Throwback Threesome – Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s discography stretches back to 1973. Since then, the Boss has created masterpiece after masterpiece. Choosing only three songs from the vast Springsteen catalog is not an easy task. However, from a music video perspective, we can start with one album.

Released in 1984, Born in the U.S.A. was Bruce Springsteen’s seventh studio album. It was immediately met with positive reviews, round-the-clock radio airplay, and massive sales numbers. It produced seven top-10 singles and led to a sold-out worldwide tour. Born in the U.S.A. became Bruce’s most commercially successful album and one of the highest-selling records ever. Even the cover photo taken of him from behind by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz became an icon.

MTV was still only in its third year when Born in the U.S.A. came out. Bruce Springsteen quickly dominated the cable network with his videos for the album’s hit singles, including “Dancing in the Dark,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” and “Glory Days.” He even got the help of noted filmmakers Brian De Palma and John Sayles.

• Dancing in the Dark (1984)

  Directed by filmmaker Brian De Palma, the “Dancing in the Dark” video was shot in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on June 28 and 29, 1984. The first night was a pure video shoot, the second was on the opening date of the Born in the U.S.A. Tour. The girl who joins Bruce on stage is pre-Friends Courtney Cox. The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Stage Performance in 1985.

• Born in the U.S.A. (1984)

  The video for the album’s title track was directed by filmmaker John Sayles and includes concert footage of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band along with scenes of working-class America, Vietnam veterans, oil refineries, and cemeteries. It ends with a recreation of the album’s cover.

• Glory Days (1985)

  The music video for “Glory Days” was the album’s third video directed by John Sayles. It was filmed at various locations in New Jersey, including a baseball field and bar in Hoboken. The video features clips of New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden striking out major league hitters. Springsteen’s then-wife Julianne Phillips also makes a very brief cameo appearance at the end.