Bruce Springsteen’s biggest selling album, Born in the USA turned 39 years old on June 4, 2023. Over 30 million copies of the album were sold around the world and it produced a stunning seven top-ten singles. From May 1984 through November 1985, Columbia Records released “Dancing in the Dark,” “Cover Me,” “Born in the USA,” “I’m on Fire,” “Glory Days,” “I’m Goin’ Down,” and “My Hometown” as singles and were rewarded at the register.
Looking back, the label could have also offered the public the anthems “No Surrender” and “Bobby Jean” as singles, with similar success. Regardless, the songs from that album are the most-performed of any of his 21 studio albums.
Back in the day B-sides sometimes contained deep cuts from the album, but in other cases, they were unreleased tracks yearning to be heard. Prolific songwriters like Springsteen often used the B-sides to showcase gems that might not have matched the tone of the album.
In the early 1980s, Springsteen was a fountain of creativity, from the stark Nebraska suite which came out in 1982 and subsequently the 70+ tunes he had finished for Born in the USA. His producer Jon Landau wanted guaranteed hits for the latter and convinced the Boss to release a lean, 12-song album.
That left gems in their back pocket, ripe for B-sides.
The first was “Pink Cadillac,” the cheeky flipside of the 1984 “Dancing in the Dark” single where Springsteen wagers that Adam wasn’t tempted by an apple, but instead by Eve’s pink… Cadillac.
In early 1983, Prince released the equally suggestive “Little Red Corvette” with a similar sexual innuendos in regard to an American car.
The B-side was recorded by Natalie Cole in ’88, released as a single off her album and became her first Top 10 hit since ’78, reaching #5 on the charts.
Springsteen has performed the tune 122 times, mostly in the ’80s, but likes to bring it out for special events. During the ’84-’85 tour it was played 97 times – which was more times than the classic “Rosalita.”
read more at: Setlist.fm
