Springsteen’s previous six albums were dominated by themes of working class struggle and tales of down-and-out underdogs. The lyrical content here is no different, but slick production values, the explosion of MTV and the looming shadow of Ronald Reagan created a perfect storm which allowed Born in the USA to spawn no less than seven top ten hits. In a much derided political misstep, Reagan tried to use Born in the USA – intended by Springsteen as an ode to downtrodden Vietnam veterans – as his campaign song. Springsteen had never been more relevant. Born in the USA perfectly encapsulated the temperament of mid 80’s America and the relatively new medium of MTV exposed Springsteen to a wider audience than ever – it is Springsteen’s most commercially successful record and one of the best selling of all time. Bruce’s writing is on point, as always – rich with the gut-wrenching sincerity that makes him so relatable. However it is the sizzle of the E Street band that offers a valuable counterpoint to the often dark, desperate lyrical content and helped give this album such a broad appeal. Born in the USA is deservedly a high point in the Boss’ oeuvre and the record that cemented him as a bonafide pop star.
Pete Whelan 