Bruce Springsteen's Breakthrough with Simultaneous Time and Newsweek Cover Stories

Hype (noun): A term referring to excessive or intensive marketing and publicity efforts. For celebrities, reaching a level of fame where their presence is ubiquitous makes them more than just performing artists. Bruce Springsteen experienced this phenomenon firsthand on October 27, 1975, when he graced the covers of both Time and Newsweek magazines, coinciding with the rise of his album Born to Run on the charts.

The Rise of a Rock Icon

Prior to the mid-70s, Bruce Springsteen wasn't yet a well-known figure. It wasn't until he auditioned for producer Mike Appel and subsequently for John Hammond at Columbia Records that his career began to take form. Despite releasing two acclaimed albums and cultivating a staggering live presence with the E Street Band, commercial success eluded him.

The Making of Born to Run

Under the management and production of Mike Appel, Bruce Springsteen embarked on the creation of Born to Run, an album that took 14 painstaking months to complete, including half a year on the title track alone. As part of the recording process, Jon Landau came on board, which ultimately led to significant changes in management and production roles, and subsequent legal disputes.

Following its release, Springsteen's Born to Run rapidly climbed the music charts, powered by a substantial marketing push from Columbia Records, which utilized Landau's bold proclamation that Springsteen was the future of rock and roll. This hype reached a new level when Appel orchestrated cover stories on the musician for both Time and Newsweek, a rare media occurrence that hadn't happened since Liza Minnelli's 1972 features for her work in Cabaret.

The Consequences of Fame

Despite the media frenzy, Springsteen remained grounded. He perceived his appearances in these major publications not as a pinnacle of success but as a means to ensure his single's airplay. This period was not without its challenges, with legal battles affecting the band's financial stability. Springsteen's longtime bassist Garry Tallent remembered the frustration of seeing tribute bands profiting while the E Street Band themselves faced financial constraints.

Eventually, Springsteen and Appel settled their differences out of court, and the artist moved forward with his career. He continued to produce influential music through the years, navigating the ebbs and flows of fame and maintaining his work despite the ever-present hype.

Springsteen, Magazine, Fame