Part work song, part call to action, and one of Bruce’s best and most Springsteenian songs, “Shackled and Drawn” is also Bruce’s best show opener ever.
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Roll of the Dice (596)
Mining similar earth as some of his earlier classics without offering anything new, “Over the Rise” still manages to position itself as one of Bruce’s more revealing songs.
“He’s Guilty” bears the distinction of being the only officially released Steel Mill studio recording, but it was also a reliable nightly crowd pleaser in the band’s live shows.
“Summer Night” is one for the completists–a Nebraska-era home demo with a lovely melody but mostly bluffed lyrics.
Only six weeks after the tragic Kent State shootings, Bruce voiced his anguish in song.
One of the strongest tracks on The Rising, “The Fuse” focuses on the one sure antidote for existential dread.
“Two For the Road” is short, sweet, and offers a few intriguing callback, but ultimately it falls short in both style and substance.
Boasting a hypnotic backing track and skillful editing, “City of Night” closes out The Promise with a lost gem.
More short story than song, Bruce lifted “Galveston Bay” from real-life headlines to tell a tale of hope and better angels.
The love child of “State Trooper” and “Pink Cadillac” (and grandchild of “Peter Gunn”) “Chain Lightning” is a fascinating River cast-off that deserves a live outing.