It was 50 years ago today -- January 5th, 1973 -- that Bruce Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Springsteen, who was signed as a solo artist, was signed to Columbia Records -- the only label he's ever recorded for by record producer John Hammond.
Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. was produced by Springsteen's then-managers and publishers Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos and recorded in Blauvelt, New York's low-rent 914 Studios. Although not billed as such, the early E Street Band is featured on the set -- Clarence Clemons, Garry Tallent, David Sancious, "Mad Dog" Vini Lopez -- and an uncredited Steve Van Zandt, who provides a rumble blast of ambient amplifier noise.
Among the instant classics included on the set are "Blinded By The Light' -- a 1977 chart-topper in a drastically reworked prog version by Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- "Spirit In The Night," "Growin' Up," "For You," and "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City."
Although the album did not crack the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 albums chart -- it eventually made its way up to Number 60. Reviewers hailed Springsteen as the "new Dylan" -- despiote the fact that Bob Dylan was still actively recording and only 31. Rolling Stone has since rated the album 37th on their list of "Greatest Debut Albums list.
(from pulseofradio.com)