Springsteen Holiday Gift Guide 2015

Season’s greetings! Fretting about what gift to get that special Springsteen fan in your life? Worry not. Legends of Springsteen’s annual Holiday Gift Guide is here!

For Every Springsteen Fan:

The Ties That Bind: The River Collection ($107)

The single must-have present this season. Featuring 1980’s The River, a collection of previously unreleased songs and three DVDs of documentaries and concert footage, this is shaping up to be every bit the treasure chest that was The Promise in 2010. Caution, the most diehard Springsteen fans may have already rushed out on their own to buy it. Be sure to investigate the situation before plunging into anything.

For the Springsteen Fan Who Loves Motown:

Introducing Darlene Love ($11)

Fans of the documentary 20 Feet from Stardom or the fantastic Holiday pop song “All Alone on Christmas” will be familiar with Darlene Love’s connection to Springsteen and The E Street Band. The latest in a career that started in the 60s, “Introducing Darlene Love” is her first solo album in decades and is produced by Steve Van Zandt. What’s more, Springsteen himself penned two tracks including “Night Closing In” which sounds very Springsteen indeed.

For the Springsteen Fan who is a History Buff:

Marching Home: To War & Back with the Men of One American Town ($6)

Historian Kevin Coyne gives us an intimate depiction of Springsteen’s hometown of Freehold, New Jersey by chronicling the impact of World War II on this NJ town where some 900 men went off to war and returned to shuttered factories and racial tension. Reading this captivating history will make Springsteen’s lyrics resonate with newfound understanding.

For the Springsteen Fan who is a Mom:

Ricki and the Flash ($18)

Meryl Streep is always a crowd-pleaser and here she stars as an aging rocker who chose life as a cover band queen over a close relationship with her family. Whether you’re a new mom or a veteran mom, this family dramedy beats with the heart of rock and roll. Bonus points, of course, because Streep performs Springsteen’s “My Love Will Not Let You Down.”

For the Springsteen Fan in College:

Bruce Springsteen 2016 Wall Calendar ($20)

12 pages of Springsteen will keep you inspired all year round. This gift is more appropriate for the dorm room demographic, but if you have a large refrigerator and an accepting spouse, you might be able to get away with it as well.

Happy Holidays from Legends of Springsteen!

For even more gift ideas, check out last year's gift guide as well!

Springsteen Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Trying to find the perfect present for that special Springsteen fan in your life? Look no further! Just because there isn't another new album, that doesn't mean there isn't something Springsteen-related that you should wrap up with a bow this holiday season.

For the Springsteen Fan Who is Just Getting Started:

The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973-1984 ($75)

Chances are strong that younger Springsteen fans don’t have the full early Springsteen catalogue – and if they do, not in physical form. As recently chronicled, there’s still something special about having physical copies of your favorite music, even if we live in a digital world. The beauty of this set is that it really hits home the weight and importance of Springsteen’s place in history and the longevity of his career. The eight-disc box set features Greetings from Asbury Park, The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, Born to Run, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A.

For the Springsteen Fan with Young Children:

“Outlaw Pete” by Bruce Springsteen and Frank Caruso ($13)

Reading to your children is incredibly important. But sometimes it’s just as much about finding ways to keep yourself entertained as it is to find stories that engage your audience. What better way to do that than a Springsteen-inspired picture book?

For the Springsteen Fan Eager to Climb the Company Ladder:

“Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life” by Stewart Friedman ($17)

A Harvard Business Review book featuring a profile of Bruce Springsteen? Yes, it exists. And it’s excellent. “Leading the Life You Want” by Stewart Friedman is part action guide, part inspiration source as it tackles the issue of work/life balance by illustrating six public figures who have achieved great success in this area. Of course, you have to know the recipient well enough to ensure this won’t be misconstrued as an insult (“You don’t spend enough time at home!”). More in our review.

For the Springsteen Fan who Has Been Kind of Emo Lately:

Dead Man’s Town: A Tribute to Born in the U.S.A. ($11)

For fans who are open to hearing the iconic Born in the U.S.A. album from a different perspective, Lightning Rod Records’ tribute album offers a cover of each track from the original album by 12 different indie bands. These tributes are slow and contemplative, perfect for moments of quiet reflection upon a snowy landscape. More in our review.

For the Springsteen Fan who Has Everything:

Nils Lofgren: Face the Music ($120)

Nils Lofgren may be the most undervalued member of the E Street Band. An exceptional guitarist and songwriter in his own right, this 10-disc box set is a crash course on his non-E Street career including early work from his band Grin (which he founded when he was 17). While you’re waiting for the next Springsteen album, these 169 tracks will keep you more than busy – and may get you thinking that Lofgren is just as prolific as The Boss himself.


Happy Holidays from Legends of Springsteen!