Track Listing

1. Tunnel of Love
2. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
3. Two for the Road

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1866 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com
After several years at the top of the rock world, Springsteen pulled back the reins on Tunnel of Love--a lot, not just a little. Members of the E Street Band played on the album but seldom in full-band arrangements. Then, too, there are the deeply conflicted songs--"Brilliant Disguise," "Two Faces," "Tunnel of Love," "One Step Up"--that may have been written in response to the imminent failure of his first marriage. There's more to the album than divorce-court play-by-play, however. There's also the raw rocker "Spare Parts," the sprightly "All That Heaven Will Allow," and the bold declaration "Tougher Than the Rest." Overall, these are some of his most thoughtful songs and most intimate performances. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews

Why Tunnel of Love?
I remember when this album came out in 1987. It was a surprise since Bruce's Born in the U.S.A. was only released 3 years earlier. This was also a surprise in that Bruce was his most revealing both lyrically and emotionally. The twelve songs about love and relationship still hold up 13 years later. The music holds up just as well. This is mostly a quiet, thoughtful work from the Boss. While Born in the U.S.A. may have been misinterpreted by many, Tunnel of Love hits its mark. Perhaps that's why this sold less than half the amount of records Born in the U.S.A. did. There are the hits "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" and "One Step Up". There are the great non-hits like "I Ain't Got You", "Tougher Than The Rest", "Spare Parts", "Walk Like A Man", "Two Faces" and "Valentine's Day." It's unfortunate that the break up of Bruce's first marriage would lead to such a great album, but for the rest of us, this is his greatest gift. I know Born to Run and Born in the USA and Darkness on the Edge of Town and even Nebraska are fan's picks, but I thought I'd pick one that is just as great but less often mentioned.

Doesn't get any better than this!
Tunnel of Love is one of the most challenging and introspective recordings I have ever listened to. In the midst of an era of trite music (which is still continuing 13 years later) that is sexually obsessive, Springsteen pumped out a very engaging and thoughtful album. Bruce looks at a relationship between a man and woman, the longing, the development, eventual marriage, & then problems that occur in that context. Not only does he make observations, he never really points the finger and holds both people in the relationship accountable for the troubles that are occuring. "Tougher than the Rest," "Tunnel of Love," "Two Faces," "Brilliant Disguise," and "Valentine's Day" are some of the most endearing songs ever written by Springsteen. That being said there is one song on this album that is a cut above everything else. "One Step Up" is a heart breaker. This song closely analyzes the human tendency of falling into old habits and traits as shown by one of the chorus lines: "I'm the same old story, same old act. One step and two steps back." I've never heard anyone with as impressive a catalog or songwriting ability as Springsteen (that includes some favorites of mine: U2, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, etc.) and this album is one of his best. If you can buy them all, if you want a great album to start with and are really serious about listening to the music start here.

Bruce's Most Overlooked Album
When most critics or casual fans think of Bruce's greatest albums, this 1987 effort is usually not one of those picked. It seems to have been lost in the bright spotlight of "Born in the USA" 3 years earlier. This is a shame, because it really is one of Springsteen's 2 or 3 finest albums. I don't know that I've ever heard another album that expresses one man's feelings of loneliness, deception, betrayal, and overall heartache as much as "Tunnel of Love" does. The lyrics and music are thoughtful, reflective, and passionate. I think every man can relate to the feelings Bruce expresses on this album. The songs provide a nice contrast to Springsteen's powerful rock anthems.