Bruce

I've read several other so-called biographies of Bruce Springsteen and was amazed at how little factual information they contained of a living, accessible person. Mr. Carlin pretty well resolved that problem for me in this big biography, Bruce. The story starts with the tragic death at a very young age of Bruce Springsteen's aunt, Virginia. It explores the histories of both sides of his family as they came from Europe. It lightly touches on the unusual circumstances around his maternal grandfather's imprisonment, and his father's manic depression. The events that impacted the artist on his way up are well researched and chronicled. The one exception that I hoped Carlin would realize was important was the acquisition of the Telecaster. Mike Appel famously stated that Bruce still played the same $189 guitar he's always had. Well, Bruce's Telecaster is NOT $189 instrument under any normal circumstances. Perhaps Mr. Carlin does not play guitar but that is a story those of us who do are interested to hear.

In the introduction Carlin tells us that during his interviews with Springsteen Bruce advised him if he found warts and wrinkles to print them. Carlin followed this advice up to a point. He certainly addresses Springsteen's mercurial temper, his obnoxious behavior toward his band mates, and his jealousy and disregard often in public of his lovers. Where he holds back, however, is in the transition between Springsteen's two marriages. We get plenty of information about who Julianne Phillips is, that is he tells us all the good stuff. Abruptly they divorce and almost instantly Bruce is a couple with Patti Scialfa. I'm not really looking for gossip. I'm looking to understand a series of songs on Bruce Springsteen's two 1992 albums. Human Touch and Lucky Town.

Carlin explains how these two unusual records were recorded and how slow and how fast the various songs were written. What he leaves out to the distraction of we who follow these things obsessively, is what inspired the specific songs. He offers these insights on other records, so I had hope. On previous albums Springsteen tells stories about plain people, for the most part fictional. On Human Touch and Lucky Town he reveals himself in a much more cathartic way than he ever did before. Songs like Human Touch, Cross My Heart, All or Nothing at All, Man's Job, and I Wish I Were Blind, are not only stunningly beautiful chronicles of heartbreak but for me personally they mirrored real events in my own life and I wondered how "The Boss" could find his psyche in the same place as an underpaid graphic designer. For me buying those two records on the same day was like a Badder-Meinhoff phenomenon. I hoped this long book would give me an inkling. Unfortunately Carlin gives these two brilliant records shorter shift than most. He does point out that they both eventually went platinum.

The other thing nearly ignored is Springsteen's relationship with his wife, Patti Scialfa, herself a brilliant rock singer and a cathartic song smith. This is not out of any fear of impropriety as Mr. Carlin gives us plenty of info about their sexual activity. I suppose he wants to allow the family a buffer but that's hardly the job of a biographer. Both song writers use their relationships powerfully in their work and it would be interesting to explore the intersection between their records. Scialfa's heartfelt contrition (for want of a better word) in songs like Come Tomorrow, As Long As I Can Be With You, and Lucky Girl, the passion and regret of Romeo and Stumble Into Bethlehem, and her anger on Play Around and Black Ladder. Suffice it to say if any two artists should ever do a "Double Fantasy" style album, their's should be a two CD set.

All in all, this is a terrific biography much more detailed than both of Dave Marsh's two books put together and far superior to the other fan-ravings long on opinions but short on facts. When you're finished it you will know the details of Springsteen's history. You will not know the specific details about how he taught himself to play guitar or any mention of early guitar instructors if there were any. That said, you do learn how he became the electrifying performer he is and that is certainly valuable information.

Bobby Cannavale does an excellent job reading and characterizing this book. It would be easy to go too far and he avoids this pitfall elegantly.

The afterwards is told by Carlin himself and in so doing the listener gets some insight into the books shortcomings.

In all, this is a valuable addition to the Bruce chronicles. I'm sure it will not be the last entry however.

Yes because Bruce is interesting!

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't alive for Bruce's initial success but my parents raised me listening to a lot of his music, so I knew enough to thoroughly enjoy this book. Because I don't know the band very well, I often got lost as he was referring to the various characters. The author also uses very complicated, descriptive words to describe both people and songs. I honestly didn't know what many of the adjectives meant, but could easily make sense of it in context. Bruce really is a very down-to-earth, good person. A true musical genius who knows exactly what he wants his music to do/say to the world. Loved it and will probably listen to it again after I look into the music videos and epic performances the author refers to.

I have been a Bruce Fan for a long long time. I found the book enetrtaining and informative. Enjoyed the read.

This may be the best non-fiction audiobook of all time. Fantastic narrator, interspirsed with snippets from Bruce, Clarence and others, tells a great story of Springsteen's rise from HS gyms to massive outdoor arenas. The author Peter Carlin clearly had significant contact with all the characters, and does his best to make you want to listen to every track on Nebraska, let alone all the tracks on all albums. One thing you need to do before you listen to this: save enough money to buy all Bruce albums you don't have because they will all beckon your ear when you listen to the book. Bravo!

Yes, the narrator put so much more emphasis and his character vocals helped give the story more life~

No, but I am aiming too soon!

It was a very emotional journey more spiritually and mentally. To hear what Bruce and the band went through for more than 30 years. WOW!

I completely ‘inhaled’ this listen in just a few days. Of course, I am a huge Bruce nut and therefore am probably a bit biased when it comes to how interesting I find this subject matter. For the average listener or those with no previous Springsteen knowledge, I’m afraid the material will come off less cohesively and less interesting. This book was written for the fan who knows Springsteen's entire catalog by heart.

The book recounts a pretty comprehensive history of Springsteen, from his childhood years through to 2012 and the release of Springsteen’s “Wrecking Ball” album. Certain Springsteen eras are given more treatment than others, particularly the pre-Columbia decade and the Born in the USA years. Other periods are written about more briefly but still include many fascinating factoids and insights into Springsteen’s songwriting process, personal life, and professional accomplishments. It was fascinating for me to hear about the personal frame of mind and professional context that Springsteen was in when he wrote many of his songs—the hits as well as the rarities. The author’s unprecedented access to Springsteen, the E Street Band, and Bruce’s hometown friends, acquaintances, and relatives goes a long way in peeling back the layers of Springsteen to create a biography of a real person with real emotional problems, dreams, and goals--not just the rock superstar known worldwide as a songwriting genius.

Cannavale does a great job narrating. As the author himself testifies at the end of the listen, Cannavale—a New Jersey native and friend of Springsteen—researched thoroughly every character to come up with an appropriate narrating voice. He especially shines on members of the E Street Band, Steve van Zandt, Clarence Clemons, and the Boss himself.

Obviously, fellow Bruce nuts like myself will find this listen fantastic. At this length however, casual fans might be turned off by the commitment required and might consider searching out less daunting works, such as Dave Marsh’s pair of past Springsteen bios.

This was remarkable in several ways. It is truly expansive in the extraordinary scope of the topic given the length of Springsteen's career and how prolific he is. It provides a very intimate portrait of what being around one of the most instrumental figures in modern music is. The time frame is also interested running from his birth to practically yesterday and I enjoyed listening to the progression of his sound from before I was born to events I witnessed personally or saw on TV. Additionally, although it is clear the author is a fan and likes his subject it avoid excess of adulation and hyperbole seen in some bios and likewise avoids the antagonism toward the subject some biographers get after spending years with their target and learning their flaws. Bruce is shown flaws and all and it appears quite honest. Carlin's access was quite extensive and I love the personally narrated afterword as he explains how he slowly got Bruce to agree to interview and contribute to the book.

There is some material missing. Details about his current marriage to Patti Scialfa is quite limited, affording more of a sketch or an afterthought than the more fleshed out understanding that a marriage of 18 years to such an intense and introspective man deserves. That being said, keeping such details at a respectful minimum may be exactly what it takes to achieve Springsteen's level of fame while maintaining a healthy 18 year marriage.

The narration, for me, was a true highlight. I'll admit, at first I found Bobb Cannivale's NY/NJ Italian accent a bit off-putting and distracting, I got over that in about 5 minutes and he more than redeemed himself the first time he including a Bruce phrase in the dialogue. The voices when he used quotations added a depth to the book and really made you feel part of the band. The Bruce voice is pitch perfect and really adds a humorous element in several portions to the story. While I have no idea what some of the other character's speaking voices, such as Jon Landau, etc really sound like, I bet they probably came out pretty close. No matter what, this is one instance where the audible book would far outstrip the print edition.

To Sum Up: this is likely to be my favorite read this year (and I gobble through 30+ credits a year). I am a Springsteen fan, but beyond that bias, the careful, meticulous analysis of an extraordinarily long and prolific career laying down well beyond 400 polished and completed songs could not have been told in a more riveting narrative.

Peter Carlin gives us a rare and nuanced glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most prolific musical icons of our age. Bruce Springsteen is much more than his music. Sometimes he's a flaming asshole, imperious, willful and demanding. At other times, he demonstrates a tenderness, deep understanding and forgiveness of his fellow humans' flaws. Bobby Cannavale captures Bruce and members of the E Street Band with the inflection that only a native of New Jersey can. Though a bit rambling at times, all in all Bruce is a story well worth a listen.

At least 1/3 of this book should have been wiped out by a good editor. It would have been so much better. As it was, it required liberal use of fast forward.