Biography of the Day: Bruce Springsteen

[altmariusmusic]

Bruce Springsteen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen in concert during 1981
Background information
Also known as	The Boss
Born	September 23, 1949 (1949-09-23) (age 62) Long Branch, New Jersey, United States
Genres	Rock, folk rock, heartland rock, hard rock, roots rock
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, piano
Years active	1972–present
Labels	Columbia
Associated acts	E Street Band, Steel Mill, Miami Horns, The Sessions Band, U2
Website	www.BruceSpringsteen.net
Notable instruments
Fender Telecaster Fender Esquire[1] Takamine Guitars Gibson J-45 Hohner Marine Band Harmonica

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band. Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered on his native New Jersey.^[2]

Springsteen's recordings have included both commercially accessible rock albums and more somber folk-oriented works. His most successful studio albums, Born in the U.S.A. and Born to Run, showcase a talent for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily American life; he has sold more than 65 million albums in the United States and 200 million worldwide^[3] and he has earned numerous awards for his work, including 20 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award. He is widely regarded by many as one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century, and in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him as the 23rd greatest artist of all time in its 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.

DISCOGRAPHY

Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Released: January 5, 1973 Label: Columbia	60	—	—	41	—	—	—	—	—	35	-	US: 2× Platinum AUS: Gold[17] UK: Silver
The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle Released: September 11, 1973 Label: Columbia	59	71	—	33	—	—	—	—	—	34	-	US: 2× Platinum AUS: Gold[17] UK: Silver
1975	Born to Run Released: August 25, 1975 Label: Columbia	3	7	31 [18]	17	20	—	—	—	13	7	28	US: 6× Platinum AUS: 2× Platinum[17] CAN: 2× Platinum UK: Platinum
1978	Darkness on the Edge of Town Released: June 2, 1978 Label: Columbia	5	9	7 [19]	14	75	—	—	—	12	9	11	US: 3× Platinum AUS: Platinum[17] CAN: Platinum UK: Gold
1980	The River Released: October 10, 1980 Label: Columbia	1	8	1 [20]	2	65	31	—	—	1	2	2	US: 5× Platinum AUS: 3× Platinum[17] CAN: 2× Platinum UK: Gold
1982	Nebraska Released: September 20, 1982 Label: Columbia	3	8	3 [21]	3	78	37	—	—	3	2	3	US: Platinum AUS: Platinum[17] CAN: Gold UK: Silver
1984	Born in the U.S.A. Released: June 4, 1984 Label: Columbia	1	1	1 [22]	1	13	1	1	1	1	1	1	US: 15× Platinum AUS: 13× Platinum[17] CAN: 10× Platinum UK: 3× Platinum
1987	Tunnel of Love Released: October 9, 1987 Label: Columbia	1	5	1 [23]	1	55	3	2	6	1	1	6	US: 3× Platinum AUS: Platinum[17] CAN: 3× Platinum UK: Platinum
1992	Human Touch Released: March 31, 1992 Label: Columbia	2	2	2 [24]	1	—	2	1	1	1	1	6	US: Platinum CAN: 2× Platinum UK: Silver
	Lucky Town Released: March 31, 1992 Label: Columbia	3	5	3 [24]	2	—	4	2	2	2	3	6	US: Platinum CAN: 2× Platinum UK: Silver
1995	The Ghost of Tom Joad Released: November 21, 1995 Label: Columbia	11	27	15 [25]	16	—	22	8	13	4	3	47	US: Gold AUS: Gold[17] CAN: Gold UK: Silver
2002	The Rising Released: July 30, 2002 Label: Columbia	1	4	1	1	2	1	2	2	1	1	12	US: 2× Platinum AUS: Gold[17] CAN: Gold UK: Gold
2005	Devils & Dust Released: April 26, 2005 Label: Columbia	1	10	2	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	13	US: Gold AUS: Gold[17] CAN: Platinum UK: Gold
2006	We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions Released: April 25, 2006 Label: Columbia	3	21	3	3	2	5	5	3	1	1	12	US: Gold CAN: Gold
2007	Magic Released: October 2, 2007 Label: Columbia	1	2	1	1	1	3	4	1	1	1	2	IRL: 3x Platinum NOR: 3x Platinum SWE: 2x Platinum SPA: Platinum CAN: Platinum US: Platinum UK: Gold
2009	Working on a Dream Released: January 27, 2009 Label: Columbia	1	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	US: Gold CAN: Platinum UK: Platinum SWE: Platinum SPA: Platinum IRL: Platinum GER: Gold
2010	The Promise Released: November 16, 2010 Label: Columbia	16	22	—	7	—	1	9	5	—	1	—	US: Gold
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or have not been certified.

[edit] Live albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions											Certifications[26][3][4]
		US [5]	AUS [6][7]	CAN [8]	UK [9]	IRE [10]	GER [11]	SWI [12]	AUT [13]	NOR [14]	SWE [15]	NZ [16]
1986	Live/1975-85 Released: November 10, 1986 Label: Columbia	1	3	1	4	63	8	6	8	3	2	11	US: 13× Multi-Platinum AUS: Platinum[17] UK: Gold
1993	In Concert/MTV Plugged Released: April 13, 1993 Label: Columbia	189	—	—	4	—	19	8	15	3	14	-	UK: Gold
2001	Live in New York City Released: April 3, 2001 Label: Columbia	5	30	19	12	22	9	13	10	3	3	-	US: Platinum
2006	Hammersmith Odeon London '75 Released: February 28, 2006 Label: Columbia	93	—	71	33	24	74	—	71	9	42	-
2007	Live in Dublin Released: June 5, 2007 Label: Columbia	23	40	31	21	1	11	28	20	2	2	11
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or have not been certified.

[edit] Compilation albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications[26][3][4]
		US [5]	AUS [6][7]	CAN [8]	UK [9]	IRE [10]	GER [11]	SWI [12]	AUT [13]	NOR [14]	SWE [15]
1995	Greatest Hits Released: February 28, 1995 Label: Columbia	1	1	1 [27]	1	5	1	1	1	1	1	US: 4× Platinum AUS: 9× Platinum[28] CAN: 4× Platinum UK: 2× Platinum
1998	Tracks Released: November 10, 1998 Label: Columbia	27	—	—	50	—	63	11	—	4	11	US: Platinum CAN: Gold
1999	18 Tracks Released: April 13, 1999 Label: Columbia	64	—	58 [29]	23	—	8	11	3	2	1
2003	The Essential Bruce Springsteen Released: November 11, 2003 Label: Columbia	14	43	—	28	5	—	35	12	4	2	US: Platinum AUS: Platinum[17]
2009	Greatest Hits Released: January 13, 2009 (American Edition, available only at Wal-Mart stores) [30] Released: June 1, 2009 (European Limited Tour Edition) [31] Label: Columbia	43	17	21	3	2	25	12	7	3	1
2010	The Collection 1973-1984 [32] Released: August 13, 2010 Label: Columbia	—	—	—	35	38	15 [33]	25	37	—	—
	The Promise Released: November 16, 2010 Label: Columbia	16	22	27	7	4	1	9	5	1	1
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or have not been certified.

[edit] Extended plays

Year	Title
1988	Chimes of Freedom Released: May 5, 1988 Label: Columbia
1996	Blood Brothers Released: November 19, 1996 Label: Columbia
1998	Live Collection (Japanese Import) includes "For You" (July 7, 1978) and "Incident On 57th Street" (December 29, 1980) Label: Sony Japan
2008	Magic Tour Highlights Released: July 15, 2008 Label: Columbia

[edit] Boxsets

Year	Title
2005	Born to Run 30th Anniversary Edition Released: November 15, 2005 Label: Columbia
2010	The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story Released: November 16, 2010 Label: Columbia

[edit] Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions[34][34][35][36]															Album
		US	US Main	US AC	CAN [37]	UK [9]	IRE [10]	GER [11]	SWI [12]	AUT [13]	NOR [14]	SWE [15]	NZ	AUS [38]	NL	ITA
1973	"Blinded by the Light" [A]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ
	"Spirit in the Night" [A]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975	"Born to Run"	23	—	—	53	93	—	—	—	—	—	38	—	38	17	—	Born to Run
1976	"Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out"	83	—	—	82	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1978	"Prove It All Night"	33	—	—	57	—	—	—	—	—	—	90	—	—	—	—	Darkness on the Edge of Town
	"Badlands"	42	—	—	44	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"The Promised Land"[B]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1980	"Hungry Heart"	5	—	—	5	44	—	—	—	11	—	17	24	33	—	—	The River
1981	"Fade Away"	20	14	—	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Sherry Darling"[B]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"The River"[B]	—	—	—	—	35	24	—	—	—	5	10	—	—	25	—
	"Cadillac Ranch"[B]	—	48	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1982	"Atlantic City"[B]	—	10	—	49	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Nebraska
	"Open All Night"[B]	—	22	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984	"Dancing in the Dark"	2	1	—	3	4	2	—	—	—	7	2	2	5	2	—	Born in the U.S.A.
	"Cover Me"	7	2	—	12	16	6	—	—	—	—	15	7	17	—	—
	"Born in the U.S.A."[C]	9	8	—	11	5	1	16	—	13	20	11	1	2	5	20
	"I'm on Fire"[C]	6	4	6	12	5	1	16	15	10	—	20	10	12	1	—
1985	"Glory Days"	5	3	—	17	17	3	27	19	25	—	20	34	29	16	—
	"I'm Goin' Down"	9	9	—	23	—	—	61	—	—	—	13	—	41	—	—
	"My Hometown"[C]	6	6	1	16	9	6	—	—	—	—	20	28	47	24	—
	"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"[C]	—	—	—	—	9	6	—	—	—	—	—	—	47	—	—	In Harmony 2
1986	"War"	8	4	—	11	18	2	27	—	—	2	4	42	38	8	—	Live: 1975-85
1987	"Fire"	46	14	—	42	54	18	—	—	—	—	17	—	82	22	—
	"Born to Run" (live)[B]	—	—	—	—	16	9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	91	—
	"Brilliant Disguise"	5	1	5	9	20	2	38	16	—	1	3	26	17	15	—	Tunnel of Love
	"Tunnel of Love"	9	1	—	17	45	22	—	—	—	—	—	48	41	39	—
1988	"One Step Up"	13	2	—	23	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	67	44	—
	"Tougher Than the Rest"[B]	—	—	—	—	13	10	25	3	11	—	—	—	35	17	—
	"Spare Parts"[B]	—	28	—	—	32	12	—	—	—	—	16	—	57	78	—
1992	"Human Touch"[D]	16	1	8	2	11	4	15	4	19	1	4	12	17	3	—	Human Touch
	"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)"	68	6	—	25	32	26	—	—	—	9	32	—	—	39	—
	"Better Days"[D]	16	2	—	—	34	25	—	—	39	—	23	75	64	29	—	Lucky Town
	"Leap of Faith"[B]	—	28	—	48	46	—	—	—	—	—	23	—	—	38	—
1993	"Lucky Town"[B]	—	—	—	—	48	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	MTV Unplugged
1994	"Streets of Philadelphia"	9	25	3	1	2	1	1	1	2	1	3	3	4	5	—	Philadelphia soundtrack
1995	"Murder Incorporated"	—	14	—	5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Greatest Hits
	"Hungry Heart" (reissue)[B]	—	—	—	—	28	—	62	—	—	—	—	—	—	46	—
1996	"The Ghost of Tom Joad"[B]	—	—	—	34	26	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	The Ghost of Tom Joad
1997	"Secret Garden"	19	—	5	7	44	14	66	—	—	—	—	—	9	29	—	Jerry Maguire soundtrack
1999	"Sad Eyes"[B]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	54	—	—		Tracks
2002	"The Rising"[E]	52	24	26	—	94	—	39	63	56	5	10	—	—	39	6	The Rising
	"Lonesome Day"	—	—	—	—	39	92	—	—	—	—	47	—	—	51	13
2003	"Waitin' on a Sunny Day"[B]	—	—	—	—	—	—	85	—	—	—	15	—	51	46	—
2005	"Devils & Dust"	72	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Devils & Dust
	"All the Way Home"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007	"Radio Nowhere"[F]	102	—	—	55	96	2	24	83	90	2	60	—	—	—	—	Magic
	"Girls in Their Summer Clothes"	95	27	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2008	"Working on a Dream"[F]	95	35	—	91	195	21	31	10	9	37	12	—	—	65	—	Working on a Dream
	"My Lucky Day"[G]	—	37	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"The Wrestler"	120	—	—	63	93	40	—	14	19	—	56	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

All singles were released in both U.S. and UK/Europe, unless otherwise indicated:

• A^ Released only in the United States.
• B^ Released only in UK/Europe.
• C^ Charted as double A-Sides when released in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• D^ Charted as double A-Sides when released in the United States.
• E^ Reached #1 the on American Triple-A Charts.
• F^ Peaked at #2 on the American Triple A Charts.
• G^ Peaked at #18 on the American Triple-A Charts.