Is Born in the U.S.A. too commercial? A sellout? No way! If you remember the 1980s like I do, the songs from Born in the U.S.A. (1984) were like lifelines to authentic rock n' roll on the radio for us die hard 1960-70s rockers. Sure, the album had an updated sound that now sort of makes it a product of it's times, but that's one of the things that makes this album so special. Born in the U.S.A. plays a big part in defining the life and times of the 1980s in many people's memories. And clearly, Bruce Springsteen is still The Boss here.

The album is Springsteen's most commercially successful by a long shot, and it's also one of the most successful albums in history (it had seven top ten singles, which tied the all-time record for a single album). While Born in the U.S.A. isn't quite the masterpiece that Born to Run is, it still is a masterpiece, and one of the best albums of Springsteen's career.

The anthemic title song starts things off and lays the foundation for the rest of the album. A song about a Vietnam veteran who, after going overseas and fighting in a war for the U.S.A., is forgotten by his own country when he returns home. It's an angry and disgusted battle cry against the injustice of it all. The underrated and guitar rocking Cover Me follows, and I think this is one of the best songs Bruce has ever done. Energetic, desperate, and lonely, it picks up where the title cut ends.

The whole world is out there just trying to score
I've seen enough, I don't want to see any more
Cover me, come on in and cover me
I'm looking for a lover who will come on in and cover me

Downbound Train is a real heavyweight here, too. Although it wasn't released as a single, it's gotten a lot of airplay on AOR radio, and has become a fan favorite over the years. It's a minor-key dirge that laments a life falling apart. When Springsteen sings a song like this, his compassion draws you in and makes you feel the reality of the situation.

I'm On Fire is madly quiet, spooky, and full of shadowy lust. Bobby Jean is an upbeat rocker that celebrates a close friendship and love, but also bids a tragic and sorrowful farewell.

Now I wish you would have told me
I wish I could have talked to you
Just to say goodbye, Bobby Jean

I'm Going Down, Glory Days, and Dancing In The Dark were all monster hit singles, and they're great songs, too. Classic Springsteen. Don't let the synthesizers in some of these songs turn you away from this great album. The E Street Band's rocking guitars, Clarence Clemons' expressive saxophone, and Bruce's desperate, raspy, and dramatic voice are still the main attractions here. And Born in the U.S.A. includes some of The Boss' most compelling songwriting ever.

The album ends with the classic My Hometown, which wistfully reflects on life in America from childhood on, and the hopelessness of a town's economic blight and jobs forever lost. Springsteen isn't looking through rose colored glasses on this album, and the U.S.A. that he sings about is not picture postcard perfect. But while the image of the America we see here is framed with hard times and disillusionment, the portrait itself is really of the perseverance, compassion, and hope of the American spirit.

Last night me and Kate we laid in bed
Talking about getting out
Packing up our bags maybe heading south
I'm thirty-five we got a boy of our own now
Last night I sat him up behind the wheel
And said son take a good look around
This is your hometown

The "Born" CDs were what made the Boss' legend. Those were the ones you'd hear on the radio no end back in the day. I admit, I prefer "Born to Run" over "Born in the USA".

This is a great early day Bruce CD and I think still a must for any Boss fan. My favorites:

Born in the USA
Dancing in the Dark
Glory Days

Rebecca Kyle, August 2008

I am working my way through Springsteen's catalogue and reviewing as I go. After listening to The River and Nebraska I searched for Born in the USA in my cd collection. It wasn't there! Perhaps this is a clue? Anyway I dug out the vinyl and am listening to it as I type. As I review the music and not the sound quality the source is irrelevant.

First, an admission - when this was released in the summer of 1984 I had been a fan for over ten years already AND I hadn't been thrilled with the commercial quality of some of the songs on 1980's The River. The album's title worried me a little (I know, I know already - it isn't a patriotic rant. However, until you listened to the lyrics you didn't know this). Therefore, for several reasons, I approached this new release with trepidation. Was I correct to do so? Well, I have to admit that upon its release I wasn't really partial to this record! It just didn't grab me like The Wild, the first Born, Stranger and Nebraska had when I first listened to them. I expected more. As of today there are 134 four and five star reviews and only 15 negative ones for this record. Should I doubt myself? Was my first assessment misguided? I know that I may be pissing into the wind but after listening to this Born a couple of times today I have no reason to reconsider my initial response. It isn't a bad record by any standard. It just isn't up to the standard that Springsteen set for himself with his earlier releases. Perhaps it is because the subject matter and the music are all so familiar. With Nebraska he had staked out new ground. I guess I was expecting a new direction; a continuation of his artistic development. To my mind Springsteen had already covered the ground that he explores on this record in a more interesting manner. I would like to be more positive but I cannot. Until today I hadn't listened to Born in the USA for twenty years. I may never pull it out again. If I want to hear Bruce I'll spin his earlier music and a couple of later cds.

Born In the Usa was my introduction to Bruce Springsteen. I wasn't old enough to see the tour, but I talked about him so much, adult friends who DID go brought me souveniers:) I played the weekly top forty every Saturday to hear him during chores, and when I finally got the cassette, I played THAT non stop. It was such a fabulous experience, when my adult friends told me that Springsteen had a long history of great music, I was hard pressed to believe them? BETTER than Born in the USA? I still love this album, although my favourite remains his Live 75 thru 85 set, I got that for Christmas the year it came out and it just cemented my love affair with Bruce Springsteen's music. Born In the USA will always be bright with the amazement of discovering this incredible songwriter and his equally incredible band.

GREAT CD had the album but had to have the CD due to the album being scracted. WHO doesn't like the BOSS!!!