Tag: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen – Born In The U.S.A. (US 12″) (1984)

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NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: July 3, 2012

“I’m ten years burning down the road / Nowhere to run, ain’t got nowhere to go…”

Released at the height of Reagan-era patriotism, “Born In The U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen became one of the most misunderstood songs in American pop history. Often mistaken for a fist-pumping anthem of national pride due to its thunderous chorus and stadium-sized production, the song is actually a fierce critique of how America treats its working-class veterans.

Originally released as the title track to Springsteen’s 1984 album, “Born In The U.S.A.” was issued as a 12″ single in 1985, backed with “Shut Out the Light.” The single version boasted an extended intro and booming mix that pushed Max Weinberg’s snare hits front and center, paired with Roy Bittan’s iconic synth riff that practically defined ‘80s heartland rock.

Produced by Chuck Plotkin, Jon Landau, and Springsteen himself, this version of the song was a club-ready update to the album cut—without losing an ounce of its gritty, anthemic fire. It’s Springsteen at his most anthemic, yet still bleeding through with disillusionment, despair, and blue-collar rage.

While “Born In The U.S.A.” is one of Springsteen’s signature tracks, its chart performance is often overshadowed by the massive success of other singles from the same album. “Born In The U.S.A.” reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1985. It was the third of seven top 10 singles from the album “Born In The U.S.A.”, which also tied Michael Jackson’s record for the most top 10 singles from one album.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its lyrical complexity and booming sound, “Born In The U.S.A.” was quickly adopted as a campaign theme by politicians (notably Ronald Reagan, mistakenly), sports teams, and patriotic rallies. But listen closely, and the pain of forgotten veterans and working-class struggle comes roaring through. It’s a song with dual identities: triumphant and tragic.

This 12″ remix captures that paradox perfectly—its towering production commands attention, but under the layers of synth and reverb, Springsteen’s voice still carries the weight of a soldier’s haunted memories.

SIDE A:
Born In The U.S.A. (The Freedom Mix) 7:20

SIDE B:
Born In The U.S.A. (Dub) 7:40
Born In The U.S.A. (Radio) 6:11

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984-85 Born In The U.S.A. U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #9
1984-85 Born In The U.S.A. U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #8

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44-05147
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo
Country: US
Released: Jan 10, 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
From the LP “BORN IN THE U.S.A.”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.


Bruce Springsteen – Cover Me (US 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

Original post date: December 6, 2012

“The times are tough now, just getting tougher…”

In 1984, Bruce Springsteen was riding a tidal wave of success thanks to his Born in the U.S.A. album, which launched a string of chart-topping singles that fused heartland rock with a radio-friendly polish. One of the album’s standout tracks was “Cover Me,” a brooding, desperate plea for emotional shelter amidst an increasingly hostile world. While not originally intended for Springsteen himself—he had written it for disco queen Donna Summer—the track took on a rawer edge in his hands, becoming the second single released from the LP.

What’s most fascinating for dance and remix fans is that “Cover Me” was also given the extended mix treatment, transforming its moody rock energy into something surprisingly club-ready. The “Undercover Mix” (also referred to as the Dance Remix) clocked in at over 6 minutes and was released on 12″ vinyl, complete with dub and radio edit versions. Remixed by Arthur Baker, who had already made waves with Afrika Bambaataa and later worked with New Order and Hall & Oates, this version of “Cover Me” added electronic percussion, echo effects, and a pulsing bassline that pushed Springsteen into dance-rock territory—a rarity at the time.

This remix is a perfect example of that brief mid-’80s window when rock artists weren’t afraid to court the dancefloor. Baker’s production doesn’t overwhelm the original’s grit—it complements it, turning “Cover Me” into a darker, almost post-apocalyptic groove. Springsteen’s passionate vocals remain front and center, but now they echo into cavernous spaces, as if calling out from the depths of Reagan-era America.

The 12″ single also includes the Dub Version, which strips the song to its rhythmic core, teasing out fragments of guitar and vocal over a deep groove. For collectors and remix lovers, these versions show just how versatile Springsteen’s music could be when placed in the right hands.

“Cover Me” peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of The Boss’s most enduring hits. But for those of us digging in the crates, the dance remix takes the song to unexpected, exhilarating places.

Though Springsteen wasn’t typically associated with the club scene, the success of “Dancing in the Dark” and “Cover Me” on the dance charts showed his crossover appeal. The Undercover Mix of “Cover Me” actually reached #11 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart, giving Bruce a surprising but welcome presence in nightclubs.

SIDE A:
Cover Me (Undercover Mix) 6:12
Cover Me (Dub I) 4:12

SIDE B:
Cover Me (Radio) 3:49
Cover Me (Dub II) 4:13

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 Cover Me U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #7
1984 Cover Me U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks #2
1984 Cover Me U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music /  Club Play #11

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44-05087, Columbia – 44 05087
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo, Pitman Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Rock & Roll, Pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Special Versions From The Columbia Lp: “Born In The U.S.A.” QC 38653.

Based on original production by: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Steve Van Zandt.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.