Editing Born to Run (section)

== Critical reception ==
''Born to Run'' received highly positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Masur |first=Louis P. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/08/21/the-long-run-with-springsteen/ |title=The long run with Springsteen |date=August 21, 2005 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134753/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-08-21/news/0508210350_1_rock-n-roll-rolling-stone-bruce-springsteen |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref> particularly for its cinematic storytelling and Wall of Sound production.<ref name="UCRGuide" /> [[Greil Marcus]] wrote in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' that Springsteen enhances romanticized American themes with his majestic sound, ideal style of rock and roll, evocative lyrics, and an impassioned delivery that defines a "magnificent" album.<ref name="MarcusRS">{{cite magazine |last=Marcus |first=Greil |author-link=Greil Marcus |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/born-to-run-19851001 |title=Born to Run |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=October 9, 1975 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723171213/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/born-to-run-19851001 |archive-date=July 23, 2014 }}</ref> In ''The New York Times'', [[John Rockwell]] described ''Born to Run'' as a masterpiece of "punk poetry" and "one of the great records of recent years".<ref name="RockwellNYT"/> In ''[[The Village Voice]]'', [[Robert Christgau]] felt that Springsteen condenses a significant amount of American myth into songs, and often succeeds in spite of his tendency for histrionics and "pseudotragic beautiful loser fatalism".<ref name="Christgau">{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv9-75.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |date=September 22, 1975 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525054638/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv9-75.php |archive-date=May 25, 2014}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| footer = ''Born to Run'' was praised by many [[Music journalism|music critics]], including [[John Rockwell]] (left, 2015) and [[Robert Hilburn]] (right, 2012).
| image1 = John Rockwell - Pop Conference 2015 - 03 (17159078256) (cropped).jpg
| width1 = 140
| alt1   = A close-up of man older man with glasses speaking at a conference
| image2 = DSC 0855 copy.jpg
| width2 = 155
| alt2   = A photograph of an older man smiling
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Several critics expected ''Born to Run'' to lead to Springsteen crossing over into mainstream success.<ref name="RockwellNYT"/><ref name="Billboard" /><ref name="Pareles" /> Reviewers praised the vocal performances,<ref name="Circus" /><ref name="Newsweek 9-1-75">{{harvnb|Masur|2010|p=121: ''Newsweek'', September 1, 1975}}</ref> music,{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="McGee" /><ref name="Creem" /><ref name="MelodyMaker">{{cite magazine |last=Watts |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Watts (journalist) |title='Born to Run' |magazine=[[Melody Maker]] |date=September 6, 1975 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-09-06.pdf |page=2 |access-date=August 24, 2023 |via=''Cash Box'' magazine |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216214128/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-09-06.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews: Pop Picks |magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |date=September 6, 1975 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-09-06.pdf |page=20 |access-date=August 17, 2023 |via=worldradiohistory.com |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216214128/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1975/CB-1975-09-06.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>}} and production.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite magazine |title=Top Album Picks |magazine=Billboard |date=September 6, 1975 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-09-06.pdf |page=66 |access-date=August 17, 2023 |via=worldradiohistory.com |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215184105/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard%201975-09-06.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Compared to Springsteen's earlier albums, critics felt the lyrics were more accessible and possessed a "universal quality that transcends the sources and myths he drew upon".<ref name="RockwellNYT"/><ref name="RW">{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the Week: Albums |magazine=[[Record World]] |date=September 6, 1975 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/75/RW-1975-09-06.pdf |page=1 |access-date=August 19, 2023 |via=worldradiohistory.com |archive-date=June 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626015952/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/75/RW-1975-09-06.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lester Bangs]] remarked in ''[[Creem]]'' that he is "no longer cramming as many syllables as possible into every line".<ref name="Creem" /> The performances of the E Street Band were also highlighted, particularly Clemons.<ref name="Billboard" /><ref name="Sounds" />

Some critics, including Bangs and Cocks,<ref name="Creem" />{{sfn|Masur|2010|p=129: Jay Cocks, ''Time''}} hailed Springsteen as a visionary destined to save the rock genre<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=October 27, 2015 |title=See Rare Bruce Springsteen Photos From 'Born to Run' Era |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/see-rare-bruce-springsteen-photos-from-born-to-run-era-12775/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806055634/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/see-rare-bruce-springsteen-photos-from-born-to-run-era-12775/ |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2019}}</ref> from, in [[Stephen Holden]]'s words, "its present state of enervation".<ref name="Circus" /> Bangs said Springsteen "reminds us what it's like to love rock 'n' roll like you just discovered it, and then seize it and make it your own with certainty and precision".<ref name="Creem">Lester Bangs, ''[[Creem]]'': {{harvnb|Masur|2010|pp=124–125}}. {{harvnb|Sawyers|2004|pp=75–77}}</ref> [[Robert Hilburn]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' called ''Born to Run'' an "essential" album, stating: "It has been a long time since anyone in rock has put so much passion and ambition in an album."<ref name="LATimes">{{cite magazine |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Hilburn |title=Back-to-School Record Collection for Hard Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/383183504/ |magazine=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 21, 1975 |pages=64–65 |access-date=August 19, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |archive-date=August 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819192043/https://www.newspapers.com/image/383183504/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''[[Circus (magazine)|Circus Raves]]'', Holden placed ''Born to Run'' amongst the decade's great albums with ''[[Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs|Layla]]'' (1970), ''[[Who's Next]]'' (1971), and ''[[Exile on Main St.]]'' (1972),<ref name="Circus">{{harvnb|Masur|2010|pp=127–128: Stephen Holden, ''[[Circus (magazine)|Circus Raves]]''}}</ref> and David McGee placed Springsteen amongst rock greats such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, [[the Beatles]], [[the Rolling Stones]], and Bob Dylan.<ref name="McGee">{{harvnb|Masur|2010|pp=126–127: David McGee}}</ref>

''Born to Run'' received negative reviews from a few critics, who found the production excessive and "heavy-handed",<ref name="Pareles">{{harvnb|Masur|2010|p=125: Jon Pareles}}</ref><ref name="Aquarian" /> the songs "formulaic",<ref name="Aquarian">{{harvnb|Masur|2010|pp=128–129: Joe Edwards, ''Aquarian''}}</ref> "an effusive jumble" and "undistinguished",<ref name="EdwardsNYT" /> and felt Springsteen himself lacked a definitive vocal personality.<ref name="NME" /> [[Langdon Winner]] argued in ''The Real Paper'' that, because Springsteen consciously adheres to traditions and standards extolled in [[rockism|rock criticism]], ''Born to Run'' is "the complete monument to rock and roll orthodoxy".<ref name="ChristgauBadforRock">{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |date=January 26, 1976 |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/critics-76.php |title=Yes, There Is a Rock-Critic Establishment (But Is That Bad for Rock?) |newspaper=The Village Voice |access-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325191836/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/rock/critics-76.php |archive-date=March 25, 2014}}</ref> Mike Jahn of ''[[High Fidelity (magazine)|High Fidelity]]'' complained about the songwriting, believing Springsteen was becoming typecast as a "character composer" after three albums.<ref name="HF">{{cite magazine |last=Jahn |first=Mike |title=Bruce Springsteen: ''Born to Run'' (Columbia PC 33795) |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/bruce-springsteen-iborn-to-runi-columbia-pc-33795 |magazine=[[High Fidelity (magazine)|High Fidelity]] |date=1975 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |via=Rock's Backpages |url-access=subscription |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230658/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/bruce-springsteen-iborn-to-runi-columbia-pc-33795 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roy Carr]] of the ''NME'' unfavorably compared Springsteen to David Bowie, believing he lacked the latter's "breath of vision".<ref name="NME">{{cite magazine |last=Carr |first=Roy |author-link=Roy Carr |title=Bruce Springsteen: ''Born to Run'' (CBS Import) |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/bruce-springsteen-iborn-to-runi-cbs-import |magazine=[[NME]] |date=September 6, 1975 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |via=Rock's Backpages |url-access=subscription |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232548/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/bruce-springsteen-iborn-to-runi-cbs-import |url-status=live }}</ref> Carr also found the music uninspired and argued Springsteen himself "often tries too hard, going right over the top on many occasions as a result".<ref name="NME" /> More moderately, Jerry Gilbert of ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' believed ''Born to Run'' was not as "essential" as ''Greetings'' and ''Wild'', but had enough "distinction" from the two albums to stand on its own: "I have grown to love it but newcomers to Bruce's music would be better advised to check out what the critics have been raving about in the past. Old fans will need to persevere."<ref name="Sounds">{{cite magazine |last=Gilbert |first=Jerry |title=Bruce Springsteen: ''Born to Run'' (Columbia import) |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/bruce-springsteen-iborn-to-runi-columbia-import- |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |date=September 13, 1975 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |via=Rock's Backpages |url-access=subscription |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230117/https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/bruce-springsteen-iborn-to-runi-columbia-import- |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Born to Run'' was voted the third best album of 1975 in the [[Pazz & Jop]], an annual critics poll run by ''[[The Village Voice]]'', behind [[Bob Dylan]] and [[the Band]]'s ''[[The Basement Tapes]]'' and [[Patti Smith]]'s ''[[Horses (album)|Horses]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres75.php |title=The 1975 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=December 29, 1975 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015053013/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres75.php |archive-date=October 15, 2014 }}</ref> Christgau, the poll's creator, ranked it 12th on his own year-end list.<ref>{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |date=December 29, 1975 |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj75.php |title=It's Been a Soft Year for Hard Rock |newspaper=The Village Voice |access-date=July 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015052539/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj75.php |archive-date=October 15, 2014 }}</ref>