Product Description

From \""Born to Run\"" to \""Streets of Philadelphia,\"" this is a boss collection of classic Bruce, featuring 17 songs, including new music with his legendary E Street Band.

Track Listing

1. Born to Run
2. Thunder Road
3. Badlands
4. River
5. Hungry Heart
6. Atlantic City
7. Dancing in the Dark
8. Born in the U.S.A.
9. My Hometown
10. Glory Days
11. Brilliant Disguise
12. Human Touch
13. Better Days
14. Streets of Philadelphia
15. Secret Garden
16. Murder Incorporated
17. Blood Brothers
18. This Hard Land

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #835 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1995-02-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.com
About as complete a selection of fan and artist favorites as any single-disc Bruce collection could be, this is a surprisingly coherent listen given the many stylistic and attitudinal shifts it charts. The inclusion of only four of Born in the U.S.A.'s seven Top 10 entries leaves space for less obvious choices like "Atlantic City" and four new cuts, among them songs recorded by a briefly reunited E Street Band. The pace lags a bit near the end--"Secret Garden" is turgid enough to take its place on a Sting album--but Greatest Hits earns its place in the car CD player with stuff like "Born to Run," "The River" and "Dancing in the Dark." --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Worthwhile for New AND Old Fans
'Best of' collections are always a bit dicey for old fans of an artist. After all, we already own all the albums these hits are culled from. And in the case of Springsteen, many of his best songs never had any radio play to speak of (e.g., 'Jungleland'). What's more, by starting off with Born to Run this album misses some great songs from his first albums (e.g., 'Growing Up')

Yet I have to disagree with Madam Marie (review written 11/10/99) who questions why an existing fan would buy this CD. The reason is simple: sometimes it's fun to hear songs from throughout Springsteen's career in one sitting. It's a reminder of how his music has changed over time, of how his themes have evolved and of why he's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And, as all these songs are familiar, it's a great CD for listening to during an hour's drive or working in the office on a Saturday or while working out. True, it lacks the depth and cohesiveness of one of his albums. And while these aren't ALL his greatest hits, they are some of them.

So, for those new to Springsteen it's a fine introduction. For those already fans, it's a nice, easy-to-take package worth having.

Incomplete Collection For The Boss, But It's Great Music
Bruce Springsteen is one of the hardest artists to anthologize, since his music went through so many changes over the years. He started out as a Dylan - esque folk singer, then reemerged as a pop superstar, and finally a soft rock staple (thanks to the hit "Streets Of Philadelphia" from the move "Philadelphia"). "Bruce Springsteen - Greatest Hits" is an 18 track collection of his career up to 1995, and tries to give a brief overview of each stage of his career. It succeeds to a point, since it does leave a lot out, and makes a good starting point for beggining Springsteen fans.

Unfortunately, his early years (1975-80) are represented by only three tracks. "Born To Run" is an obvious opening track, and it still remains one of the greatest rock songs ever written. I can honestly admit that I never really enjoyed "Thunder Road" but I do think "Badlands" is an excellent song. However, I was extremely disappointed that thye did not include my favorite song from this era, "Rosalita". This omission is almost unforgivable and I almost deducted an entire star for this omission.

His pop years get the most representation. This is probably my favorite Springsteen era, since it includes all of my favorites: "Hungry Heart", "Dancing In The Dark" (the song with the video with Courtney Cox) and "Glory Days" rank as my all time favorite Springsteen songs. I also really like "Brilliant Disguise". There are some other big hits that should be here (namely the top ten hits from "Born In U.S.A." left off as well as "Tunnel Of Love"), but I'll get to those later.

His later years are covered well. "Streets Of Philadelphia" is a great song, and I like "Human Touch" as well. The three new songs with the E Street Band, however, I didn't really get into, with the exception of "Secret Garden", which became a top twenty hit two years after this album came out.

As I said, this collection is far from perfect. There are many hits left off, including "Rosalita", "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", "Fade Away", "Cover Me", "I'm In Fire", "I'm Goin' Down", "War", "Tunnel Of Love", and "One Step Up". Here's my idea for "The Best Of Bruce Springsteen":

1.Born To Run
2.Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
3.Badlands
4.The River
5.Hungry Heart
6.Atlantic City
7.Fade Away
8.Dancing In The Dark
9.Cover Me
10.Born In The U.S.A.
11.I'm On Fire
12.Glory Days
13.I'm Goin' Down
14.My Hometwon
15.War
16.Brilliant Disguise
17.Tunnel Of Love
18.One Step Up
19.Human Touch
20.Better Days
21.Streets Of Philadelphia
22.Secret Garden

I do understand that some of these tracks will have to be edited to fit onto one cd, but that's fine with me, since it will be the definitve Springsteen collection. Until then, however, this collection will do just fine.

Wait for "The ESSENTIAL Bruce Springsteen" 2 CD set instead
Don't waste your time with this. 1 cd is not even close to capturing Bruce's best songs. Seeing how he is on the SONY label, you are bound to see "The Essential Bruce Springsteen" 2 cd set coming out any time (unless Bruce blocks it). Here you go, Sony, I'll make it easy for you: CD 1: 1. Blinded by the Light 2. Growing Up 3. It's Hard to be a Saint in the City 4. Rosalita 5. Kitty's Back 6. 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy) 7. Thunder Road 8. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out 9. Backstreets 10. Born to Run 11. Badlands 12. The Promised Land 13. Darkness on the Edge of Town 14. Hungry Heart 15. The River 16. Fade Away 17. Atlantic City CD2 1. Born in the USA 2. Cover Me 3. I'm On Fire 4. I'm Goin Down 5. Glory Days 6. Dancing in the Dark 7. My Hometown 8. War (live) 9. Tunnel of Love 10. Brilliant Disguise 11. One Step Up 12. Human Touch 13. 57 Channels (and nothing on)14. Better Days 15. If I Should Fall Behind 16. The Ghost of Tom Joad 17. The Rising 18. My City of Ruins