Word: albums
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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PRIOR TO Tunnel of Love, the best album about grappling with getting married was Lou Reed's Legendary Hearts, made in 1980. The parallels between the two LPs are most striking in the title songs. Reed sings of "Promises to keep/I never should have made/I was not meant for this/I'm good for just a kiss/Not legendary love." Similarly, Springsteen says, "Then the lights go out and it's just the three of us/You me and all that stuff we're so scared of." But at the end of his song, Reed concludes that "You've got to fight/To make...
...unlike Tunnel of Love, Reed's album was no masterpiece, except insofar as it represented a turning point for him artistically, from heroin addict to happy husband. (Go figure). But to its credit, Legendary Hearts was way ahead of its time, before the New Romance of late. Perhaps that's why it didn't sell well while Springsteen's album is destined for multi-platinum. One of the primary differences between Reed and Springsteen--besides everything--is the former's ability to be unfashionably early while Bruce is always perfectly punctual. Reed may have his finger on the trigger...
...MESSAGE of the album is put forward on the second song, "Tougher Than The Rest," my personal favorite, better even than the brilliant single "Brilliant Disguise." What the Boss wants to say is that love is something you've got to be ready for and ready to fight for: "If you're rough enough for love/Baby I'm tougher than the rest," he sings, while millions of teenage girls swoon...
...album tells the stories of many people who are tough enough--of unwed mothers ("Spare Parts"), abandoned lovers ("When You're Alone"), and of people who stick around long enough to make love last ("Valentine's Day"). A lot of the songs are too pop, too danceable and too accessible. But they're also irresistible and lyrically intelligent. There are also some screechy rockers ("Spare Parts") and plenty of dirge-like ballads ("Cautious Man") to keep the depressives satisfied...
Springsteen plays most of the instruments on Tunnel of Love, with occasional help from the E Street Band. The album amounts to Springsteen's first truly personal statement. As the man himself puts it, "The road is dark/And it's a thin thin line/But I want you to know I'll walk it for you any time." This is an album full of drippy romantic notions renewed that finally concludes that love is tough and tender, a sacrifice worth celebrating...