Runaway Dream

August 31, 2009
Nearly 35 years on, Bruce Springsteen's album Born to Run shows little sign of flagging popularity; National Public Radio has hailed the 1975 album, a poetic explosion of frustration and freedom, among the 100 most important musical works of the 20th century, and it has made it into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. Though he admits that he wants the album played at his funeral, author and American studies professor Masur (The Soiling of Old Glory) remains surprisingly objective while examining the iconic album and its effect on the New Jersey troubadour and American culture at large. Only one chapter is dedicated to the actual making of Born to Run; the rest details Springsteen's career before and after its release, critical reaction, and the album's long-smoldering influence. Although Springsteen was not interviewed, E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent provides insight into recording sessions, and Masur quotes extensively from published sources and Springsteen's own in-concert patter. Masur's knowledge runs deep, and his work often reads like a lengthy dissertation on the Boss's lyrics, key progressions, imagery and themes; Bruce's many hard-core fans will find this an immersive, thoughtful treat.

August 15, 2009
Masur ("1831: Year of Eclipse; Autumn Glory: Baseball's First World Series") has written what is essentially the biography of a classic American rock album. In 1975, Bruce Springsteen released "Born To Run", a collection of songs articulating the desire to escape, the promise and sometimes futility of personal dreams, and, ultimately, the search for connection and love. After briefly examining Springsteen's early life and work, Masur details the painstaking making of the album, analyzes each song's lyrics and musicality, discusses the album's reception and what he refers to as its spatial and temporal "geography," and relates its impact and continued resonance. Masur includes quotes from published interviews and articles from critics, musicians, and Springsteen himself, who eloquently reflects on his art and vision and the album that defined themes he continues to explore. VERDICT Springsteen fans and rock devotees generally will want to read this well-thought-out book. While not a lot of new information is presented, the synthesis of history and analysis of a specific album is different from the many works published about Springsteen.Jim Collins, Morristown & Morris Twp. Lib., NJ

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2009
Popular music affects people in so many ways, on so many levels, that a particular musical work can take on a life of its own for a particular listener. For Masur, 18 when he first heard the song Born to Run, Bruce Springsteens Born to Run album was such a particular work. He presents his interpretation of it but also briefly scrutinizes the trajectory of Springsteens career while chronicling the making of the album. He describes each song on the album, comments on the importance of place in it, looks back at its initial reception, and then fast-forwards to a reassessment of the album from the perspective of some 30 years later. He calls Born to Run a masterpiece rooted in an American geography that is both physical . . . and cultural and regards it and, indeed, Springsteens work as a whole, as an ongoing search for American identity. By engaging in such a quest, Springsteen became a link in a chain of great American literary and cultural figures stretching from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman to Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams to Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan. Students of popular music who know little if anything about Springsteen will find much to appreciate here, as will also, of course, Springsteens many fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)