Born in the U.S.A. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 4, 1984 | |||
Recorded | January 1982 – March 1984 | |||
Studio | Power Station and Hit Factory (New York City) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:41 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer |
| |||
Bruce Springsteen chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Born in the U.S.A. | ||||
|
Born in the U.S.A. is the seventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on June 4, 1984, by Columbia Records. Co-produced by Springsteen, Jon Landau, Steven Van Zandt, and Chuck Plotkin, the album was recorded in New York City with the E Street Band over two years between January 1982 and March 1984. Some of the songs originated from the same demo tape that yielded the solo effort Nebraska (1982), while others were written after that album's release. The sessions yielded between 70 and 90 songs; some were released as B-sides, some later saw release on compilation albums, while others remain unreleased.
Born in the U.S.A. is a rock and roll album with a more pop-influenced sound than Springsteen's previous albums. Its production is typical of mainstream 1980s rock music, with prominent use of synthesizers. The lyrics contrast with the album's livelier sound and continue the themes of previous records, particularly Nebraska. Topics include working-class struggles, disillusionment, patriotism, and personal relationships, while several tracks feature humor. The cover photograph of Springsteen against the American flag has appeared on lists of the best album covers ever.
Accompanied by a vast promotional campaign that featured seven singles, five music videos, and three dance remixes, Born in the U.S.A. was a massive commercial success, becoming the best-selling album of 1985 and topping the charts in nine countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. All seven of its singles, including "Dancing in the Dark", "Born in the U.S.A.", "I'm on Fire", and "Glory Days", reached the U.S. top ten. The album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it Springsteen's best-selling album and one of the best-selling albums of all time. At the time, music critics praised the album's storytelling and musical performances, while others criticized the use of similar lyrical themes as Springsteen's previous albums. Springsteen and the E Street Band supported the album on the Born in the U.S.A. Tour.
Born in the U.S.A. made Springsteen a superstar and brought him his largest amount of success to date as a recording and performing artist. He later expressed reservations about the album itself and the fame it brought him. Nevertheless, retrospective assessments consider Born in the U.S.A. one of the best records by Springsteen, of the 1980s decade, and of all time, appearing on such lists by Rolling Stone and NME. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search