Global InformationBorn to Run information
| Born to Run | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Bruce Springsteen | ||||
| Released | August 25, 1975 | |||
| Recorded | January 1974 – July 1975 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre |
| |||
| Length | 39:23 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Bruce Springsteen chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Born to Run | ||||
| ||||
Born to Run is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. Springsteen co-produced the album with his manager Mike Appel and the producer Jon Landau. The album was recorded in New York and designed to break him into the mainstream following the relative commercial failures of his first two albums. Springsteen sought to emulate Phil Spector's dense, crisp, and energetic yet difficult to achieve Wall of Sound production, leading to prolonged and grueling sessions with the E Street Band lasting from January 1974 to July 1975. The band and producers spent six months alone on the title track, "Born to Run".
The album incorporates musical styles including rock and roll, pop rock, R&B and folk rock. Its character-driven lyrics describe people who feel trapped and fantasize about escaping to a better life, conjured via lyrical imagery steeped in the romantic images of highways and travel. Springsteen envisioned the songs taking place over one long summer day and night. They are also less tied to the New Jersey area than his previous work. The album cover, featuring Springsteen leaning on E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons's shoulder, is considered iconic and has been recreated by various musicians and in other media.
Supported by an expensive promotional campaign, Born to Run became a commercial success, reaching number three on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart, and the top ten in three others. Two singles were released, "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", the first of which became a radio and live favorite. The album's release received extensive publicity, leading to backlash from critics who expressed skepticism over whether Springsteen's newfound attention was warranted. Following its release, he became embroiled in legal issues with Appel, leading him to tour the United States and Europe for almost two years. Upon release, Born to Run received highly positive reviews. Critics praised the cinematic storytelling and music, although some viewed its production as excessive and heavy-handed.
Born to Run was Springsteen's breakthrough album. Its success has been attributed to its capturing the ideals of a generation of American youths during a decade of political turmoil, war, and issues for the working class. Over the following decades, the album has become widely regarded as a masterpiece and one of Springsteen's best records. It has appeared on various lists of the greatest albums of all time and was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" in 2003. Born to Run received an expanded reissue in 2005 to celebrate its 30th anniversary, featuring a concert film and a documentary detailing the album's making.