Studio Album · No. 1
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Songwriting Credits by Bruce Springsteen
Produced by Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos · Engineered by Louis Lahav
Holds writing credit on 9 of 9 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bruce Springsteen carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Springsteen's 1973 debut was written entirely by him, and its dense, word-packed lyrics reflect a young songwriter cramming as much imagery as possible into every line. Columbia and producer Mike Appel pushed the verbose, folk-leaning approach to position him as a new Bob Dylan. The two singles, "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night," both failed to chart on release, though "Blinded by the Light" later became a number one hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1977. The album sold modestly at first but went on to be certified multi-platinum as Springsteen's reputation grew.
Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. is Bruce Springsteen's debut studio album, released on January 5, 1973 through Columbia Records. Produced by Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos, it features nine tracks showcasing Springsteen's wordy, Dylan-influenced songwriting style. The album was initially rejected by Columbia president Clive Davis and expanded with two additional songs ('Blinded by the Light' and 'Spirit in the Night') before final release. Both were later covered by other artists, with Manfred Mann's Earth Band's recording of 'Blinded by the Light' reaching number one in the US in 1977.
Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Blinded by the Light
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Growin' Up
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 3 |
Mary Queen of Arkansas
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 4 |
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Lost in the Flood
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
The Angel
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
For You
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 8 |
Spirit in the Night
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
|
Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen | Mike AppelJim Cretecos | Bruce Springsteen (Lead Vocals) |