Counting Down Bruce Springsteen: His 100 Finest Songs

by Jim Beviglia

For 40 years, Bruce Springsteen has held center stage as the quintessential American rock and roll artist, expressing the hopes and dreams of the American everyman and every woman through his vast array of insightful and inspirational songs. In Counting Down Bruce His 100 Finest Songs, rock writer Jim Beviglia dares to rank his finest songs in descending order from the 100th to his no. 1 greatest song.

In this unique book, Beviglia reflects not only on why each song has earned its place on list but lays out the story behind each of the 100, supplying fresh insights on the musical and lyrical content of Springsteen's remarkable body of work. Counting Down Bruce Springsteen brings together critical historical and biographical information to explain the making and importance of each song to its listeners, painting a fascinating portrait of Springsteen as a major American songwriter and consummate recording artist.

Counting Down Bruce Springsteen is the perfect playlist builder, whether it is for the diehard fan or the newbie just getting acquainted with the work of the Boss!

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

220 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Picueta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es complicado coincidir con otros fans en cuanto a canciones favoritas porque todo es siempre subjetivo. Quizá la canción que a ti más te llena y que parece que habla de ti, a otro le sea ajena.

Pero que me hayas puesto Thunder Road en el número de 17 es pa tirarte una piedra a la cabeza, señor Jim. No sé si me ha dolido más eso o que New York City Serenade y Drive All Night hayan quedado fuera de las 100 primeras.

De esto que te pica la curiosidad por ver qué opina otra gente sobre tu música favorita y terminas más picá que una pared en obras.

Jamás te lo perdonaré, Jim Beviglia.

[Sean Loone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this great book. It’s been a long, slow and steady read but this is exactly how this wonderful book should be read. Truly the book is a labour of love with each of the 100 songs examined in an interesting but thought provoking way. I cannot recommend this book highly enough especially if you are a fan of the Boss. You might not agree with the song choice or their order but surely you will agree with me that this is a fascinating reflection on the songs of Bruce Springsteen.

[Gil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't consider this a countdown, but rather an in depth look at the Boss's finest songs.
Jim Beviglia looks at the songs with a microscope to examine, instrumentation, song structure, lyrics and where they stand in creating the superstar that is Bruce Springsteen.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. If I could, I'd give it 5 plus infinity. It's a must-read for any Springsteen fan, or anyone who loves a Springsteen fan but doesn't quite understand the devotion the fan has for The Boss.

If you've ever wondered by "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" is so beloved by Springsteen's fans, or if you want to hear the story behind "Jungleland," this is the book for you. You may even gain new appreciation for and deeper understanding of some of your favorite songs. For example, I've always loved "Rosalita," but having an expert like Beviglia write about the sheer bravado Springsteen displayed in writing and recording it made me love it even more.

You can hear my conversation with Jim Beviglia at Anne's Book Club.

[Bruce Jin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book alone merits 3 stars but following the book while listening to each of Springsteen's songs as being counted down is a 5-star experience. I do quibble with the ranking of songs (the biggest being Thunder Road and Badland - they each belong in top 5 and not in mid-teens) but overall an excellent survey of Boss's finest songs, a thorough analysis, and decent rankings.

[Bridget Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great info about each song, including analyzing lyrics and musical choices. Born to Run is #1!!