Born to Run is the third studio album by Bruce Springsteen. As his effort to break into the mainstream, the album was a commercial success, peaking at Number 3 on the Billboard 200 and eventually selling more than six million copies in the U.S. 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” and “Jungleland” became staples of album-oriented rock radio and Springsteen concert high points.
Track listing
1. “Thunder Road”
2. “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
3. “Night”
4. “Backstreets”
5. “Born to Run”
6. “She’s the One”
7. “Meeting Across the River”
8. “Jungleland”
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May-74 Photo By: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images
Bruce Springsteen began work on Born to Run in May 1974 and he was given an enormous budget in a last-ditch effort at a commercially viable record. Fed by the release of an early mix of "Born to Run" to nearly a dozen radio stations, anticipation built toward the album's release
The album was released on August 25, 1975 by Columbia Records and was accompanied by a $250,000 promotional campaign. The campaign was directed at both consumers and the music industry, making good use of producer Jon Landau's quote, "I saw rock and roll's future and its name is Bruce Springsteen”
The original album cover has the title printed in a graffiti style font. These copies, known as the "script cover," are very rare and considered to be the "holy grail" for Springsteen collectors
14 Months Photo By: Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
Springsteen spent more time in the studio refining songs for Born to Run than he had on his previous two albums. All in all, the album took more than 14 months to record, with 6 months alone spent on the song "Born to Run" itself
Roy Bittan & Max Weinberg Photo By: Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
Born to Run was Springsteen's first album to feature pianist Roy Bittan and drummer Max Weinberg. Although, David Sancious and Ernest "Boom" Carter played the piano and drums, respectively, on the title track
Number 3 Photo By: Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
Born to Run first charted at Number 84 on the Billboard album chart in the week of September 13, 1975. The following week it made an impressive increase entering the top 10 at Number 8, then spent two weeks at Number 4. Finally, during the weeks of October 11 and October 18, Born to Run reached its peak position of Number 3
