Bruce Springsteen recently opened up about his feelings regarding his iconic 1984 album Born in the U.S.A., expressing his dissatisfaction with how the album turned out. He acknowledged that it did not align with the vision he had originally planned for the project. This revelation came during a recent interview with Rolling Stone, where he discussed the highly successful album that has sold over 30 million copies, in connection with the upcoming release of his new box set, Tracks II: The Lost Albums, set to launch this Friday.

In the liner notes for the box set, Springsteen candidly shared his sentiments, stating he “wasn’t happy” with Born in the U.S.A., feeling that it lacked the deep connection he had experienced with his earlier works. This reflection sheds light on his artistic journey and the evolution of his music over the years.

Bruce Springsteen Reflects on How ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ Didn’t Align with His Creative Vision

When discussing his artistic process, Springsteen remarked, “It was a record I put out. It became the record I made, not necessarily the record that I was interested in making.” He elaborated that he had envisioned creating a full album with a similar emotional depth as his earlier work, Nebraska. He pointed out that songs like ‘My Hometown’ and ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ were meant to serve as thematic bookends, while the rest of the album consisted of whatever songs he had at the time. He added, “Those were the songs I wrote. Those were the songs I recorded,” indicating a sense of spontaneity in his creative process.

Springsteen further explained that the journey from conception to execution often leads to unexpected outcomes in the studio. He noted that while he had a clear idea in mind, the final product often diverges from the initial vision. This unpredictability is a hallmark of artistic creativity, and he emphasized that this experience defined his work on the album.

READ MORE: Explore Our Ranking of Bruce Springsteen’s Live Albums

During the interview, writer Andy Greene suggested that Born in the U.S.A. resonates as a “cohesive” collection of “dispatches from various people left behind by Reagan’s America.” Springsteen acknowledged this perspective, stating, “I guess it was to a lot of other people too.” He also mentioned that he may have been seeking something darker in tone. Nonetheless, he affirmed that the underlying themes of Nebraska are present in tracks like ‘Downbound Train,’ albeit subtly woven into the pop music landscape.

Discover the Creative Insights Offered by ‘Tracks II’ on Bruce Springsteen’s Career Evolution

The upcoming release, Tracks II, features the L.A. Garage Sessions, an entire album recorded between the stripped-down, lo-fi sound of Nebraska and the grand, stadium-ready production of Born in the U.S.A.. This collection provides listeners with a glimpse into Springsteen’s creative mindset during a crucial phase in his career, highlighting the evolution of his artistry.

Springsteen expressed his enjoyment of the recording process for Nebraska and his intent to carry that same spirit into this new project. He explained, “I enjoyed the recording and the experience of Nebraska, and thought I might continue in that vein with a small rhythm section, still very lo-fi, and a new group of songs.” However, he candidly admitted that at the time, he was uncertain about the direction of Born in the U.S.A., having only completed half of the record. He described it as a project that emerged organically between those two iconic albums.

In addition to Tracks II, the prolific rocker has already completed Tracks III, another five-album collection filled with previously unreleased music, although he has yet to announce a release date. Furthermore, Springsteen is set to be featured in the upcoming film Deliver Me From Nowhere, a biopic exploring the creation of Nebraska. The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen and is scheduled for release on October 24.