 years ago), he was 60 at the time and he performed for over 3 hours. It was the best concert I have seen and by the end of it, Max Weinberg's son took over for his dad on drums and that kid was an absolute beast!
I've never been a superfan or anything, but DEFINITELY respect him as an artist. Great songwriter, singer, performer and an underrated guitarist too. Also plays piano. His fans will tell you that you'll never get him until you see him live. I've never seen him live, but any live footage I've seen of him, I definitely agree. He seems to have a way to connect with a stadium full of 80,000 people as if it was a bar down the street with 15 people. That's so rare these days. I can't believe how much energy he and his band maintain through 3+ hour shows every night. Very poor comparison, but I played a 3 hour gig this weekend and I was EXHAUSTED . And we had two 20 minute breaks. I guess playing sold out stadiums full of fans who worship you is probably a little different that some corporate party where half the people aren't even paying attention to you. I've always liked his ballads. This is one of my favorites. Superfans, what are some of his best ballads?
