A Springsteen Playlist for the Open Road

Tramps Like Us…

We’re well into spring and on our way to summer, which means the weather is becoming perfect for that most American of pastimes: driving. Sure, we drive everywhere regardless of season or weather, but this time of year is when we drive for the sheer enjoyment of the open road rather than just commuting two hours to a job we hate. And ever since the first radio was placed in an automobile (in 1924 by Kelly’s Motors in Australia, for the record), music and driving have gone hand-in-hand.

When I was growing up, we had to rely on either whatever the radio stations were playing or 8-track, and later cassette, tapes; today the majority of us stream a personally-selected playlist. So in honor of the approaching summer driving season, I have a very special open road playlist for you — Bruce Springsteen edition. What you’ll see pretty quickly (unless you’re already a hardcore fan) is that this particular list has 10 great songs — I mean, it’s Bruce after all — but that you may only have ever heard the first and last ones on the list. It’s always a joy to discover new Springsteen songs, even if they’re only new to you. Let’s get rollin’.

1. “Thunder Road.” This is the slowest song on the list, at least at first, but there is no better way to kick things off. The line “roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair” epitomizes what driving and music is all about. This song is probably the second-best one Springsteen ever wrote (we’ll get to the best soon enough), and it builds to one of the great codas of all time.

2. “Meet Me In The City.” The song that raucously kicked off every show during the 2015–2016 tour, this is one of many that somehow did not make The River double album back in 1980. Fortunately for all of us, it was finally released with other outtakes on The Ties That Bind: The River Collection. Midway through, glance down at the speedometer and see if you’re not already breaking the law.

3. “Sherry Darling.” The ultimate frat-rock party song, with one of the funniest choruses you’ll ever hear and a Clarence Clemons sax solo almost better than the song itself. If you weren’t singing along already, you are now.

4. “Roll of the Dice.” A nearly unknown gem from Springsteen’s ill-advised period away from the E Street Band in the mid-1990s, this one shines even with the pack of mostly studio musicians he assembled for the record. Just don’t blame me if you veer off the highway for a quick stop at the casino.

5. “Be True.” Another classic left off the original The River album, this one was at least released as the B-Side of the single “Fade Away.” In my opinion, that order should have been flipped. And, as is common on this list, there’s another awesome sax solo by the Big Man, may he reign forever in musical Valhalla.

6. “Where The Bands Are.” Yet another song on this list that didn’t make The River, “Where The Bands Are” is a pure rocker that proves Bruce and the E Street Band were at their bar band best at the dawn of a musical decade that would see them explode worldwide with the release of Born in the USA in 1984. This song is as good or better than any on that acclaimed disc. At this point, you’ve probably missed your highway exit, but don’t care.

7. “I’m Goin’ Down.” Often overlooked among the many hits from the Born in the USA album (there were seven…seven!…that hit the Top 10), this rocker hit #9 in August of 1985. It deserved better.

8. “I’ll Work For Your Love.” This track from the amazing Magic album (his best since The Rising) is another great road tune that also manages to contain the most religious imagery of any Springsteen song. If you’re not a lapsed Catholic you may miss some of them, but no matter; the song stands on its own, leading us toward the crescendo of this road trip.

9. “From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come).” The final of the four songs here originally recorded for The River but ultimately not included, this rockabilly scorcher finally appeared on the Tracks collection. It was also covered by Dave Edmunds in 1982 and hit #28 on the Billboard rock chart, one of many times Bruce simply gave away hit songs. I hope by the final chords of this one you have a long stretch of open highway in front of you, because we have reached the summit of the mountain with…

10. “Born To Run.” Until the day I die, I will loudly proclaim that this is the Greatest Song Ever. It is everything, and I mean everything, a rock song — and a road song — is meant to be, and it’s as fresh today as the day it was released nearly 46 years ago. It changed my life forever at 9 years old, and it will change yours too. The version on the playlist above comes the closest to the feel you get hearing it live in concert, when all is right with the world. Tramps like us, and all that.

Drive safe, my friends.