Practically any post-1980 Springsteen is torture.
I went to high school in the NJ suburbs of NYC from '76-'80. People were seriously divided over music (except on the issue of disco - everyone thought that sucked). You know how there are certain general personality types that any class of kids could be divided into - jocks, burn outs, fags/nerds, etc., etc. Well musical tastes were pretty much divided along those same lines. The "cool kids" and burn outs were a combo of rockers and Dead Heads. The jocks were into whatever groups were common on the radio and they loved Springsteen. And then fags/nerds either didn't care at all or like the jocks listened to whatever was on the radio. Oh yeah there were a few punk types around too but they were cool. And a couple of the trumpeters in the school band listened to jazz but didn't talk much about it. For many of us Springsteen was in the same category as Disco - he was literally and passionately hated. He could honestly be considered torture. I never felt truly sorry for prisoners in Guantanamo till now.
Ah, but Springsteen almost never got radio play prior to 1980 (when you were in HS). His first hit was "Hungry Heart" ('80) and his career took off from there (although the quality of his music took a huge nosedive).
For many of us Springsteen was in the same category as Disco - he was literally and passionately hated. He could honestly be considered torture."
Come on!!
You didn't dance to Springsteen! OR bump and grind (but hey -- power to ya if you could).
NO WAY was Bruce tossed into the same category as Disco. I should know -- I worked on the boardwalk in Seaside Park in those days during the summer -- and even ran an album/tapes booth.
Though his 'Darkness On the Edge of Town' album came out at the height of disco, he was THE man. And that album was one of the most anticipated albums ever -- especially on the heels of the 'Born To Run' album, which brought to attention his great work on the previous album, 'The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle.'
I don't know what the "cool kids" were listening to up in your neck of the North Joisey woods back then (76-80), but down here at the shore Bruce, Foreigner, Boston, and Fleetwood Mac dominated. Of course Zepplin, Pink Floyd, the Cars and Tom Petty always had their place...
But let's be honest -- if you were looking to meet the ladies and didn't mind a 2-1 ratio or better in the house -- a DISCO was THE place.
So what were you listening to back in '76-'80?