Born In The USA (1984) was the album with which Bruce Springsteen showed his muscles (literally), and finally rid himself of his cult status. With song titles and choruses that apparently showed all the good things in America, but actually showed everything that went wrong. Born In The USA was a cultural phenomenon that touched everyone in society: politicians (both Republicans and Democrats);
Vietnam veterans (the title track was a crude account of a veteran's return) and social critics, who found deeper layers of meaning in these stories of a disillusioned America. But also DJs, who found danceable rhythms in the dark passions of Dancing In The Dark and Cover Me, and pop fans, who made seven songs into hits and let Born In The USA compete for a place at the top of the album charts for a year. It was as if no other album mattered that year.more