Bruce Springsteen Born To Run - 30th Anniversary Box

"Chrome wheeled, fuel-injected and stepping out over the line."

That's the essence of the revisitiation of the Bruce Springsteen classic, Born to Run. Born to Run was his breakout album in 1975, the album that was needed to not only remain on a roster, but also to bolster a career that was seemingly going nowhere despite the brilliance of "Growin' Up," "Blinded By The Light" (covered later by Manfred Mann as well as Springsteen's "Spirit In the Night"), and "It's Hard To Be a Saint In The City" from the debut album named Greetings From Asbury Park. His sophomore album, The Wild, The Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle, inserted "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)," and "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" into the consciousness of America, but only after the runaway success of Born To Run spurred interest in the, up to then, low-selling catalogue.

Born To Run entered the world on a whirlwind of hype creating a surge that exists to this day. With a short collection of 8 songs, the album introduced a new flavour of Springsteen that completely bled into his next release, the masterful Darkness On the Edge Of Town, but only biting in half of the double album, The River. Arguably, The River should have only been a single album release, which would have allowed it the impassioned hallowed status much like Darkness and Born To Run possesses. And despite the massive runaway success of Born In the USA, much of the magic that is found brimming in the beginning of Springsteen's catalogue is only briefly found within its grooves. Of course, this is a contested issue that fans all over differ on immensely. But it is this reviewer's singular opinion that the intensity of Springsteen got lost after Darkness, and thus far, has not resurfaced since. That is not to say Springsteen is incapable of producing excellent material. His single issue, "Streets of Philadelphia" is as haunting a song as he has written.

Born To Run produced storms of songs. The album-best, "Born To Run" is a classic on a par with the best songs ever produced. "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" is a radio-friendly song that leads to the story-telling desparation of "Backstreets," the epic "Jungleland," and the defining "Thunder Road." "Night" is a look at hard work and after-work redemption, a convention of truth that explains the microcosm of life in a work town.

In the 30th Anniversary edition of Born To Run, Springsteen revisits his rock 'n' roll classic with a vengeance, providing an essential historical quality that defines the album that gave Bruce Springsteen life. And this is an important reissue. The last CD issue of this album has long been an inferior product, nevermind the flow of import reissues that beefed the sound quality. This remastering updates the sound to perfection, outside an SACD rework, of which several of Springsteen's albums are worthy of (the SACD restoration). You'll hear sounds and separations that have been indistinguishable before. The CD replicates the look of the original vinyl edition with black paint, faux grooves, and the familiar old red Columbia labeling. The casing uses the Japanese styled "original album cover" concept that incorporates the original Born To Run gatefold and all aspects of the 1975 vinyl release intact.

In addition, there are two DVDs included in the 3-disc set. The first DVD is Wings For Wheels ( a line adapted frm the lyrics of "Thunder Road"), and which covers the making of Born To Run. The 90-minute documentary covers in great detail, the pressure that Born To Run wrought on the band and, in large part, on Bruce Springsteen. The need to create a non-cliched album of pure rock 'n' roll songs that personified a life of sought after freedom was foremost. Historically, the information presented by a wide variety of Springsteen connections is immeasurable. the DVD compliments the album it supports and cements the greatness of Born To Run. There is a remarkable point on the DVD where the album cover shots were photographed and decided upon. It is historical moments like this that make this 30th Anniversary an essential acquisition completing the mythos of Born To Run, arguably one of the greatest rock albums to have ever been recorded.

The set is bolstered by a DVD of the legendary UK concert at Hammersmith Odeon, where Springsteen graduated into the bi league with a concert that birthed his later marathon concerts of which The E Street Band was famous for. Anyone who has seen The Boss and his show, especially in the '70s, can verify the intensity of Springsteen' commitment to his audience. As he has stated, he challenges any band to do a set list the like of which he routinely perfomed. The film, while dark in many cases (it was the '70s, they didn't think of adequate lighting to sell DVDs), is exemplary, documenting the essence of the youthful Springsteen and his passion for his craft.

The set comes with a 48-page, heavy-stock booklet that provides a healthy supply of Born To Run photos. There are film-strip displays of photos, as well as full page photo shots of the band, in recording, in leisure, and in concert. All of this is contained in a sturdy box that will beautifully display the entire collection.

Issues like this special 30th Anniversary Edition of Born To Run supply the ultimate historical completeness of their creation; what went into them, what processes they followed, and what made them the classics they became. I could buy these albums all day long if they forged a labour of love like Springsteen wrought with his Born To Run 30th Anniversary package. With this issue, I believe that Bruce has, once again, created a standard.

"Tramps like us, baby, we were Born to Run."