Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

by Bruce Springsteen

Overview

Bruce Springsteen's debut album found him squarely in the tradition of Bob Dylan: folk-based tunes arranged for an electric band featuring piano and organ (plus, in Springsteen's case, 1950s-style rock & roll tenor saxophone breaks), topped by acoustic guitar and a husky voice singing lyrics full of elaborate, even exaggerated imagery. But where Dylan had taken a world-weary, cynical tone, Springsteen was exuberant. His street scenes could be haunted and tragic, as they were in "Lost in the Flood," but they were still imbued with romanticism and a youthful energy. Asbury Park painted a portrait of teenagers cocksure of themselves, yet bowled over by their discovery of the world. It was saved from pretentiousness (if not preciousness) by its sense of humor and by the careful eye for detail that kept even the most high-flown language rooted. Like the lyrics, the arrangements were busy, but the melodies were well developed and the rhythms, pushed by drummer Vincent Lopez, were breakneck. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/2015
Label:	Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music
UPC:	0888750987426
Rank:	4113

Tracks

1. Blinded by the Light
2. Growin' Up
3. Mary Queen of Arkansas
4. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
5. Lost in the Flood
6. The Angel
7. For You
8. Spirit in the Night
9. It's Hard to be a Saint in the City

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bruce Springsteen   Primary Artist,Bass,Congas,Harmonica,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Richard Davis   Guest Artist,Bass (Upright)
Garry Tallent   Bass
David Sancious   Organ,Piano
Harold Wheeler   Piano
Vincent "Loper" Lopez   Drums
Clarence Clemons   Saxophone,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

John Berg   Cover Design
John K. Chester   Digital Transfers
Bob Ludwig   Remastering
Jack Ashkinazy   Remixing
Jim Cretecos   Producer
Louis Lehav   Engineer
Mike Appel   Producer
Bruce Springsteen   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist
Toby Scott   Supervising Editor
Jamie Howarth   Digital Transfers