Born To Run Songs Ranked

Born to Run is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records. As his effort to break into the mainstream, the album was a commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200 and eventually selling six million copies in the United States. Two singles were released from the album: “Born to Run” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”; the first helped Springsteen to reach mainstream popularity. The tracks “Thunder Road”, “She’s the One”, and “Jungleland” became staples of album-oriented rock radio and Springsteen concert high points. The album was remastered again in 2014 by veteran mastering engineer Bob Ludwig, who has worked on much of Springsteen’s audio output since 1982, for release as part of The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973–1984, a boxed set composed of remastered editions of his first seven albums. It was later released in remastered form as a single disc as well. Here are all of Born To Run’s songs ranked.

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8. Meeting Across the River

“Meeting Across the River” serves as a one-scene prologue to _Born to Run’s_ curtain-raising finale, “Jungleland.” Springsteen uplifts the gritty, urban life with a string section opening and lines like “Man, there’s an opera out on the turnpike/There’s a ballet being fought down in the alley.””

7. Night

“Night” begins full force with Clemons’ sax playing the role of the obligatory starting pistol for all young men in their souped-up rides to cruise through the streets. The song works as a three minute release of pent-up energy as Springsteen sings of shaking off the monotonous 9 to 5 day jobs and living life after the sun goes down.”

6. She’s the One

“She’s the One,” a great blend of Phil Spector and Bo Diddley. I’m not even much of a Spector fan, but I love the wall of sound as applied here. Too bad this was the last time Bruce really used it, but future, wall-of-sound free albums would end up great, too.”

See more: Bruce Springsteen Albums Ranked

5. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

“Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” which would be the only song I would remember until I became reacquainted with the album years later. Nothing else clicked with my child ears at all. It sounded so old to me, and nothing like the slick, bright pop songs that rang out from the radio and TV speakers. I gave it some obligatory listens and then forgot about it.”

4. Backstreets

“Backstreets” opens as if Springsteen is reciting a short story. “One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends trying in vain to breathe the fire we was born in.” The story ends in a broken dream, as the protagonist remains a captive of the backstreets.”

See more: Bruce Springsteen Songs Ranked

3. Thunder Road

“Thunder Road” opens the album with a piano and harmonica duet and you can almost visualize the players as if on a stage, sitting along one side of the stoop as Springsteen sings the opening lines: “The screen door slams/Mary’s dress waves/Like a vision she dances upon the porch/As the radio plays.” And, assuming he doesn’t get his face slapped after the line “you ain’t a beauty, but hey you’re all right,” we ride with Mary and her beau, off in search of that elusive dream.”

2. Jungleland

“Jungleland” also displays some building up qualities and modulations – although there’s no way of avoiding those booms – and shows some talent namely from Clemons , but then they fall on the pomp trap as if they want to imitate Supertramp or something.”

1. Born to Run

“The song has to be included in the all-time ten greatest rock songs, despite having lines like “just wrap your legs round these velvet rims / And strap your hands across my engines.” (Enough with the cars, man.) Stuck inside of any other song that couplet is wince-inducing. Poison or Warrant couldn’t get away with poetry that lame. Regardless, the song is extremely powerful. The moments in between the second last verse and the line: “the highways jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive,” makes the hair on my arms stand up.”