No, we didn’t spend an hour and a half talking about The Return Of Bruno.
This episode of Blerd Radio finds Big Money, Dr. Z, Michael Parr and Mike Duquette discussing The Boss: singer/songwriter/showman Bruce Springsteen.
Frequent co-conspirator Michael Cunningham is MIA this episode because he hates Springsteen. And is a commie bastard.
It’s the 30th Anniversary of the classic Born in the USA album, which sold multi-millions, was the #1 album of 1985 (despite being released in 1984) and spawned a record-tying 7 Top Ten singles. The album is a cultural touchstone for many that came up in the era, and we discuss its importance in the pop music landscape as well as whether its highly regarded by Bruce’s cult of diehard fans.
As with many albums recorded in the mid-late ’80s, there was a bit of a compromise with certain songs being remixed or geared to fit in with a more dance-centric/MTV audience. Case in point: this slightly really odd dance version of “Cover Me.”

In addition to Born In The USA, we talk about the role of the E Street Band over the course of Springsteen’s lengthy career, showing appreciation to the individual members but also wondering if Springsteen hasn’t kinda given them the shaft when it comes to co-billing them over the years. Perhaps his ill treatment is the cause of Little Steven’s perennial resting bitchface?
Oh, there’s also a fairly lengthy back and forth about this Clarence Clemons gem.
(of course, a Blerd Radio podcast wouldn’t be a Blerd Radio podcast with at least one major sidebar–which we utilize to take a shit on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.) We also kinda shit on the Grammys, which decided against voting Born In The USA (or the even more worthy Purple Rain) as 1984’s Album Of The Year in favor of Lionel Richie’s good but not that good Can’t Slow Down.
We also shout out our favorite Bruce albums, give props to the fact that a 65 year old man can probably kick all of our (significantly younger) asses, and at least one of us discovers the true meaning of “Pink Cadillac” for the first time. Natalie Cole, did you know you were singing about a vajayjay?

Feel free to listen in the player below, or stream/download the podcast from LibSyn, and of course, you can find us on the ol’ iTunes.