BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Vinyl & CDs

Review: American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen is about as big a music star as there could possible be. It all began in January 1973 when the legendary rocker dropped his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ which is now back in print in several different formats as a "hybrid" remastered version that brings together both regular and "super audio" versions. It's a still superb album that laid out The Boss's sonic vision and was noted by Rolling Stone critic Lester Bangs for being dexterous and on point socially. Bluesy rockers, semi-acoustic treats, funky workouts and plenty more all feature on this limited edition 180 gram audiophile vinyl.

Review: Bruce Springsteen's celebrated debut album returns to stores, this time in a "hybrid" remastered form, which features both regular and "super audio" versions. Released way back in January 1973, the set announced the arrival of "the Boss" as a future great, received warm reviews (at the time, Rolling Stone critic Lester Bangs highlighted the dexterity and social commentary of Springsteen's lyrics), and is now considered one of the greatest debut albums of all time. It has certainly held up well, with Springsteen and has band delivering a mixture of bluesy rockers, semi-acoustic treats, surprisingly funky workouts, and songs that still sound as fresh and potent as they did half a century ago.

Review: The Boss wouldn't know how to quit even if he fancied trying - maybe it's the leftover work ethic of the humble upbringing that has been a consistent theme throughout his work since we first heard Greetings From Wild Asbury Park, N.J.. 20 studio albums or so later, and we have a fittingly titled new addition to the LP discography, Only the Strong Survive, a rare example of Bruce Springsteen performing and recording work by other artists.

Apparently spurred on in part by memories of his experience working on We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, his 2006 ode to Pete Seeger, and the mixed bag of largely negative and unnerving emotions we all went through in lockdown, the Great American songwriter set about not writing but singing and playing a load of covers in a series of studio takes. The result is a gem - tracks by Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Frankie Valli, The Commodores, Four Tops and Ben E. King prove, if there was ever any doubt, that Springsteen can turn to anything and make it his own.

Review: He might be a wise old rock and roll figurehead now just as well known for being a famous friend of former Present Barrack Obama (if you haven't already, check out the pair's podcast, it is well worth hearing) but the age-defying voice behind enduring anthem 'Born in the USA' still knows how to have a little fun. And it comes in the form of this special bit of white festive wax (a picture disc version is also available on Juno) featuring his take on two Christmas classics. 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' and 'Because The Night' both get gravelly, epic makeovers that will warm your heart on a cold winter's eve.

Review: A new Bruce Springsteen album is always exciting. The Boss' hardworking and hard-done-by fables, touching on the politics and socio-economics tearing America apart, still resonate. If anything, they have become more relevant in an age when class struggles have created deep cultural divides, meaning any reminder of the real enemy is a welcome release.

Save for 2014's collection of covers and alternative versions, High Hopes, Letter To You is Springsteen's first full length since 2012, and will delight die harders - this is what they've been waiting for. Opening with 'One Minute You're Here', gruff rock 'n' roll set among the railroad tracks of Nowheresville, post-industrial decline, sets the tone. This is the artist on full power, an orator of broken dreams and heartfelt promises, a guy who will always be there for us because it feels like he's one of us. The king is back, long live the king.