Simple. Clean. Iconic. Timeless. Rock & Roll. An album cover hasn't matched its content quite like that of Born To Run. While this is just the albums front, as every true fan knows, it is best viewed unfolded:
Yes, we get the Big Man, with his shirt significantly more buttoned-up than on Wild (his hat grew in size and style, too). I do enjoy when an album package has a "gimmick", like the postcard on Greetings, and here we get the front-and-back spread. This is the only Springsteen album where the front bleeds into the back - in fact, I'm having difficulty thinking of other albums that employ this technique (the only one that comes to mind is LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening). To the left of Clarence, we get the track listing, as well as full credits for every performer. The interior of the package is excellently done, too:
A shot of our star, and every lyric from "The screen door slams" to "Tonight in Jungleland", nicely spaced out and not hard to read. Honestly, just on packaging alone, music fans in the 70s must have known they were in for something special. I cannot heap enough accolades on this album design. It is perfect in nearly every way (my only minor quibble is that I'd like to see more of the E Street Band than Clarence). Greetings introduced you to Bruce, focusing on his roots and his lyrics. Wild ditched the lyrics and focused on building the E Street legend. But, here, on Born To Run, the world was introduced to Bruce Springsteen: Rock Star.
For completeness sake, here's the record. Yes, another red circle in a larger black circle. One day we may see another color. One day...
Want a copy to call your own? Purchase it here!
For more reviews of old records, check out part one and part two!
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