Royston Vasey Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 For me, it’s : 1 Racing in the Street 2 Happy 3 The Wall 4 The Promise 5 Stray Bullet 6 The Wrestler 7 Meeting across the River 8 Drive all Night 9 Factory 10 Nothing Man. Such an extraordinary back catalogue to choose from. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daisey Jeep Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 i may change tomorrow how do you define a ballid ? the river jack of all trades racing in the street backstreets the promise incident Matamoros banks across the boarder stolen car wreck on the highway bugga that's 10 already maybe i could sub out backstreets for the wall 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MacBruce Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Very difficult to first of all determine what exactly is deemed to be a "ballad", and secondly to establish a top 10 of such songs from Bruce Springsteen's immense back catalogue of material. I can't do a top 10 i'm afraid....apart from saying that for me any top 10 Springsteen ballads would absolutely have to contain The River and Independence Day in it. Both these songs would not only easily be in his top 10 of what could conceivably be described as ballads, but for me are in his top 10 songs of any kind he has written. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay777 Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Interesting to consider (perhaps) that although we associate a ballad today with a slower number, the traditional definition would contain repetition, verses, narrative form, dialogue and almost always third person narration. The latter feature would discount several of those listed above - although there are plenty of others in the canon who do fit... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
riverdude2 Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 4 hours ago, Daisey Jeep said: bugga that's 10 already I know how you feel getting down to 10 is not easy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
riverdude2 Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 OK, arguments about ballads/slow(er) songs set aside, here's mine. The River 4th July Asbury Park (Sandy) Incident On 57th Street Jungleland Racing In The Street Fade Away If I Should Fall Behind Across The Border Kingdom Of Days Western Stars 3 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daisey Jeep Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 57 minutes ago, riverdude2 said: OK, arguments about ballads/slow(er) songs set aside, here's mine. The River 4th July Asbury Park (Sandy) Incident On 57th Street Jungleland Racing In The Street Fade Away If I Should Fall Behind Across The Border Kingdom Of Days Western Stars oh shit ! how could i leave out Sandy nice call on kingdom of days 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Chicken Man Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 well if a ballad is a love song, then Thunder Road is the greatest of them all. Across The Border comes a very close second 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fadeaway Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Racing in the Street Factory Walk Like A Man Jack Of All Trades Independence Day The Last Carnival Across the Border I'm On Fire The Wrestler I'll Stand By You 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sleepyjoe Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Drive All Night Hello Sunshine Thunder Road Backstreets Racing in the Street Jack of All Trades Stolen Car Happy Rocky Ground 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lampi Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Top 10 Springsteen ballads, in 10 minutes? Maybe you should not think to long about this? (In the end longer than 10 minutes). Made it easier for myself by deciding that (Rule 1) songs like Thunder Road, Backstreets, Jungleland, Incident On 57th Street, The River, The Price You Pay, and others, are not ballads but 'mid-tempo songs'; that (Rule 2) New York City Serenade is not a ballad but an epic (just like Backstreets, Jungleland and Incident On 57th Street; but they already left with Rule 1); and (Rule 3) only 1 song from the same album (victims: Independence Day, Wreck On The Highway, Youngstown, Across The Border, Magic, Paradise, Walk Like A Man). And is State Trooper, my favourite Nebraska song, a ballad? Racing In The Street; The Promise; Point Blank; No Surrender from Live 1975/85; Two Faces; My Beautiful Reward; The Ghost Of Tom Joad; Missing; My City Of Ruins; Devils Arcade. Edit: should add The Promise is -of course- the still unreleased original, 'slow' version, famous from bootlegs; not the version from The Promise album, which also could qualify as 'mid-tempo'. (That it is not the 18 Tracks version, does not need any explanation). 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daisey Jeep Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Lampi said: Top 10 Springsteen ballads, in 10 minutes? Maybe you should not think to long about this? (In the end longer than 10 minutes). Made it easier for myself by deciding that (Rule 1) songs like Thunder Road, Backstreets, Jungleland, Incident On 57th Street, The River, The Price You Pay, and others, are not ballads but 'mid-tempo songs'; that (Rule 2) New York City Serenade is not a ballad but an epic (just like Backstreets, Jungleland and Incident On 57th Street; but they already left with Rule 1); and (Rule 3) only 1 song from the same album (victims: Independence Day, Wreck On The Highway, Youngstown, Across The Border, Magic, Paradise, Walk Like A Man). And is State Trooper, my favourite Nebraska song, a ballad? Racing In The Street; The Promise; Point Blank; No Surrender from Live 1975/85; Two Faces; My Beautiful Reward; The Ghost Of Tom Joad; Missing; My City Of Ruins; Devils Arcade. Edit: should add The Promise is -of course- the still unreleased original, 'slow' version, famous from bootlegs; not the version from The Promise album, which also could qualify as 'mid-tempo'. (That it is not the 18 Tracks version, does not need any explanation). dang ! forgot devil's arcade nice call with Youngstown Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stranger in town Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 1st place goes to "...Way out in front......... The Way. 2nd Racing 3rd Walk like a man 4th if I should fall behind 5th Tougher than the rest 6th I wish I was blind 7th Meeting across the river 8th The Promise 9th Jack of all trade - suburban ballad? 10th May be a little twee, but when I was younger it hit a soft spot....I wanna marry you. Compiled using Lampi’s rule 1 and 2 Policy but not rule three. - when it suited. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cdymaestro Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 1. Secret Garden 2. Thunder Road 3. I’m on Fire 4. Drive All Night 5. Western Stars 6. If I Should Fall Behind 7. One Step Up 8. Back in Your Arms 9. Sandy 10. Racing in the Street 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robert65 Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 1. County Fair 2. Cautious Man 3. Sandy (4th of July) 4. Moonlight Motel 5. My Hometown 6. Jack of all Trades 7. You're Missing 8. Highway Patrolman 9. Back in Your Arms 10 Across the Border In no particular order. I see I avoided the big songs, The River (which would be no. 1), Tougher etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jimmy James Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 Technically a ballad is a song that tells a story! We always think of them as slower love song types. But truly if a ballad is just a song that tells a story. 1. Adam Raised a Cain 2. Roulette........ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Royston Vasey Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 Damn it, am going to have to go for a refresh. How on earth I omitted Valentine’s Day is beyond me. Surely right up there as one of his most beautiful ballads......however a ‘ballad’ is classified lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daisey Jeep Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 8 hours ago, Jimmy James said: Technically a ballad is a song that tells a story! We always think of them as slower love song types. But truly if a ballad is just a song that tells a story. 1. Adam Raised a Cain 2. Roulette........ by that reasoning BITUSA would be a ballad mind you if you hear some of the crap they play on the radio anything is possible Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevie54uk Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 no 1-10 Incident in its various forms, cant think past that im afraid 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WestsideJack Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 My Top 15 01. The Promise 02. Racing In The Street 03. The River 04. Stolen Car 05. Valentine's Day 06. Paradise 07. Meeting Across The River 08. Shut Out The Light 09. Across The Border 10. You 're Missing 11. Independence Day 12. My Father's House 13. Sandy 14. Highway Patrolman 15. Jack Of All Trades 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay777 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Key facet of a ballad is narrative and third party narration...a sung story told by the balladeer... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jimmy James Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 OK all seriousness now. 1. Drive All Night 2. The River 3. Wreck on the Highway 4. Meeting Across the River 5. Point Blank 6. I Day 7. My Fathers House 8. My Beautiful Reward 9. The Wall 10. Hearts of Stone 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harley123 Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 brilliant disguise? surely a top five? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kent Guitar Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 For You, Hammersmith Odeon 75 then daylight Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daisey Jeep Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 36 minutes ago, Kent Guitar said: For You, Hammersmith Odeon 75 then daylight what is daylight ? im kinda imanging a real long for you then its day brake but i dont think that's what you mean because this set has a time limit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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