Rutgers professor, who wrote the book on the album, discusses the work's impact
Bruce Springsteen's breakthrough album Born to Run was released 50 years ago this month on Aug. 25, 1975. The album, Springsteen's third on Columbia Records, is considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and one that defined Springsteen as an artist.
Louis Masur, Distinguished Professor of American studies and history, considers Springsteen's work as standing on the level of the finest literature in American culture and history such as the work of Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, and Flannery O'Connor. He chronicled the making of the masterful album in a 2009 book, Runway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision. He is currently writing From Presley to Springsteen: Ten Songs that Defined Rock 'n' Roll, to be published by Rutgers University Press.
He has also been teaching "Springsteen's American Vision," a course he created two decades ago, that uses The Boss's music as a portal to American cultural history.
Masur talks to Rutgers Today about the impact of Born to Run on American music and culture.
Springsteen's two other albums prior to Born to Run were not commercially successful. What was special about this album? Why did this one break through?
Going into the studio to record his third album, Springsteen knew the stakes were high. Columbia was considering dropping him from the label. He also now carried, for better and worse, the label of "rock 'n' roll's future," from a review by Jon Landau, who would become co-producer on Born to Run. Add to that Springsteen's own ambition, and the ingredients were in place for a momentous effort. It took him six months to record the title song, and the entire album was an ordeal for him. He even considered not releasing it. But it was special because he honed his songwriting and learned how to use the studio so that the recordings captured the magic of his live performances. He was composing epics, and he revived rock 'n' roll, which was in the doldrums, by taking the sounds and techniques of early rock 'n' roll and reimagining them.
What's the theme or message of the album?
The search for love and companionship. "I want to know if love is wild/I want to love if love is real." That theme, Springsteen says, unified his work for decades.
Is it still relevant today?
Of course. Those desires are always with us, and the album itself carried listeners on a journey from hope to despair, from freedom to fate. These are the polarities of our lives.
Why does Springsteen's music resonate with so many people?
It resonates because, at its best, it makes us feel alive. He writes about meaningful topics: love, work, faith, community. And the music, time and again, moves us, makes us want to move.
What do your students say to you about Springsteen and his work? Has he found an audience in Gen Z and younger?
Most students come into my class not knowing much about Springsteen's music, though many are from New Jersey. But there is no question his fans extend well beyond Baby Boomers like me. Just look at the audience at his concerts or the excitement when he appears live with Zach Bryan or the Killers.
Can we assume Born to Run is your favorite Bruce Springsteen album since you wrote a book about it? Why did you write a book on the album?
I'm lucky that I was able to combine the personal with the professional. I first saw Springsteen in concert when I was 16 and I was 18 when Born to Run came out. It's the defining song and album of my life. I also wrote about it because it stands as one of the great rock albums of all time. Even Springsteen admitted as much during the ceremony for U2's induction into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: "It's embarrassing to want so much, and to expect so much from music, except sometimes it happens -- the Sun Sessions, Highway 61, Sgt. Peppers, the Band, Robert Johnson, Exile on Main Street, Born to Run -- whoops, I meant to leave that one out."
The title of your book is Runaway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision. What is Bruce Springsteen's American vision? Or is the better question what is Bruce Springsteen's vision of America?
In 2012, Springsteen said he has spent his life "judging the distance between American reality and the American dream." The "runaway American dream" opens "Born to Run." For more than 50 years, Springsteen has thought and written about the meaning of America, about everyday struggles, about the forces that keep people down, and about the possibilities for love and salvation in this life. At 75, he is still fighting vigorously for the dream and happily he will not be stopping anytime soon.
