Bruce Springsteen
The essential Bruce Springsteen records, ranked — where to start and what to reach for next.
-
1Born to RunBruce SpringsteenStart here
Born to Run
The make-or-break record where Springsteen poured everything into a widescreen, Spector-sized vision of escape and longing. Every track strains for transcendence and mostly reaches it, from the title song to the closing 'Jungleland'. Romantic, exhausting and thrilling.
-
2Darkness on the Edge of TownBruce SpringsteenClassic
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Lean, hard-bitten songs of work, fathers and thwarted dreams, recorded after a long legal exile. Tougher than Born to Run. A favourite among devotees.
-
3The RiverBruce SpringsteenClassic
The River
A sprawling double album balancing bar-band joy and stark ballads. Generous and beloved. A peak.
-
4NebraskaBruce SpringsteenClassic
Nebraska
A stark solo home-recording of murder ballads and desperation, just voice, guitar and tape hiss. Haunting and uncompromising. Unlike anything else in his catalogue.
-
5Born in the U.S.A.Bruce SpringsteenClassic
Born in the U.S.A.
A massive, misread blockbuster whose anthemic surface hides bitter Vietnam-era disillusion. Seven hit singles deep. His commercial peak.
-
6The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street ShuffleBruce SpringsteenDeep cut
The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
A sprawling, jazzy early peak of street-poetry songcraft. Ambitious and beloved. A cult favourite.
- Born to Run from Born to Run · on Best Songs of the 1970s, Best Rock Songs of All Time, Best 1970s Rock Songs
- Dancing in the Dark from Born in the U.S.A. · on Best 1980s Rock Songs
Tracks we've featured in our best-of lists — tap a title to find it on Amazon Music.