04/15/2025
🎸 Legendary Bruce Springsteen on Brighton Ave – 1973 🎸
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Bruce Springsteen, Brighton Avenue, Long Branch NJ - 1973
In 1973, Bruce Springsteen was living in a small apartment at 7½ West End Court in Long Branch. It was a modest spot, but it became the incubator for what would become his breakthrough music. He began writing songs for "Born to Run" here, though the album wouldn't be released until 1975.
In '73 though, Springsteen released two albums: "Greetings from Asbury Park" (January 1973) and "The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle" (September 1973).
It was also in 1973 that Columbia Records, and particularly legendary producer John Hammond, were pushing Springsteen hard as the “next Bob Dylan.” He was gaining attention for his lyrical complexity and explosive live performances.
There's also a legend that the "screen door slams" opening line from Springsteen's iconic song "Thunder Road" may have come from this time in Long Branch, the screen door on his place on West End and/or the echoing sounds from the other shore houses and other screen doors slamming in the neighborhood there.
Nevertheless, this picture of Springsteen in the summer of 73 is sweetly youthful and joyous, a great image of the poet artist singer songwriter soaking in the sun and the feeling of being born to run and ready to make his mark in the world.
Picture of 57 Brighton Avenue in Long Branch today below.
Photo credit: David Gahr
