 | |
List Price: $15.93 | | Label: Sony
Salesrank: 1117
Released: November 11, 2003 |
| Our Price: $10.45 |
| Used Price: $7.56 |
|
| Media: Audio CD |
|
The Essential Bruce Springsteen Track Listing:
Disc 1:
1. Blinded By the Light
2. For You
3. Spirit In the Night
4. 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
5. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
6. Thunder Road
7. Born To Run
8. Jungleland
9. Badlands
10. Darkness On The Edge Of Town
11. The Promised Land
12. The River
13. Hungry Heart
14. Nebraska
15. Atlantic City
Disc 2:
1. Born In The U.S.A.
2. Glory Days
3. Dancing In The Dark
4. Tunnel Of Love
5. Brilliant Disguise
6. Human Touch
7. Living Proof
8. Lucky Town
9. Streets Of Philadelphia
10. The Ghost Of Tom Joad
11. The Rising
12. Mary's Place
13. Lonesome Day
14. American Skin (41 Shots) (Live)
15. Land Of Hope and Dreams (Live)
Editorial Review:
Vastly expanding 1995's single disc Greatest Hits, The Essential Bruce Springsteen easily surpasses the earlier best-of set by serving up all its true essentials and tossing in less appreciated treats and a full disc of rarities. Disc one spans the first decade of Springsteen's recording career, serving up at least two tracks each from the six albums that laid the groundwork for his '80s burst into superstardom. Disc two picks up with his mainstream breakthrough, 1984's Born in the U.S.A., and carries on through 2002's The Rising, tossing in live recordings of "American Skin" and "Land of Hope and Dreams" for good measure. The selections and sequencing surpass those made on Greatest Hits, though there's not too much in the way of surprises, other than that it appears that Born in the U.S.A. hasn't aged all that well for the Boss; here, he selects only three songs from the hit-laden smash, one fewer than is found on the skimpy Greatest Hits. Disc three is where the fun really starts for all but neophytes. The live "Held Up Without a Gun" is as gutsy a one minute and 20 seconds as Springsteen as one could ask for, and the likes of "Trapped," "Countin' on a Miracle," and a cover of "Viva Las Vegas" rank with his signature songs. --Steven Stolder
The Essential Bruce Springsteen Reviews:
A Great Beginner's Compilation For Casual Fans Despite Some Glaring Omissions 
2009-05-01 - As the most important voice in music over the last 35 years, compiling the most important recordings in Bruce Springsteen's career to three discs (including one including never before released outtakes as opposed to some truly important cuts that missed inclusion on the first two discs) is in no way an easy task. For every "Born To Run" and "Dancing In The Dark" that's included, there's a "Growin' Up" and "Backstreets" that's missing the cut.
"The Essential Bruce Springsteen" is the compilation in question, and despite the glaring omissions, it does a pretty good job on the whole. You get the timeless rock anthems that helped shape Bruce into the almost mythical figure he is today ("Born To Run," "Badlands"), the epic narrative pieces with unforgettable characters and locale ("Thunder Road," "Jungleland"), the classic hit singles ("Hungry Heart," "Glory Days"), and latter day accomplishments ("The Rising," "Lonesome Day"). In between, we get a host of forgotten gems such as "Blinded By The Light," (far better than the more famous Manfred Mann cover), "For You," "Tunnel Of Love," and a few from Bruce's underrated 1992-97 period (the haunting "Youngstown," unfortunately, is another missed gem from this era). To throw a few more superlatives upon this collection, the songs are remastered and sound amazing.
The third disc also includes some very welcome treats. Two songs that, up until this collection's 2003 release, remained available only through diehard collectors finally pop up, "County Fair" and the sublime "Born In The U.S.A." outtake "None But The Brave." The "The River" outtake "Held Up Without A Gun," with shared vocals by Bruce and Little Steven Van Zandt, is presented in its (until 2008) only live performance ever, from the famous 1980 New Years Eve show at Nassau Coliseum. Other gems include "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)," the ethereal "Lift Me Up," written for the John Sayles film "Limbo" but never available on Bruce compilation until now, and "Dead Man Walkin'," a haunting composition from the Sean Penn / Susan Sarandon film of the same name.
As mentioned, a host of classics from Bruce's career failed to make the cut, and their absence is definitely notable and noticeable. However, this doesn't take away from the fact this is still solid primer for beginning Springsteen fans, a crash course to some of the greatest music ever recorded.
Not Exactly Essential 
2008-12-28 - While this collection includes most of Springsteen's classics, several important ones are missing (My Hometown, I'm On Fire, Better Days, Secret Garden, Waitin' On A Sunny Day). It does however include some songs from his first two albums, which I would not call "essential." If they are going to call a collection THE Essential, then it should include every top 40 single the artist has released to date. This album does not do that.
MISSING GREAT SONGS
2008-12-09 - I give this collection 3 stars because don't include two greatest 80's hits: I'M ON FIRE and MY HOME TOWN not even in the GREATEST HITS album.
Essential Bruce Springsteen CD
2008-11-02 - thank you for sending a wonderful CD, a great collection of Bruce's music over the decades. Thanks
Essentials but missing a few old favs. 
2008-10-06 - This is a great album for getting a taste of the Boss from all eras of his career except the most recent of course seeing as this cd was done in the early 90's.
It missed a few old favorites, like Growing Up, Seaside Bar Song but it was a good mix, wish it had Something in the Night, and Tougher Than The Rest. The third cd has some not so often heard music on it.
It is a great addition to your Bruce Springsteen Library
