Bruce Springsteen's career has been covered many times over, yet many of the complexities and apparent contradictions of his music remain unresolved. Rob Kirkpatrick provides a comprehensive and coherent look at the work of this thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist. After a brief biographical treatment, Kirkpatrick considers all of Springsteen's significant albums in chronological order. These include Born to Run, which was voted the most popular album of all time in a recently published Zagat survey; Born in the U.S.A., which sold more than 20 million copies; and The Rising, regarded by many as the most poignant artistic reaction to 9/11. In addition to a probing musical analysis, the book offers a guide to Springsteen's lyrical themes and motifs, allowing readers insight into the complicated nature of the artist's underlying concerns, influences, and ideas. Rounding out the volume is a consideration of The Boss's legacy as a songwriter and musician, as well as appendices including a bibliography and a complete discography.
The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen provides a comprehensive and coherent look at the work of a thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist. Springsteen enjoys a popularity that has transcended generations. His 1975 album Born to Run was voted the most popular album of all time in a recently published Zagat survey; his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A. spawned seven Top Ten singles while selling more than 20 million copies; and his 2002 album The Rising was regarded by many critics as the most poignant artistic reaction to 9/11. Springsteen, now in his 50s, has evolved from an over-hyped version of the next Bob Dylan, to the future of rock and roll in the mid-1970s, to a pop culture icon in Reagan America, to a 21st-century populist voice. His career has been covered many times over, yet many of the complexities and apparent contradictions of his music remain unresolved. These include his hard-rock influenced musical background; his movement from themes of rebellion and isolation in his early work to those of a more populist complexion later on; and his contribution in the 1980s to a conservative patriotism―despite his albums' close association with the music and ideas of Woody Guthrie.
After a brief biographical treatment, Kirkpatrick considers all of Springsteen's significant albums in chronological order. In addition to this probing musical analysis, he offers a guide to Springsteen's lyrical themes and motifs, allowing readers a coherent insight into the complicated nature of the artist's underlying concerns, influences, and ideas. Rounding out the volume is a consideration of The Boss's legacy as a songwriter and musician, as well as appendices including a bibliography and a complete discography. In sum, The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen provides a comprehensive and coherent look, previously unavailable in a single volume, at the work of a thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist.

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen (The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection)

Kirkpatrick, Rob

Biographies & Memoirs

Praeger

The definitive look at The Boss and how his music has both shaped and confronted American mythology
Emerging on the music scene with 1973's "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.", Bruce Springsteen was heralded as "the future of rock and roll", and since then his influence and popularity have exploded. Rob Kirkpatrick's Magic in the Night uses Springsteen's biography as a lens through which listeners can reevaluate his music as he morphs from "the next Bob Dylan" to a Reagan-era pop culture icon, and again to today's populist voice, discussing each album in chronological order. Kirkpatrick's keen insights show why the classic 1975 album "Born to Run" is the most popular album of all time (according to a recent ZagatSurvey) and what's made Springsteen the most respected and influential artist in rock music.
Though his career has been widely documented, Springsteen fans have never had a book like this one, which lets them immerse themselves in his music and learn about his influences, lyrical choices, and the themes Springsteen has been drawn to again and again in his career. Kirkpatrick's in-depth analysis of Springsteen's work–even unreleased songs–and the political controversies surrounding it make Magic in the Night a must for any true Springsteen fan.

Magic in the Night: The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen

Arts & Literature

St. Martin's: Griffin

Surveys the history of trading cards, explains what factors determine their value, and describes how to care for and protect them.

Trading Cards (High Interest Books: Cool Collectibles)

Children's Books

Activities, Crafts & Games

Childrens Pr

Surveys the history of trading cards, explains what factors determine their value, and describes how to care for and protect them.

Trading Cards (Cool Collectibles)

Introduces the homerun-hitting fielder for the Chicago Cubs, Sammy Sosa.

Sammy Sosa: Home-Run Hitter (Reading Power)

Biographies

Powerkids Pr

Introduces the player for the St. Louis Cardinals who set the home run record in 1998.

Mark McGwire: Record Breaker (Reading Power)

Introduces Terrell Davis, star running back for the Denver Broncos.

Terrell Davis: Super Bowl Running Back (Reading Power)

Introduces the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, Doug Flutie, who has also played in the Canadian Football League.

Doug Flutie: International Football Star (Reading Power)

Introduces Kobe Bryant, a young player for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.

Kobe Bryant: Slam Dunk Champion (Reading Power)

Introduces Cobi Jones, star player for the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team.

Cobi Jones: Soccer Star (Reading Power)

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Books by Kirkpatrick, Rob