Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

There is an adage in the record business that a recording artist's demos of new songs often come off better than the more polished versions later worked up in a studio. But Bruce Springsteen was the first person to act on that theory, when he opted to release the demo versions of his latest songs, recorded with only acoustic or electric guitar, harmonica, and vocals, as his sixth album, Nebraska. It was really the content that dictated the approach, however. Nebraska's ten songs marked a departure for Springsteen, even as they took him farther down a road he'd already been traveling. Gradually, his songs became darker and more pessimistic, and those on Nebraska marked a new low. They also found him branching out into better developed stories. The title track was a first-person account of the killing spree of mass murderer Charlie Starkweather. (It can't have been coincidental that the same story was told in director Terrence Malick's 1973 film Badlands, also used as a Springsteen song title.) That song set the tone for a series of portraits of small-time criminals, desperate people, and those who loved them. Just as the recordings were unpolished, the songs themselves didn't seem quite finished; sometimes the same line turned up in two songs. But that only served to unify the album. Within the difficult times, however, there was hope, especially as the album went on. "Open All Night" was a Chuck Berry-style rocker, and the album closed with "Reason to Believe," a song whose hard-luck verses were belied by the chorus -- even if the singer couldn't understand what it was, "people find some reason to believe." Still, Nebraska was one of the most challenging albums ever released by a major star on a major record label. ~ William Ruhlmann

1. Nebraska

by Bruce Springsteen

Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Harmonica: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Steve Marcussen
Bob Ludwig
Dennis King; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

2. Atlantic City

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

3. Mansion On the Hill

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

4. Johnny 99

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

5. Highway Patrolman

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

6. State Trooper

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

7. Used Cars

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

8. Open All Night

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

9. My Father's House

by Bruce Springsteen

Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Producer: Bruce Springsteen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

10. Reason to Believe

by Bruce Springsteen

Primary Artist: Bruce Springsteen; Main Performer
Guitar: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Performer: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Vocals: Bruce Springsteen; Performer
Composer: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen; Composer
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Dennis King
Steve Marcussen; Production
Recording: Mike Batlin; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

10 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

40 minutes and 43 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 6000x6000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

Studio Quality (Hi-Res)

24bit / 96 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Hi-Res/Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

4/10 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

4/10 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Arena Rock, Singer & Songwriter, Alternative Folk, Singer-Songwriter, New Folk, Classic Rock

Label

Columbia

Music Distribution Service

SME Mora Qualitas

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Sep 29, 1982

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

74643835824