THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

549-Bruce Springsteen-Born to Run.

1975-Number 93 single. The song was issued a a live version in 1987, and peaked at Number 16.

Best Bit-At 3.04. In an episode of ‘The Sopranos,’ the character Christopher Moltisanti quotes the songs lyrics, saying, ‘The highway’s jammed with broken heroes, on a last chance power drive.’ This was an in-joke by the script writers, as Steven Van Zamdt of ‘The E Street Band,’ who provided input on this song, also played Silvio Dante in The Sopranos.

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (see also best songs 1040) was born on September 23rd, 1949, in Long Branch, New Jersey, United States, with record sales in excess of 150 million worldwide, he is one of the best selling artists of all time. In October 1972, Springsteen formed a band to record his debut studio Album ‘Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.’ The band would eventually become known as the ‘E Street Band,’ although the name was not officially used until September 1974. Bruce Springsteen acquired the nickname ‘The Boss’ sometime within that time period, ‘The Boss’ may sound very ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ but that wasn’t why he was given it. Evidently Bruce Springsteen took it upon himself to collect his band’s nightly pay, and distribute it among his band mates. The nickname also reportedly sprang from playing the board game ‘Monopoly,’ which Springsteen played with other Jersey Shore musicians. At the time of writing Bruce Springsteen is the 27th best selling artist of all time, and is recognised by many music critics as one of the greatest songwriters in ‘Pop Music’ history, being called a ‘Rock ‘n’ roll poet, who radiates working class authenticity.’ He is a pioneer of ‘Heartland Rock,’ which is a music genre that combines mainstream Rock music with poetic and socially conscious lyrics, that feature narratives primarily concerning working class American life. In 1999 he was inducted into the ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame,’ and also the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.’

The discography of Bruce Springsteen includes 21 studio Albums released between 1973-2022, and 77 singles released within the same time period, there are also seven box sets, eight official compilation Albums, and 23 live Albums available. In America on the ‘Billboard 200,’ nine of his Albums have reached Number 1, with his seventh studio Album ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ from June 1984, at the time of writing, being the 23rd best selling Album of all time. On the ‘Billboard Hot 100,’ 18 of his singles have reached the top 40, with his 1984 track ‘Dancing in the Dark’ peaking the highest at Number 2, while ‘Born to Run,’ made Number 23. In the UK, Bruce Springsteen has achieved 10 Number 1 studio Albums, and 19 top 40 singles, with ‘Streets of Philadelphia,’ from 1994, charting the highest at Number 2.

‘Born to Run’ was the first of two singles release from Bruce Springsteen’s third studio Album of the same name from August 1975. The song was written by Bruce Springsteen, and co-produced by Springsteen, and Mike Appel, who was born on October 27th, 1942, in Flushing in Queens, New York City, United States. Mike Appel was also the producer of Springsteen’s first two studio Albums, as well as his manager at that time. Musical differences between the two came to a head during the recording of the ‘Born to Run’ Album, leading to a parting of the ways, and a lengthy legal battle, that was eventually settled out of court.

Bruce Springsteen’ first two studio Albums which were both released in 1973, were commercially unsuccessful, although critically acclaimed. Springsteen earned the reputation of being a perfectionist while attempting to perfect ‘Born to Run’ over the course of several months, which was inspired by Phil Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound’ production (see also best songs 820-782-737-262-192-127-91 and 20.) Springsteen who has acknowledged Steven Van Zandt for being partially responsible for the songs signature guitar line, wrote the lyrics in his home in New Jersey, he has recalled, ‘One day I was playing my guitar on the edge of the bed, working on some song ideas, and the words ‘born to run’ came to me. At first I thought it was the name of a movie or something I’d seen on a car spinning around the circuit. I liked the phrase because it suggested a cinematic drama that I thought would work with the music that I’d been hearing in my head.’

‘Born to Run’ tells the tale of a young couple who think that if they want a better life, then they have to leave town, to find out if their dreams can be achieved, like in the movies. Bruce Springsteen played the song live for the first time on May 9th 1974, the Rock critic Jon Landau was at the show and wrote,’I saw Rock ‘N Roll’s future, and it’s name is Bruce Springsteen.’ Landau eventually became Springsteen’s manager.

‘Oh, someday girl, I don’t know when, we’re gonna get to that place where we really wanna go. We’ll walk in the sun, but till then, tramps like us, baby we were born to run.’