Released on October 23, 2020. A return to the E Street Band, recorded live in his home studio over five days. It includes three songs written in the 1970s alongside new meditations on mortality and friendship. "Ghosts" and "I'll See You in My Dreams" are beautiful tributes to fallen bandmates Federici and Clemons.
Released on October 2, 2007. A return to power-pop with the E Street Band. While the music is upbeat and Beatlesque, the lyrics are bitterly critical of the Bush administration and the Iraq War. "Radio Nowhere" and "Long Walk Home" are modern classics. The 2010s & 2020s: Late-Period Wisdom 2009: Working on a Dream Released on January 27, 2009. A mixed bag of sunny pop ("My Lucky Day") and orchestral grief ("The Last Carnival," dedicated to deceased E Street organist Danny Federici). It is lighter in tone than Magic but features one of his most beautiful melodies in "The Wrestler." springsteen albums by year
* 1984: Born in the U.S.A. * Released on June 4, 1984. The commercial zenith. This album spawned seven Top 10 singles, including "Dancing in the Dark," "Glory Days," and "I'm on Fire." However, the title track is frequently misunderstood: a thunderous rock anthem with a scathing lyric about the mistreatment of Vietnam War veterans. It sold over 30 million copies worldwide. 1992: Human Touch & Lucky Town Released on March 31, 1992. Springsteen famously disbanded the E Street Band to release two albums on the same day. Human Touch is more polished and soul-influenced; Lucky Town is tighter and more reflective. While commercially successful, they are generally considered uneven compared to his 80s work. Released on October 23, 2020
Released on June 2, 1978. Following the legal disputes, this album is darker and more adult. It trades teenage escape for adult responsibility, focusing on economic hardship, family, and perseverance. Tracks like "Badlands," "The Promised Land," and "Racing in the Street" defined the "heartland rock" genre. The 1980s: Global Superstardom 1980: The River Released on October 17, 1980. Springsteen’s first double album and his first #1 on the Billboard charts. The River mastered the shift between party rockers ("Cadillac Ranch," "Ramrod") and devastating ballads ("The River," "Fade Away"). It was his commercial breakthrough, reaching a massive new audience. "Ghosts" and "I'll See You in My Dreams"
Released on September 30, 1982. An intentional left turn. Recorded alone on a 4-track Tascam in a New Jersey bedroom, Nebraska is a stark, haunting acoustic collection about murderers, outcasts, and the American subconscious. Though it contained no hits, it remains one of the most influential solo albums in history (Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash were fans).
Released on March 6, 2012. Fueled by anger over the 2008 financial crisis and the death of saxophonist Clarence Clemons. This album incorporates folk, gospel, and Irish protest music. The title track and "Death to My Hometown" are furious, anthemic calls for economic justice.