A musical icon whose profound impact on rock music spans over five decades, Bruce Springsteen is known for his heartfelt storytelling and commanding stage presence.
Over the years, he has become one of the most respected musicians in the world, and released numerous chart-topping albums and earned multiple Grammys and an Academy Award.
Springsteen’s influence is not confined to his own music alone. He has also been deeply inspired by a wide range of artists, from the rock ‘n’ roll pioneers of the 1950s to the soul legends of the 1960s and 1970s.
In 2016, fans had the chance to learn a bit more about some of these influences, when the star appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs – a show where guests are asked to pick eight songs they love so much they would bring them when stranded on a desert island.
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ is one of the most iconic rock-and-roll songs in history. Released in 1956, it became a cultural phenomenon and reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts, cementing Presley as the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Springsteen recalled his first time listening to the song: “When I was relatively young, probably 7 or 8 years, 7 years old or something, when I heard it, it just shot straight through to my brain. And I realised suddenly that there was more to life than what I’d been living. I immediately went out, rented a guitar, tried to play the thing, couldn’t quite get to playing it. But I was then in pursuit of something, and there had been a vision laid out before me. It was just an incredibly meaningful record”.
He added: “Elvis was considered a novelty act. He wasn’t deemed to have a lot of cultural significance initially at all. […] And it’s funny because I was so very young, but it still hit me like a thunderbolt. And still sounds great to this day”.
I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
The Beatles revolutionized modern music, and ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ is one of their quintessential tracks that showcases the band’s pop brilliance. Released in 1963, it was the song that first introduced the Beatles to American audiences, sparking the beginning of “Beatlemania”.
For Springsteen, this was “another song that just changed the course of my life. The harmonies were very unusual. It was a very raucous-sounding record when it came out of the radio in 1964. And once again, I went for another shot at the guitar, and this time I kept playing it”.
“And it was really the song that inspired me to play rock & roll music, to get in a small band and to start doing some small gigs around town. But it was a life-changing, it’s still a beautiful record, once again, the way it sounds, and it was just a life-changing piece of music”.
It’s All Over Now – The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones’ ‘It’s All Over Now’ is one of their early R&B-infused rock tracks. Released in 1964, the song became the band’s first number one hit in the UK, and it’s widely regarded as one of their defining moments during the early years.
The song has a special place in Springsteen’s heart: “When I got thrown out of my first band, I learned the guitar solo. I went home that night, and I was pissed off, and I went in my room, and I said, all right, I’m going to be a lead guitar player”.
“And for some reason, that solo felt like something I might be able to manage. And so I put the record on, and I sat there all night until I was able to scrape up some relatively decent version of Keith’s solo on ‘It’s All Over Now’. That and also, once again, it’s a great-sounding record, the echo and the way the two guitars blend and mix. And there’s a little country influence in it also, which I always liked coming out of the Stones”.
Madame George – Van Morrison
‘Madame George’ from Van Morrison’s 1968 album Astral Weeks is a haunting and emotionally complex song that mixes elements of jazz, folk, and soul.
“Astral Weeks, an extremely important record for me and a lot of other people. It made me trust in beauty. It gave me a sense of the divine”, he explained. “The divine seems to just run through the veins of that entire album. So there was a spiritual side of it that was very, very deep. Of course, it was incredible singing, playing of Richard Davis on the bass, had the jazz influences, and it was trance music”.
What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ is not just a song – it’s a movement. Released in 1971, the song addressed the social and political turmoil of the time, including the Vietnam War, civil rights issues, and urban poverty. The album of the same name is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever recorded.
First of all, this entire record is from start to finish is a masterpiece”, Springsteen said. “It was sultry and sexual while at the same time having a very political point of view, dealing with street-level politics. That had a big influence on me. Along with the idea that it was somewhat of a concept record without being cursed by that name.”
“It was a record that had a thread you could follow from the first song to the last. And it created a world that you could walk into and then come back out of, but bring along with you things you’d learned and energy and a source that you’d found for living. What’s Going On was a record that really struck home for me for all those particular points.”
Out of Sight – James Brown
James Brown’s ‘Out of Sight’ is an energetic and electrifying funk track that helped define the genre. Released in 1964, it showcases Brown’s unique ability to blend gospel, R&B, and jazz into something entirely fresh and exciting.
Springsteen described it as “Out of sight, pure excitement, pure electricity, pure get out of your seat, move your ass, pure sweat-filled, gospel-filled, raw rock and roll rhythm and blues. That was James Brown. That’s fascinating”.
Baby I Need Your Loving – The Four Tops
The Four Tops’ ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’ is a classic Motown ballad that became a hit in 1964. Its heartfelt lyrics and smooth delivery made it one of the signature songs of the Motown era. The song’s production is lush, with a strong orchestral presence that complements the emotional intensity of the lead vocals.
Springsteen joked that he “had to have some Motown” in the list, “because Motown was an incredible part of my youth”.
“It was also, if you wanted to know how to write, how to structure successful pop records, you could learn it all from Motown. The sound of the band, the importance of a great singer. Motown was just the school where you wanted to go to learn your craft. And this was a song that every little bar band played this one back in the day”.
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Finally, Bob Dylan’s ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ takes the top spot on Springsteen’s list. Released in 1965, it was a groundbreaking track that transformed rock music. With its sharp, biting lyrics and electric sound, it represented a shift in Dylan’s career from folk music to rock. The song’s scathing critique of a once-privileged individual now “like a rolling stone” on the streets was revolutionary, both musically and lyrically.
Springsteen crowns it as the “top of the list”, saying: “Like a Rolling Stone is a torrent that comes rushing, rushing towards you, floods your soul, floods your mind, alerts and wakes you up instantaneously to other worlds, other lives, other ways of being. You know, it’s perhaps one of the most powerful records ever made and still means a great, great deal to me, along with all of Dylan’s work”.
He also recalls the first time he listened to it: “It was when it came out of the radio. I didn’t know anything about Bob Dylan’s acoustic music. I was a creature of top 40. So the first time I really heard him was on the radio with this song and it just instantly started to change my life.”