As one of the older people here, I can understand why some of you might not get Springsteen. But I can't tell you what his music meant to me in high school. There was just nothing else like it. Simply put, for me before there was U2, there was Springsteen. Similar passion and integrity and concerts that knock your socks off.
Here is a list of the most popular records released in 1975. Can you see how the boss was an oasis in the desert of rock & roll??
It wasn't disco and it wasn't wimpy So. Cal. rock. I mean, I was into the Eagles at the time, but Bruce entered the scene with such force and power and breathed so much new life into R&R, in my opinion, combining the poetic lyrical richness of Bob Dylan with hard-driving rock & roll and sensitivity AND depth, that everything else paled in comparison. It was one of those life-changing kinds of records, up there with Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby in terms of what it meant to me at the time.
That's The Way (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band
The Hustle - Van McCoy
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
You're The First, The Last, My Everything - Barry White
Lyin' Eyes - Eagles
Who Loves You - Four Seasons
Bad Time - Grand Funk
Why Can't We Be Friends - War
Bungle In The Jungle - Jethro Tull
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
AND, he's still cool at 52 and has just put out arguably his best record in a decade. We can only hope U2 puts out a record as great at "The Rising" when they're in their 50's.