The River was an incredibly important album release for Bruce Springsteen. He had critical and commercial questions to answer back then. Springsteen used the might and musicianship of the E Street band to answer those on his fifth studio album and only double album, so far.
Springsteen’s first album The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle was back in 1973 and followed quickly by Greetings From Asbury Park NJ later the same year. Two albums later reflected on as classics, Born To Run and Darkness On The Edge Of Town followed in 1975 and 1978. The River was much anticipated and long awaited.
It’s hard to believe now but at that time the question marks over the man now known as The Boss were significant. His first two records were well received. His live shows were very popular. But those early albums didn’t sell in big numbers and he was still fighting for real prominence.
The River marked a changed approach for Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen was still a member of the next Bob Dylan club as far as the media was concerned. He wasn’t yet his own brand nor the huge success he is today. His Born To Run album broke him into the mainstream but also raised the expectations for him. And the follow up to that album wasn't as well received initially.
Springsteen himself was changing, the approach to the new album was different and prolonged. The music also took a turn in direction, not huge but notable. He wasn't yet hitting the political angle and hammering the injustices for the working people. But he was questioning the reality of the American dream.
So let's go down to The River with Bruce Springsteen
The River album took a while to finish. Work started early with several tracks already recorded in 1977. But despite being very close to going to press as a single disc in October 1979, a last minute rejection by Springsteen delayed matters. He wasn’t happy with the balance and selection of tracks as a whole. He added songs which had some grim realities amongst the happier pop and rock tunes. The River expanded to become a double album and was finally released on October 17, 1980.
Amongst the stand-out tracks on the album, “Hungry Heart” was surprisingly his first charting single, reaching fifth spot in Christmas week on the Billboard Hot 100. It also brought Springsteen his first UK hit too. A good job he didn't pass it to The Ramones, despite being originally written to meet a request for a song from Joey.
In contrast, title track “The River” is one of the darker points in the album. Based on his sister, it carried the story of a teenage pregnancy, the starkness of a wedding with no smiles, set against the backdrop of the bleak economy; it wasn't a celebratory song at all, life in its grim reality laid bare.
“Sherry Darling” as an example of more contrast was one of several early tracks deemed too upbeat for the previous album, but still included in the darker at times The River. Perhaps that helped the overall balance. It still remains a regular live favourite for good reason.
This was my first Springsteen album and has one of my favourite songs of his. “Drive All Night” is a classic in my eyes. The bass line and quiet simple piano opening, the way it builds in intensity and Clarence Clemens immense once again on saxophone. That track alongside the remainder of The River convinced me Springsteen was the real deal.
Springsteen and The River breaks the dam
The River finally combined two bits that had eluded the Boss on previous albums: Both mass critical and commercial appeal. The public and critics were also very taken by the album and Springsteen. Rock's Backpages.com has one of my favourite quotes from the reviews, capturing the mood brilliantly.
"Listening to Bruce Springsteen's The River is like taking a trip through the rock and roll heartland as you've never experienced it. It's a walk down all the streets, all the places, all the people and all the souls that rock has ever visited, excited, cried for and loved."Paolo Hewitt, Melody Maker
The River went down a storm and projected Springsteen fully among the top acts in the world. The album hit the number one spot on the Billboard 200 charts, his first such success. It's gone on to be certified quintuple platinum and one of Springsteen’s biggest sellers.
The soaring sales and popular acclaim all went a very long way to answer the earlier questions about him. The Boss was no longer the next Dylan, he was very much his own man. This is the key as Bruce Springsteen has never been one to try to outsell every other artist on the planet. He simply wanted to be respected for what he was trying to do musically and emotionally, just like his folk heroes, such as Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
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