Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska (1982)

"Nebraska" is the sixth studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released in 1982. Springsteen recorded demos for the album at his home with 4-track cassette recorder. The demos were sparse, using only acoustic guitar, electric guitar (on "Open All Night"), harmonica, mandolin, glockenspiel, tambourine, organ and Springsteen's voice.
The tracks on Nebraska were originally intended as demos of songs to be recorded with the E Street Band. However, Springsteen ultimately decided to release the demos themselves. "Nebraska" remains one of the most highly-regarded albums in his catalogue. The songs on "Nebraska" deal with ordinary, blue collar characters who face a challenge or a turning point in their lives. There is very little of the grace or salvation which can be seen in other albums. The album begins with "Badlands", a first-person narrative based on the true story of 19-year-old spree killer Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, and ends with "Reason to Believe", a complex narrative that renders its title phrase into contemptuous sarcasm. The remaining songs are largely of the same bleak tone, including the dark "State Trooper," influenced by Suicide's "Frankie Teardrop". Criminal behavior continues as a theme in the song "Highway Patrolman": even though the protagonist works for the law, he lets his brother escape after he has shot someone (this became the basis for the Sean Penn-directed film The Indian Runner). "Open All Night", a Chuck Berry-style lone guitar rave-up, does manage a dose of defiant, humming-towards-the-gallows exuberance.
Springsteen stated that the stories in this album were partly inspired by historian Howard Zinn's book A People's History of the United States.
"Atlantic City" was released as a single in the UK, but not the U.S.

Track List:
01. Nebraska - 4:32
02. Atlantic City - 4:00
03. Mansion on the Hill - 4:08
04. Johnny 99 - 3:44
05. Highway Patrolman - 5:40
06. State Trooper - 3:17
07. Used Cars - 3:11
08. Open All Night - 2:58
09. My Father's House - 5:07
10. Reason to Believe - 4:11

Released: September 30, 1982
Recorded: Mostly January 3, 1982 at Springsteen's Colts Neck, New Jersey bedroom
Genre: Folk, Rock
Length: 40:50
Label: Columbia Records
Producer: Bruce Springsteen
All songs written by: Bruce Springsteen

Personnel:
Bruce Springsteen – vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin, glockenspiel, tambourine, organ