I used to hate Bruce Springsteen.

In the beginning

As with about 20 million other people my age, I became extremely (painfully) familiar with Bruce Springsteen upon the release of Born in the U.S.A. During the summer of ‘84 that album was utterly ubiquitous. The title track, Dancing in the Dark, Glory Days, and more were being crammed down constricting throats everywhere.

It goes without saying that the era in question was one of comparatively limited musical choices on a moment-by-moment basis. There was no internet, no satellite radio–hell, in southwest Iowa where I was, there was no cable television. I had Friday Night Videos and the Omaha radio market. And so the table was set for a 10,000 course force feeding of Bruce.

I don’t mean to suggest that as a 15-year-old in a town of 200 my tastes were finely honed, jaded or elitist.  Good lord, I was listening to Akimbo Alogo by Kim Mitchell and Through the Fire by HSAS. I just didn’t want to hear the Springsteen blue collar shtick ad infinitum and New Jersey workingman’s tale telling was nothing I could get into.

Gateway

Then one evening (one out of many), I was perched near the the Technics cassette deck, attempting to record songs being broadcast on Z-92 (an act similar to fishing, but one I find infinitely more interesting). While probably trying to record something by Rush or The Cars, I let one song fade away (remember when radio stations used to play back to back songs uninterrupted?) and rolled tape on an unfamiliar, moody number. Before I knew it, I was committing to TDK the one-two segued punch of “Meeting Across the River” and “Jungleland.” (Remember when radio stations played a variety of an artist’s tracks?)

Well, ok. That was pretty alright. Good, actually. Oh shit–I liked a Springsteen song! This chance recording eventually let to my investigating the Boss’ earlier albums. Those constitute a progression from freakshow, mutated Dylan experiments and oddball folk into straight up rock riddled with ageless anthems (is “Thunder Road” the biggest, most rock and roll rock and roll song ever? Maybe.)

And finally, some 25 years after the Born in the U.S.A. assault, I even got into that album. I’m no longer sick of “Cover Me” and stuff you really never heard, like “Darlington County,” is worth listening to. There’s still really no need to hear “Glory Days” though, for the record.

Well, keep pushin’ till it’s understood …

The Rack - Meditations on a Music Collection is what Troy Van Horn is thinking of when you assume he’s just staring at the wall.