History Music / BornToRun

However, [[TroubledProduction during the production]], Springsteen was fed up with his perceived inability to capture the sound he wanted, and he spent ''over a year'' in the recording studio trying to finalize his songs. The title track itself took six months to produce, and Springsteen did his best to create a "Wall of Sound" aesthetic similar to that of Music/PhilSpector. He clashed with the members of his E Street Band and fired his producer and manager. However, positive reviews toward his live performances spurred him on, and Springsteen ultimately achieved the "majestic" sound that later made him an American icon.

* MusicIsPolitics: There have been multiple attempts over the years by US Congressmen to instate ''Born to Run''. The title track is also repeatedly raised as a candidate for New Jersey's state song (the Garden State has never had one).

* TitledAfterTheSong: "Thunder Road" is an [[InvertedTrope inversion]] as it was named after the Creator/RobertMitchum movie. Interestingly, Springsteen claims he hadn't seen the film at the time he wrote the song; he just found the poster inspiring. In turn, there was a Creator/{{Jim Cummings|1986}} film, also titled ''Film/ThunderRoad'', inspired by Springsteen's song, making for an interesting recursive case of this trope.

* SexySaxMan: Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist of the E Street Band, appears on the back cover (Springsteen is leaning on him on the front). He became such a prominent [[invoked]]FaceOfTheBand that he received a lot more coverage for his appearance than anything else.

* DoesNotLikeShoes: The "barefoot girl" who's dating Rat in "Jungleland".

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Terry and the protagonist of "Backstreets" have this relationship, which borders on HoYay.

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: Springsteen has released many versions of this album over the year, each with various [[BSide B-sides]] and promising more tracks than the previous.

* SexySaxMan: Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist of the E Street Band, appears on the back cover (Springsteen is leaning on him on the front). He became such a prominent FaceOfTheBand that he received a lot more coverage for his appearance than anything else.

* TitledAfterTheSong: "Thunder Road" is an [[InvertedTrope inversion]] as it was named after the Creator/RobertMitchum movie. Interestingly, Springsteen claims he hadn't seen the film at the time he wrote the song; he just found the poster inspiring. In turn, there was a Creator/{{Jim Cummings|1987}} film, also titled ''Film/ThunderRoad'', inspired by Springsteen's song, making for an interesting recursive case of this trope.

* RockOpera: The album takes a lot of everyday situations and gives them an epic scope with longer songs and stories. Notable examples include "Thunder Road", "Backstreets" and "Jungleland". There's a reason why ''Music/BatOutOfHell'' drew inspiration from this album.

Critics and audiences now hold ''Born to Run'' in high regard. Rock historians credit the album with inspiring youth to continue to have a voice in politics and find patriotism, even in the wake of UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar and distrust toward authority. Magazine/RollingStone named it as the #18 [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime greatest album of all time]], and it was instated into the UsefulNotes/NationalRecordingRegistry. With its vivid image of American values and optimism in the face of much discontent, the album loudly portrays vivacity and strength amid disillusionment and desperation.

* MusicIsPolitics: There have been multiple attempts over the years by US Congressmen to instate ''Born to Run''.

# "Meeting Across the River" (3:18)

!!''I walked into a, Trope Avenue Freeze-Out'':

[[caption-width-right:350:"''Baby, we were born to run...''"]]

* TitledAfterTheSong: "Thunder Road" is an [[InvertedTrope inversion]] as it was named after the Creator/RobertMitchum movie. Interestingly, Springsteen claims he hadn't seen the film at the time he wrote the song; he just found the poster inspiring.

While numerous figures in the recording industry ([[ShamelessSelfPromoter all shamelessly promoted by]] his label, Creator/ColumbiaRecords) pegged him as "the future of [[Music/RockNRoll rock 'n roll]]," Springsteen himself hated the label and did his best to allow the hype to die down. Because of this, the singles "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" had modest success in terms of airplay. The album itself fared extremely well; it became a CultClassic for many, especially among blue-collar, middle-class youth. It continued to garner further support over the years especially after Springsteen's future albums garnered acclaim and ''Born to Run'' was soon established as a seminal classic, with "Jungleland" and "Thunder Road" being standouts, among others.

* TitledAfterTheSong: "Thunder Road" is an [[InvertedTrope inversion]] as it was named after the Robert Mitchum movie.

--> '''Carlin''': [T]ake a long look at the album itself: the black-and-white shot of Bruce – cloaked in black leather, guitar in hand, [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] button on his strap – leaning hard on the mighty shoulder of Clemons, whose white shirt is set off by a broad-brimmed black hat and, of course, his radiant black skin. For in this picture, Bruce knew, resided the heart of the band: [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream unity, brotherhood, a small fulfillment of the American ideals of strength, equality, and community]]. The essence of ''[[AltumVidetur e pluribus unum]]'', as filtered through the unity of rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues.

* ICantDoThisByMyself: "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" is a touching number about how Springsteen wouldn't be anywhere without his backing band, especially saxophonist Clarence Clemons (whom he refers to as "Scooter" in the song).

--> '''Carlin''': [T]ake a long look at the album itself: the black-and-white shot of Bruce – cloaked in black leather, guitar in hand, [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] button on his strap – leaning hard on the mighty shoulder of Clemons, whose white shirt is set off by a broad-brimmed black hat and, of course, his radiant black skin. For in this picture, Bruce knew, resided the heart of the band: [[AmericanDream unity, brotherhood, a small fulfillment of the American ideals of strength, equality, and community]]. The essence of ''[[AltumVidetur e pluribus unum]]'', as filtered through the unity of rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues.

!!Born to Trope:

'''''Born to Run''''' is the third album by Music/BruceSpringsteen, released in 1975. The album is very well-regarded for Springsteen's maturation in both lyrical content and musical style, and represents his breakthrough into the public consciousness. Among the first positive depictions of UsefulNotes/TheAmericanDream in music, the album conjured a romantic vision of optimism and idealism in the wake of hard work and difficulty. The album's [[EchoingAcoustics rich production]] and [[MundaneMadeAwesome uplifting]] lyrics helped shape a mythos of American culture that resonated with a generation of Americans who were tired of social upheaval and pessimism toward political turmoil.

* StealthInsult: "Thunder Road" has one of the most famous ones in the history of RockNRoll:

# "Thunder Road" (4:49)
# "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (3:11)
# "Night" (3:00)
# "Backstreets" (6:30)

# "Born to Run" (4:31)
# "She's the One" (4:30)
# "Meeting Across the River" (3:18)
# "Jungleland" (9:34)

* BackHandedCompliment: "Thunder Road" has one of the most famous ones in the history of RockNRoll:
--> ''Show a little faith there's magic in the night\\
You ain't a beauty but hey you're alright\\
Oh and that's alright with me''

* ColorContrast: The album cover features a white Springsteen, leaning against a black Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist, who is on the back. See the quote underneath MundaneMadeAwesome below.

While numerous figures in the recording industry ([[ShamelessSelfPromoter all shamelessly promoted by Columbia, his record label]]) pegged him as "the future of [[Music/RockNRoll rock 'n roll]]," Springsteen himself hated the label and did his best to allow the hype to die down. Because of this, the singles "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" had modest success in terms of airplay. The album itself fared extremely well; it became a cult classic for many, especially among blue-collar, middle-class youth. It continued to garner further support over the years especially after Springsteen's future albums garnered acclaim and ''Born to Run'' was soon established as a seminal classic, with "Jungleland" and "Thunder Road" being standouts, among others.

!!''Born to Trope''

* LocationSong: The songs all take place in small towns in New Jersey. They also seem to refer to specific locations: the "''giant Exxon sign''" in "Jungleland" could be the Bayway Refinery facility in New Jersey.

* MusicIsPolitics: There have been multiple attempts over the years by US Congressmen to instate ''Music/BornToRun''

* SexySaxMan: Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist of the E Street Band, appears on the back cover (Springsteen is leaning on him on the front). He became such a prominent face of the band that he received a lot more coverage for his appearance than anything else.

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: Springsteen has released many versions of this album over the year, each with various BSides and promising more tracks than the previous.

--> '''Carlin''': [T]ake a long look at the album itself: the black-and-white shot of Bruce – cloaked in black leather, guitar in hand, [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis]] button on his strap – leaning hard on the mighty shoulder of Clemons, whose white shirt is set off by a broad-brimmed black hat and, of course, his radiant black skin. For in this picture, Bruce knew, resided the heart of the band: [[AmericanDream unity, brotherhood, a small fulfillment of the American ideals of strength, equality, and community]]. The essence of ''[[StockLatinPhrase e pluribus unum]]'', as filtered through the unity of rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues.

While numerous figures in the recording industry ([[ShamelessSelfPromoter all shamelessly promoted by Columbia, his record label]]) pegged him as "the future of [[Music/RockNRoll rock 'n roll]]," Springsteen himself hated the label and did his best to allow the hype to die down. Because of this, the singles "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" had modest success in terms of airplay. The album itself fared extremely well; it became a cult classic for many, especially among blue-collar, middle-class youth. It continued to garner further support over the years especially after Springsteen's future albums garnered acclaim and ''Born to Run'' was soon established as a seminal classic, with "Jungleland" and "Thunder Road" being standouts.