America had the four biggest stars of the 80s, Madonna, Prince, Jacko, and Springsteen.
Three of them had all broken through in the UK but Springsteen, was not quite the superstar here until he released this, his seventh album.
Dancing in the Dark and brand Springsteen were pulling out all the stops. A top ten hit with a live video where he pulls the random girls from the crowd, or as we found out later, Courtney Cox. He showed it wasn’t a one off with the mega hit Glory Days which he has performed with Paul McCartney, he is part of the Rock Royalty.
There are certain albums, not many, where everyone knows every song but with thirty million album sales everyone will have heard one of the twelve tracks at some point in their lifetime. The cover is iconic as well.
The title track was based on Vietnam vets struggling with their return to the USA but with the opening drums and Springsteen’s enthusiastic vocals there was an anthem-like quality to the song and the idiot that was Reagan adopted it for his election campaign.
I’m on Fire ends the traditional side one on a more reflective mode, it’s a magical song, short and understated, it showed Bruce could do fragile.
Living in Glasgow if you go to certain pubs there is a particularly good chance you will hear No Surrender as this has been adopted by Rangers fans, my partners brother hates it with a passion, guess who he supports? I say nothing as I personally think it’s a great upbeat song.
Although this was an album of anthems and hits, I enjoy the slower tracks Downbound Train and My Hometown.
In 2024 Jacko and Prince are long gone Madonna hasn’t released an album in over five years but Springsteen still releases albums that go straight to number one and sells out stadiums. This record was the moment where he really became and stayed the Boss.
7.5/10
GIVE IT A STREAM: I’m On Fire
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