Search - Bruce Springsteen :: Essential

A Great Beginner's Compilation For Casual Fans Despite Some

Anthony Nasti | Staten Island, New York United States | 05/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the most important voice in music over the last 35 years, compiling the most important recordings in Bruce Springsteen's career to three discs (including one including never before released outtakes as opposed to some truly important cuts that missed inclusion on the first two discs) is in no way an easy task. For every "Born To Run" and "Dancing In The Dark" that's included, there's a "Growin' Up" and "Backstreets" that's missing the cut.



"The Essential Bruce Springsteen" is the compilation in question, and despite the glaring omissions, it does a pretty good job on the whole. You get the timeless rock anthems that helped shape Bruce into the almost mythical figure he is today ("Born To Run," "Badlands"), the epic narrative pieces with unforgettable characters and locale ("Thunder Road," "Jungleland"), the classic hit singles ("Hungry Heart," "Glory Days"), and latter day accomplishments ("The Rising," "Lonesome Day"). In between, we get a host of forgotten gems such as "Blinded By The Light," (far better than the more famous Manfred Mann cover), "For You," "Tunnel Of Love," and a few from Bruce's underrated 1992-97 period (the haunting "Youngstown," unfortunately, is another missed gem from this era). To throw a few more superlatives upon this collection, the songs are remastered and sound amazing.



The third disc also includes some very welcome treats. Two songs that, up until this collection's 2003 release, remained available only through diehard collectors finally pop up, "County Fair" and the sublime "Born In The U.S.A." outtake "None But The Brave." The "The River" outtake "Held Up Without A Gun," with shared vocals by Bruce and Little Steven Van Zandt, is presented in its (until 2008) only live performance ever, from the famous 1980 New Years Eve show at Nassau Coliseum. Other gems include "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)," the ethereal "Lift Me Up," written for the John Sayles film "Limbo" but never available on Bruce compilation until now, and "Dead Man Walkin'," a haunting composition from the Sean Penn / Susan Sarandon film of the same name.



As mentioned, a host of classics from Bruce's career failed to make the cut, and their absence is definitely notable and noticeable. However, this doesn't take away from the fact this is still solid primer for beginning Springsteen fans, a crash course to some of the greatest music ever recorded."

Good compilation

D. Whittaker | 02/07/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You can't please everyone, you'll never be able to compile a set of tracks from such a large body of work that will please everyone. This is as good a set as any and a great introduction to new fans."

Great compilation

Y. C. Haug | Brooklyn, New York USA | 03/04/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Good intro or retrospective for those who don't already have a collection; good set of new songs for those who do."