Bruce

By: Peter A. Carlin

Narrated by: Bobby Cannavale

Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

This sweeping biography of Bruce Springsteen features in-depth interviews with family, band members, childhood friends, ex-girlfriends, and a poignant retrospective from the Boss himself. It’s Bruce as his many fans haven’t before seen him - the man behind the myth, describing his life and work in intimate, vivid detail.

For close to four decades, Bruce Springsteen has reflected the heart and soul of America in a career that encompasses twenty Grammy Awards, more than 120 million albums sold, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. Yet despite the honesty of his songwriting, Springsteen has remained adamantly elusive and reserved.

In a groundbreaking biography that draws on unprecedented access to Springsteen and those closest to him, acclaimed music critic Peter Ames Carlin presents the most revealing account yet of New Jersey’s favorite son. With contributions from band members past and present, including the last interview given by legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons, Bruce encompasses the breadth of Springsteen’s astonishing career and explores the inner workings of an American icon right up through his most recent sold-out tour and number-one album, Wrecking Ball.

A must for fans, Bruce is a meticulously researched biography of one of the most complex and fascinating artists in American music.

©2012 Peter A. Carlin (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

For the most part, this is what I was hoping for

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.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Fantastic. But casual fans beware.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

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.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Bruuuuuuuuuuce!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes because Bruce is interesting!

Any additional comments?

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.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Good Listen

Would you consider the audio edition of Bruce to be better than the print version?

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

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great book for Bruce disciples

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bruce?

At the end of the book when Bruce is interviewed about the death of Danny Federici and Clarence Clemons. He says that, unlike other bands, the E Street Band didn't lose members due to death because they all looked out for one another. I love that, and it is one of the reasons I love Bruce and the E Street Band so much. It's about the music for them, not the "rock'n'roll lifestyle" or drugs/alcohol.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were a lot of parts that made me laugh out loud, especially in the beginning when Bruce is talking about his childhood. I started to tear up when he was discussing Clarence Clemons's death.

Any additional comments?

I absolutely loved this book, but I am a huge fan of Springsteen. There are a lot details about his family history, his childhood, and his bands before he went solo and started the E Street Band, probably too many details for non-Bruce disciples.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

loved him this book made me love him a little less

started off pretty interesting, but I gotta say I almost wish I hadn't read it. It got dull in the middle and it to be honest painted Bruce in not the best light. He came off a bit arrogant and self obsessed. I honestly don't look and feel about him like I once did and in all honesty I feel I know nothing really about him and his mind and how his life was for him.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Just Say No

Any additional comments?

Peter Ames Carlin's biography of Bruce Springsteen fails in its most basic obligation to the reader; explaining and analyzing how Springsteen become one of the most successful singer/songwriters in American History. The author reveals the Boss was not an especially talented student, did not grow up in a musical environment, and had limited opportunities for cultural enhancement, yet developed into a historic musical icon. Carlin skips over the development of the young Springsteen so quickly that it seems that he acquired his musical gifts through magic. Bruce's mother buys him a guitar and three pages later he his compared to Eric Clapton. The development of his song writer talents are equally ambiguous, where Bruce seems to reject reading books and relies solely on watching movies.

The remainder of "Bruce" deals with very superficial and boring factual accounts of business contracts, touring locations, and terse interactions with band mates. The actual Springsteen comments quoted in the book are often only a few words, where he seems highly guarded. I honestly did not feel that I learned anything revealing about Springsteen. His genius and motivations remain as mysterious to me now as they were when I started "Bruce."

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Wonderful insight

The way this book came together, as too by the author at the end, was phenomenal! Very well done, the timing was perfect with all the major changes to Bruce and the E Street band, some good, others devastating. I would highly recommend the audiobook as an addition to the hardcover, it brings it all to life, the only thing missing is the music, although some lyrics are included.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Rockin bio

Any additional comments?

Great bio of the Boss, tracing his roots from NJ to superstardom. Lots of insights into the man and his music. The author relies on both the record and contributions by E Street Band members. He's clearly a fan but also presents Springsteen's warts and all. A nice read without descending into tabloid trashiness.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Informative Biography and Engaging Narration

What made the experience of listening to Bruce the most enjoyable?

Springsteen's story is inherently interesting, and this biography is intelligent and informative. I also enjoyed Bobby Cannavale's narration, complete with different voices for various figures in Springsteen's life, including Bruce himself. It seemed strange that there was almost nothing about Springsteen's relationship with his wife Patti Scialfa -- she gets less attention than several early girlfriends -- but overall the book covers Springsteen's life and career well.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful