Forgotten Heroes

Submitted by Kelly on January 18, 2011 - 2:35pm

There is nothing quite as exciting as making a new musical discovery - and that discovery is somehow made sweeter when you stumble upon the sounds of a prolific artist you never really considered before. This happened to me recently when I finally got turned onto the music of Bruce Springsteen - somebody who has been a staple in many people's musical rotations for years.

When I was young my only knowledge of “The Boss” was the song "Born in the U.S.A" - I remember it being blasted at sporting events and on television, and I really had no interest in it (and it’s still not a favorite of mine). I think I was a little too young to have been a Bruce convert from the start - I missed the mania and therefore didn’t understand what the fuss was all about. My conversion began a couple years ago when I was driving on a rainy night with a friend and “I’m on Fire” came on in his car. Something about the haunting sound and the rainy night suddenly made me feel completely content. Although I still haven’t really delved into his more recent catalog, some of his earlier albums such as Darkness on the Edge of Town and Born to Run soon became regulars in my listening life. Are there any popular artists out there who you didn’t love right away? It’s not always a bad thing to jump onto the bandwagon late, as sometimes it just gives you an entire catalog to discover. Here are some more great Bruce Springsteen albums for you to check out!

- The Essential Bruce Springsteen

- The Wild, The Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle

- Magic

Or find a book at your nearest location and read about Bruce's music and his life.

- Runaway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision by Louis Masur

- Down Thunder Road: The Making of Bruce Springsteen by Marc Eliot

- It Ain't No Sin To Be Glad You're Alive: The Promise of Bruce Springsteen by Eric Alterman