Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Book Description

Greetings from E Street celebrates the passionately loved group that has been entertaining the world for 35 years. Written with their cooperation, this fully illustrated informal biography combines rare photographs with 30 removable facsimiles of E Street memorabilia, including Bruce Springsteen's first business card and hand-written set list, and even two fabulous posters. Longtime band intimate Robert Santelli captures the ecstatic highs and devastating lows on the E Street Band's roller coaster ride to stardom. He follows the band from the early days in Asbury Park, New Jersey, to the critical acclaim of Born to Run, the mania of Born in the U.S.A. and international touring, and each member's unique projects. Throughout, the band's signature combination of friendship, humor, and stellar musicianship is revealed in stories, snapshots, and the ephemera of life of the road. Warm and personal, Greetings from E Street is a postcard from the most famous address in rock and roll.

Customer Reviews:

Bruuuuuuuce!.......2007-04-28

Robert Santelli's Greetings from E Street is a fascinating look at the development of Buce Springsteen and his mates in the E Street Band. The book takes us back to the very early days of Bruce as a musician on the Jersey shore and brings us up to recent times. Even Bruce struggled early on in a variety of cover bands. However, at the same time, he was gradually building a small, but dedicated following from the fans who knew who he was. A variety of musicians played with him along the way with the best known obviously being the E Street Band. The stories of the band's travels and recording sessions are priceless for any Springsteen fan. The facsimiles of memorabilia from Springsteen's career add a great touch. Even though we know that the items are not the real thing, it is still fun to get them out and let your thoughts drift back to The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Mr. Santelli's book is a true treat for any fan of Springsteen and the E Street Band.

A suprising book.......2007-03-24

The book is wonderful. It has cool reproductions of memorabilia. My favorites are the backstage passes. The photos are amazing. The text offers no new info, but is presented in an interesting way. I recommend it for all hard core Springsteen fans. Even non-fans will find this book full of suprises.

Super book for fans.......2007-02-14

I bought this book for my brother who is a major Springsteen fan. I was very pleasant surprised when i recieved the book. It is absolutely fabolous with great pictures and lots of copies of tickets, backstage passes, posters, letters, lyrics and other great stuff.
I can definetely recommend this book for other fans...

More than you can imagine!.......2007-02-13

I purchased two copies of this book for memebers of my family that are EXTREME Springsteen fans and they absolutely loved it!! They had stopped purchasing books on Springsteen since allot of them were redundant but they couldn't believe the information and copies of concert ticket stubs, photo's and all the additional information you get with this book. If you know anyone that loves Springsteen, this is a "Must Have".

Great for your Springsteen super fan.......2007-01-21

Purchased as a gift for an all time super fan of Springsteen. He loved the book. A must have for any Springsteen fan.

Average customer rating:

Great for your Springsteen super fan
Great Book With Great Photos
A great gift
I LOVE THIS STUFF!
good job

Bruce Springsteen on Tour: 1968-2005
Dave Marsh
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Born to Run: The Unseen Photos
We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition
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Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen

ASIN: 1596912820
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

Authorized by Bruce Springsteen, written by his longtime biographer Dave Marsh, and packed with photos from Bruce’s personal collection, Bruce Springsteen on Tour is a glorious full-color tribute to one of America’s best-loved musicians. This gorgeously designed retrospective incorporates 350 color and black-and-white photos—many never before published—plus tour artifacts and memorabilia, and features an intimate portrait by bestselling rock writer Marsh following Bruce’s career from his first days on stage right through his 2005 Devils and Dust tour. Bruce Springsteen on Tour chronicles a great American musician thrilling audiences for more than thirty years, and is a must-have volume for all his fans.

Customer Reviews:

Great for your Springsteen super fan.......2007-01-21

Purchased as a gift for an all time super fan of Springsteen. He loved the book. A must have for any Springsteen fan.

Great Book With Great Photos.......2007-01-12

I actually got the book for a gift for somebody else, but when it arrived, I kinda scanned through it and it looked great. My friend is a huge Bruce fan and said that it looked incredible. She loved the pictures!!!

A great gift.......2007-01-10

My boyfriend is an avid Springsteen fan and he loved this book. I recommend it to all Bruce fans!

I LOVE THIS STUFF!.......2006-10-08

Springsteen fans have been very lucky as of late as he has been putting out more and more product. While non-fans may wonder what all the fuss is about, let's face it, if there is one rock ledged who is sorely lacking in the way of specialty releases, it's the Boss. How nice then to finally see things like the '75 London concert DVD and CD released last year, a revamped Seeger Sessions disc with songs that popped up on the tour and during rehearsals we otherwise would not have had on the actual release and items like this book and the coinciding "Greetings from E-Street..."

Some bands (The Stones being the most glaring example) seem to have a new hardcover book on the shelves every year or two (sometimes multiple books). While there are previous Springsteen books out there, there are few in the way of this and the "E-Street" release: Hardcover, put together with a lot of care, vivid pictures and special time capsule items. While "E Street" has the nifty distinction of including actual replicas of setlists, tickets, coasters and other memorabilia items, as a book, I think "On Tour" has the edge.

"E Street" is a great time capsule full of rare mementoes, but "On Tour" is the perfect coffee table book. Well written by Dave Marsh, a close friend of the Boss and knowing Springsteen insider, in a chronological, personal, easy to read fashion that is both informative and enjoyable, "On Tour" is a terrific journey through the Boss' life, career, albums, and - of course - tours. Filled with anecdotes and memories, it is also a great flashback to moments fans will no doubt be grateful to relive. But the best part of this book - and what makes all the best high-gloss, hardcover, coffee tables so exciting, is the pictures.

I have a lot of photos I have come across of Springsteen over the years saved on my computer, mainly because there was never a release such as this to combine any of these great photos. Bruce just seems to photograph well live and, unlike a lot of artists, his live intensity shows through with even just a photograph. This one has a bunch of great pictures, from the time he was just a teenager through to last year's excitingly intimate stripped down "Devils and Dust" tour. What a keepsake for the true fan!

While I still pine for more releases of past and current projects (from the infamous "Darkness Outtakes" to an acoustic compilation from "D&D," to A Seeger Sessions live DVD and/or CD - the tour stuff is far and away better than the album), releases like this make me optimistic for the future of Springsteen releases.

good job.......2006-10-07

i received the book three days ago. i liked it very much.

Average customer rating:

Opportunity to see a classic album cover in the making
Great for your Springsteen super fan
Worth the wait
Don't be fooled
Sparks fly on E Street

Born to Run: The Unseen Photos
Bruce Springsteen
Manufacturer: Insight Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Bruce Springsteen on Tour: 1968-2005
Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen
We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition
The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen A to E to Z

ASIN: 1933784091
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Book Description

"It is a magnificent album that pays off on every bet ever placed on him—and it should crack his future wide open." - Rolling Stone, on the 1975 release of Bruce Springsteen’s album Born To Run.
Photographer Eric Meola was hired thirty years ago to do a photo shoot which resulted in the iconic rock n’ roll album Born to Run. This magnificent book recreates that photography session, contains all of Bruce’s lyrics, and includes an introduction by distinguished popular music writer Daniel Wolff.
Bruce Springsteen is one of the most important songwriters and performers of the last three decades. Born to Run is the album that put Bruce Springsteen on the cover of both Newsweek and Time. It is a timeless snapshot of Americana—all sweaty, high energy, and tuned to a carnival-like level. For many critics of the day, Born to Run made Springsteen the most important artist of his generation. It was this album that Springsteen’s songs first portrayed a glorious yet very real side of the American Dream.
In this book, Eric Meola shares the photographic alternates and outtakes, most for the very first time, in stunning black- and-white quadratones, more than thirty years after the album’s release. In addition to the many never-before –seen photographs, here for the first time and in one place are all of the lyrics from this iconic American album.

Customer Reviews:

Opportunity to see a classic album cover in the making.......2007-05-14

There are some really fantastic photographs in this book. Born to Run is a classic album with a classic cover. These previously unseen images are very clear and detailed and give a great insight into the 1975 album photo shoot. In my mind, it's hard imaging any other image gracing the cover. However there is a unique opportunity with this book to see what could have been. If you love rock photographs and you're a Springsteen fan I recommend this book.

Great for your Springsteen super fan.......2007-01-21

Purchased as a gift for an all time super fan of Springsteen. He loved the book. A must have for any Springsteen fan.

Worth the wait .......2007-01-10

When I opened up this book for the first time I couldn't believe to quality of the production.

There is a protective cardboard box which encases a display box for the book itself.

The display box is a little larger than the size of a vinyl album and then when opened there is a copy of an album cover on the inside and the book on the other.

Each book has a signed and numbered reference from Meola to record which copy of the 1350 published is yours and a reference to the fact that all of Meola's proceeds are being donated to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and these speak volumes. As you can imagine there are a number of shots which have been taken close together so you pick up on the character and personality of Springsteen. The standard of photographs is outstanding and have been reproduced in this book to an excellent standard.

There are also the lyrics reproduced from the album which when combined with the photos make this an oustanding production.

If you can make the investment, buy the limited edition as it is such a high quality and worthwile production.

Don't be fooled.......2006-12-13

So that there is not any question, the signed copy contains the signature of the author and not Bruce. When I purchased the limited edition for $195 I assumed it contained Springsteen's autograph.

Sparks fly on E Street.......2006-11-01

This beautifully designed book takes you inside a historic moment in rock: When Springsteen finished "Born to Run" and stood on the edge of greatness. Everything was at stake and anything was possible. Meola captures perfectly the guy, the time, the feeling. It's an intimate look that words could not convey. Buy it. The clincher: The money goes to a good cause, New Jersey's food bank.

Tougher Than The Rest - 100 Best Bruce Springsteen

Average customer rating:

okay, but...
Not exactly
photo used without permission
Bruce-ology

Tougher Than The Rest - 100 Best Bruce Springsteen
June Sawyers
Manufacturer: Omnibus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen (The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection)
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Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Magic
Born to Run: The Unseen Photos

ASIN: 0825634709
Release Date: 2006-10-27

Product Description

Bruce Springsteen, writer of more than 250 songs, is among the most literate rock singers. His songs touch people's hearts and minds. Simply put, he is the storyteller of our generation. Tougher Than the Rest discusses the best of Springsteen's vast body of work, from Greetings from Asbury Park, NY to Devils & Dust. The author comments on each song's origin and the critical response it received. The book shares insights into the songs' literary, historical, and cultural references. It's packed with numerous sidebars and is accompanied by photographs and lots of extras, including a complete song list, discography, and bibliography. A must for all Springsteen fans.

Customer Reviews:

okay, but..........2007-10-01

TOUGHER THAN THE REST is a decent book though the format of the book's song-by-song discussion makes it read like a reference book. The author doesn't count down songs from 100 to 1 - instead she organizes the book by album, chronologically, and discusses only the songs from those albums that she deems among the Top 100. And speaking of the Top 100 selection, even though you can't please everyone with a book like this, you have to question the selection process when the author ignores classics like "Incident on 57th St" and "Jungleland" (neither of these show-stoppers are among BS's 100 best??) but picks "Workin' on the Highway" and "All or Nothin' at All"...not to mention 8 of the 12 songs on The Ghost of Tom Joad. For a more thorough discussion of Springsteen's catalog (practically every song including unreleased ones) try R. Kirkpatrick's THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.

Not exactly.......2007-09-12

a reflection on the content of the book itself, but it seems a shame that they wouldn't pay the photographer of the cover photo. Also, what's with the publisher's product description: Greetings from Asbury Park, NY? Writing a blurb about a book about Springsteen's work and you can't get an album title correct? And confusing NY and NJ with Springsteen? Silly.

photo used without permission.......2007-06-08

I only bought this book as I made the cover photograph and they used it without ever getting my permission or paying me.

Bruce-ology.......2007-04-18

Simply a great book for any Bruce Springsteen fan. The author does a fine job of gathering information and writing it in such a way that will inspire any reader.
"Slow dancing in the dark with an angel on my chest..."

Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen

Average customer rating:

friendship
Cover Shot Was Taken In Haddonfield, New Jersey
Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift
TRIBUTE TO LATE WIFE SHEILA WAS TOUCHING
amazing -- some of the best Bruce photos ever

Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen

Manufacturer: Billboard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bruce Springsteen on Tour: 1968-2005
Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
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Runaway American Dream: Listening to Bruce Springsteen

ASIN: 082308387X

Book Description

Born and bred in a working class environment in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen has, over the past 30 years, established himself as one of the most influential songwriters and performers in American popular music. Winner of three Grammy Awards for The Rising, he continues to entertain and inspire millions of fans around the world. Also born and bred in a working-class New Jersey home was photographer Frank Stefanko, who crossed paths with Springsteen thanks to an introduction by a mutual friend, musician Patti Smith. This meeting spurred a photographic collaboration that lasted five years and produced cover photos for two of Springsteen's most significant albums, Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River. Stefanko's archive of several thousand Springsteen photos has never been published-that is, until now. Days of Hope and Dreams presents an unforgettable selection of Stefanko's most significant and most personal images from his time working with Springsteen, and Stefanko's recollections offer behind-the-scenes stories of his work and friendship with this legendary musical talent. Featuring a fascinating introduction written by The Boss himself, this is a must-have guide for Springsteen fans and music lovers everywhere!

Customer Reviews:

friendship.......2006-10-10

this is not only a book about an era in the beginning of the career of bruce, but a book about friendship as well. very nice photos. i recommend it to bruce fans

Cover Shot Was Taken In Haddonfield, New Jersey.......2004-02-05

Just thought everyone would like to know that the cover photo was taken in front of Frank's Men's Hairstyling on Kings Highway in downtown Haddonfield, New Jersey!

Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift.......2004-01-21

This is a wonderful book. The photographs are uniformly compelling and insightful, as is the text. The reader is treated to a rare, unvarnished glimpse of an American hero about to "burst like a supernova." The images are timeless, and harken back to a simpler, perhaps more poignant time -- before MTV and the Internet changed the way we obtained and enjoyed our music. The author's spare text is thoughtful without being intrusive; a perfect compliment to the compelling images that accompany it. The text conveys a straightforward warmth and appreciation for the author's subject that are both refreshing and inspiring. This is a book to pore over, savor, and return to. Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift -- and thank you, Bruce, for recognizing his genius, and for allowing us a little glimpse of yours.

TRIBUTE TO LATE WIFE SHEILA WAS TOUCHING.......2003-11-28

This book engrosses you from the moment you start reading you cant stop.I am giving this book to my clients and friends as it makes the perfect gift for Bruce Springsteen fans.I was also very moved by Authors tribute to his late wife Sheila and feel there may be another story there Frank ?

amazing -- some of the best Bruce photos ever.......2003-11-04

1978 was a key moment in Bruce Springsteen's career, and Frank Stefanko was there to capture it in black and white. In these photos, you see a rock star breaking out, but still struggling and working his [tail] off. Stefanko had not even heard the Darkness album when he took the photos that would lead to its cover (and the cover of The River), but he captured the mood and the tone perfectly, of both the music and the musician. Even if you're not into photo books, if you have an interest in Springsteen, do yourself a favor and get this book.

Average customer rating:

A collection of memorable quotes

Bruce Springsteen: "Talking" (Talking)
John W. Duffy
Manufacturer: Omnibus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen
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Bruce Springsteen on Tour: 1968-2005
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Runaway American Dream: Listening to Bruce Springsteen

ASIN: 1844494039
Release Date: 2004-09-01

Book Description

Extrovert on stage, introvert off, Bruce Springsteen has a lot to say about his life and work, and his place in American society. The Boss has retained his dignity through 25 years as America's foremost rock performer. Never a man to rush into anything, Bruce's words are carefully considered, thoughtful, passionate and sincere.

QUOTES INCLUDE: `In the third grade a nun stuffed me in a garbage can under her desk because she said that's where I belonged.';

`There ain't a note that I play on stage that can't be traced back directly to my mother and father.';

`The first day I can remember looking into a mirror and being able to stand what I saw was the day I had a guitar in my hand.';

`You ride in a limousine the first time, it's a big thrill but after that it's just a stupid car.';

`At this point, I don't need my records to be Number One or sell as many as this person or that person. That's not fundamentally important - I don't believe that sustains you.'

Customer Reviews:

A collection of memorable quotes .......2004-11-08

Bruce Springsteen "Talking" is a collection of memorable quotes from rock-and-roll veteran legend Bruce Springsteen. Black-and-white and a handful of color photographs illustrate this memorable assembly of keen insight, carefully considered discussions, and since exhortations straight from the heart. Covering everything from daily life to roles in American society to the turn of the millennium, these vignettes make for quick reading yet expose one to the depth of Springsteen's personal character, in a most thought-provoking and intriguing manner. "When Regan mentioned my name in New Jersey, I felt it was another manipulation, and I had to disassociate myself from the president's kind words." - Springsteen, 1984.

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen (The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection)

Average customer rating:

All of his significant albums, in chronological order
Excellent Overview of Springsteen's work.

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen (The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection)
Rob Kirkpatrick
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Tougher Than The Rest - 100 Best Bruce Springsteen
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Live In Dublin

ASIN: 0275989380

Book Description

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen provides a comprehensive and coherent look at the work of a thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist. Springsteen enjoys a popularity that has transcended generations. His 1975 album Born to Run was voted the most popular album of all time in a recently published Zagat survey; his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A. spawned seven Top Ten singles while selling more than 20 million copies; and his 2002 album The Rising was regarded by many critics as the most poignant artistic reaction to 9/11. Springsteen, now in his 50s, has evolved from an over-hyped version of the "next Bob Dylan," to the "future of rock and roll" in the mid-1970s, to a pop culture icon in Reagan America, to a 21st-century populist voice. His career has been covered many times over, yet many of the complexities and apparent contradictions of his music remain unresolved. These include his hard-rock influenced musical background; his movement from themes of rebellion and isolation in his early work to those of a more populist complexion later on; and his contribution in the 1980s to a conservative patriotism--despite his albums' close association with the music and ideas of Woody Guthrie. After a brief biographical treatment, Kirkpatrick considers all of Springsteen's significant albums in chronological order. In addition to this probing musical analysis, he offers a guide to Springsteen's lyrical themes and motifs, allowing readers a coherent insight into the complicated nature of the artist's underlying concerns, influences, and ideas. Rounding out the volume is a consideration of "The Boss's" legacy as a songwriter and musician, as well as appendices including a bibliography and a complete discography. In sum, The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen provides a comprehensive and coherent look, previously unavailable in a single volume, at the work of a thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist.

Customer Reviews:

All of his significant albums, in chronological order.......2007-03-06

Other books have covered the life and works of popular musician Bruce Springsteen, but few offer the depth of analysis and critical assessment of The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen, which opens with a brief biography before it turns to the heart of the matter: all of his significant albums, in chronological order, which provide a musical analysis of themes, motifs, and underlying ideas. College-level students of popular music will appreciate the attention to detail and the insights which lend to a far greater appreciation for Bruce Springsteen's works.

Excellent Overview of Springsteen's work........2007-02-07

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen is a very detailed look into Bruce's body of work.
Rather than focusing on Bruce as an pop icon, the book looks at his songs, his albums, how they were written, what they mean and how each song fits into the theme of the album.
It also suggests that each album is a building block for the next album,
that all Bruce's albums are connected.

The Words and Music Of Bruce Springsteen may not be for the casual fan looking for another fan's view of the boss.
It is an exhaustive look at the creative process of writing songs as individual pieces yet all connected to a larger theme.
Each song within the album is an individual scene from a movie. Each arranged to take you further on a ride toward the climax.

For the true Springsteen fan (or for those interested in the creative process of developing concept albums)this book is an absolute must.

It is one of the best books I've read about Springsteen.

Racing in the Street: The Bruce Springsteen Reader

Average customer rating:

Good Overview Of Writings On Springsteen
Racing Is A Great Boss Bio Plus...
Great book for any Bruce fan!!!
Great bio of the boss!
Good, Diverse Collection

Racing in the Street: The Bruce Springsteen Reader

Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen
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The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen A to E to Z
Bruce Springsteen: Two Hearts
Bruce Springsteen: Songs

ASIN: 0142003549
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Book Description

For more than three decades, Bruce Springsteen's ability to express in words and music the deepest hopes, fears, loves, and sorrows of average Americans has made him a hero to his millions of devoted fans. Racing in the Street is the first comprehensive collection of writings about Springsteen, featuring the most insightful, revealing, famous, and infamous articles, interviews, reviews, and other writings. This nostalgic journey through the career of a rock-'n'-roll legend chronicles every album and each stage of Springsteen's career. It's all here—Dave Marsh's Rolling Stone review of Springsteen's ten sold-out Bottom Line shows in 1975 in New York City, Jay Cocks's and Maureen Orth's dueling Time and Newsweek cover stories, George Will's gross misinterpretation of Springsteen's message on his Born in the USA tour, and Will Percy's 1999 interview for Double Take, plus much, much more.

Customer Reviews:

Good Overview Of Writings On Springsteen.......2006-04-25

I really enjoyed the majority of the pieces in June Skinner Sawyers' Racing In The Street: The Bruce Springsteen Reader. Highlights for me include Martin Scorese's (brief) foreward (always figured he was a fan) and, of all things, the excerpts from one Kevin Major's young adult novel Dear Bruce Springsteen, in which my favorite passage in the collection occurs:

"I knew he [the young narrator's father] was into your music a lot. He never listened to it much in the house, mostly when he was driving the old van we used to have. Mostly then by himself. The four of us were in the van once and he put on Nebraska. Mom made him take it off because, she said, it sounded too depressing. He sort of grunted something about she didn't know what good music was and popped out the tape. She said if you're going to spend money we can't afford on music, then you might as well spend it on something that'll cheer you up. He ignored her."

Now tell me - is there a Bruce fan alive that can't relate to that?

Though I would have liked to have seen Tama Janowitz' "You And The Boss" and Richard Meltzer's "The Meaning of Bruce" (both collected in Clinton Heylin's Penguin Book Of Rock & Roll Writing, if you're interested) included for balance, this is a solid anthology of writings on Bruce, and recommended if you're a fan.

PS Also recommended if you're a fan of great music writing (or great writing, period): Lester Bangs' Psychotic Reactions And Carburetor Dung and Mainlines, Blood Feasts, And Bad Taste.

Racing Is A Great Boss Bio Plus..........2006-02-22

Racing In The Street is not so much a great biography about Bruce.
It goes much deeper.
It is a series of very insightful articles pinpointing the appeal Bruce has for so many of his fans.

He is a mega star but it is his struggle to remain normal and humble that is at the heart of this book.

For the casual fan, If you truly want to know why his fans are so intense, this is the book to read.
For his fans that have always tried to figure out why we are so intense, this book puts all that into perspective better than any other.

Highly recommended.

Great book for any Bruce fan!!!.......2005-06-28

This book provides wonderful, informative articles that offer various perceptions of the Boss and his 30+ year career!!! I learned so much about how other people see Bruce, and gained knowledge about his life and work, which was very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the Boss and wants to gain more insight into his long and amazing career. The maps, discography, timeline, and other extras were also brilliant additions to the collection!

Great bio of the boss!.......2005-02-06

Racing in the Street is a great book and a must for every Springsteen fan.

Good, Diverse Collection.......2004-05-11

How many people do you know who like Bruce Springsteen? If you're like me, probably not very many. Most people cite their dislike of his voice, or find him to be too intense, or don't find his melodies to be that memorable. That's fine- that's their loss after all- but it's not necessarily congruent with the critical praise steeped upon Springsteen. I've always known that Bruce has been a longtime critical darling for Rolling Stone- he doesn't get as much coverage nowdays (he doesn't do that much nowdays to warrant coverage), but back in the 70s and 80s, Bruce could absolutely do no wrong, and was voted "artist of the year" an unprecedented number of times in the mid 80s. Those writings are collected in the Rolling Stone Files anthology, to which this book is an essential companion. If anything, this book has more substance than the RS book, since many of its selections place Bruce's music in its social context. While I know that Bruce is a wonderful guy, I'm not terribly interested in reading about endless fawning over him or how great he is in concert- I know that or else I wouldn't be seeking out written material about him. There's certainly some element to that in this book, but many of the articles are well-written reflections on the meaning of his music and on the social and political influences that inspire and shape it. My favorite is the Lester Bangs review of early Bruce- the music seems to have knocked this rather pretentious (but wonderful) critic down a few notches closer to earth. I also enjoy some of the ficiton writings that contain prominent mentions of Springsteen's music. So for some well-written but well-grounded commentary and reflections on Springsteen's music and the society that inspired him, "Racing in the Street" is an excellent, highly readable anthology that doesn't numb you with syrupy praise but also doesn't burn you out with cynicism and lofty music criticism.

Runaway American Dream: Listening to Bruce Springsteen

Average customer rating:

fun read, fun ride
A Springsteen book for fans and non-fans alike.

Runaway American Dream: Listening to Bruce Springsteen
Jimmy Guterman
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Ties That Bind: Bruce Springsteen A to E to Z
Racing in the Street: The Bruce Springsteen Reader
Meeting Across the River: Stories Inspired by the Haunting Bruce Springsteen Song
Days of Hope and Dreams: An Intimate Portrait of Bruce Springsteen
Greetings from E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

ASIN: 0306813971
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Book Description

A series of new, original, and provocative essays on the music, myth, and meaning of The Boss

Bruce Springsteen is an institution unto himself. Over the course of a career now in its fourth decade, he has earned one of the largest, intense followings in all rock 'n' roll. He's selling more records and concert tickets in his fifties than he did in his twenties. Yet even after millions of record sales and thousands of concerts, there are still essential questions about his music that fans continue to ponder. How did he become the only first-rank rock 'n' roller not to fall apart? How has he maintained his integrity and his audience over all these years? What makes him different, unique?

Guterman, an accessible and entertaining music writer, has been writing about Springsteen since the late '70s. In this book, he delves into dramatic moments from every phase of Springsteen's career, looking deep into the music, the man, and culture at large to deliver a nuanced portrait of The Boss, which both new fans and longtime followers will find compelling. You don't have to be a Springsteen fan to enjoy this book, but you might be when you're finished. Runaway American Dream is a series of pointed, provocative, and surprising essays about Springsteen and his music that focus on the work and the times that created them.

Customer Reviews:

fun read, fun ride.......2007-10-14

Okay, this might not be a "definitive" history of Spingsteen's music - for that, look for Marsh's TWO HEARTS or more recently Kirkpatrick's WORDS AND MUSIC OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - but Guterman's might be the most entertaining read in the Springsteen book "canon." Entertaining, quirky, and (usually) right on target.

A Springsteen book for fans and non-fans alike........2006-01-08

Bruce Springsteen is a Rust Belt rocker who made a splash by writing Manfred Mann's psychedelic No. 1 hit "Blinded by the Light." Springsteen's career as a solo artist, however, has been marked by play-it-safe arrangements and heavy reliance on do-re-mi melodies (better for mumbling, I suppose). As Guterman notes, his music hasn't progressed all that much over the decades.

Springsteen does shine as a live performer and lyricist, which Guterman documents with his unmatched blend of insight, anecdotes and self-deprecation. Springsteen's strengths play into the built-in biases of mainstream art criticism. That's because it's easier to accessibly discuss lyrics and shows than to write about melody and music theory, even though lyrics are to a song what paint is to a house - important, but easily changed and unindicative of its potential beauty. But frankly, Guterman, who's the greatest rock journalist in the business despite being a part-timer, could make any subject interesting and entertaining, and his essays on Springsteen are no exception.

Average customer rating:

Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQOQGW

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