Bruce Springsteen "Tunnel of Love" (1987)

Tunnel of Love
release date: Oct. 5, 1987
format: vinyl (460270 1) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin
label: Columbia Records - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "Ain't Got You" - 2. "Tougher Than the Rest" (4 / 5) - 3. "All That Heaven Will Allow" (4 / 5) - 4. "Spare Parts" - 5. "Cautious Man" (4 / 5) - 6. "Walk Like a Man" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Tunnel of Love" (5 / 5) - 2. "Two Faces" - 3. "Brilliant Disguise" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "One Step Up" - 5. "When You're Alone" (5 / 5) - 6. "Valentine's Day" (4,5 / 5)

8th studio album by Bruce Springsteen released more than 3 years since his world breakthrough album Born in the USA (1984). To satisfy fans and album buyers everywhere he released the 5 lp box set Live / 1975-85 in '86 but with this, the man finally released new material.
The first couple of years I felt that the album was a lesser release but in retrospect, I consider it one of his great singer / songwriter albums, which basically continues his style from The River (1980) but also puts the album in my personal top 3 list of Springsteen albums alongside Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978). I for one, didn't like his '84 album all that much, and just found it too darn pro-American, but mostly just too one-dimensional. Drums and bass destroy that album. This, on the other hand, I felt was too slick, too sweet and nice, and I abandoned "the boss" for almost the following two decades while he rode along on his Born in the USA-style. At some point I finally understood that this album may just be well-produced BUT the songs are absolutely there and in contrast to his 84-breakthrough release Tunnel of Love is an album that includes the sincerity of Nebraska, the span of The River with the energy of Darkness..
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine 4 / 5, Rolling Stone Album Guide 5 / 5 stars ]

<  show lyrics >

~ ~ ~
"Ain't Got You"

"I got the fortunes of heaven in diamonds and gold
I got all the bonds baby that the bank could hold
I got houses 'cross the country honey end to end
And everybody buddy wants to be my friend
Well I got all the riches baby any man ever knew
But the only thing I ain't got honey I ain't got you

I got a house full of Rembrandt and priceless art
And all the little girls they wanna tear me apart
When I walk down the street people stop and stare
Well you'd think I might be thrilled but baby I don't care
'Cause I got more good luck honey than old King Farouk
But the olny thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you

I got a big diamond watch sittin' on my wrist
I try to tempt you baby but you just resist
I made a deal with de devil babe I won't deny
Until I got you in my arms I can't be satisfied

I got a pound of caviar sitting home on ice
I got a fancy foreign car that rides like paradise
I got a hundred pretty women knockin' down my door
And folks wanna kiss me I ain't even seen before
I been around the world and all across the seven seas
Been paid a king's ransom for doin' what comes naturally
But I'm still the biggest fool honey this world ever knew
'Cause the olny thing I ain't got baby I ain't got you"

~ ~ ~
"Brilliant Disguise"

"I hold you in my arms
As the band plays
What are those words whispered baby
Just as you turn away
I saw you last night
Out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind
To know just what I've got in this new thing I've found
So tell me what I see
When I look in your eyes
Is that you baby
Or just a brilliant disguise

I heard somebody call your name
From underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame
Underneath your pillow
Well I've tried so hard baby
But I just can't see
What a woman like you
Is doing with me
So tell me who I see
When I look in your eyes
Is that you baby
Or just a brilliant disguise

Now look at me baby
Struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart
When out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim
I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if it's you I don't trust
'Cause I damn sure don't trust myself

Now you play the loving woman
I'll play the faithful man
But just don't look too close
Into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter
The gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours
Well maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me
You better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby
Or just a brilliant disguise

Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what he's sure of"

~ ~ ~
"When You're Alone"

"Times were though love was not enough
So you said sorry Johnny I'm gone gone gone
You said my act was funny
But we both knew what was missing honey
So you lit out on your own
Now that pretty form that you've got baby
Will make sure you get along
But you're gonna find out some day honey

When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you ain't nothing but alone

Now I was young and pretty on the mean streets of the city
And I fought to make 'em my home
With just the shirt on my back I left and swore I'd never look back
And man I was gone gone gone
But there's things that'll knock you down you don't even see coming
And send you crawling like a baby back home
You're gonna find out that day sugar

When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you ain't nothing but alone

I knew some day your runnin' would be through
And you'd think back on me and you
And your love would be strong
You'd forget all about the bad and think only of all the laughs that we had
And you'd wanna come home
Now it ain't hard feelings or nothin' sugar
That ain't what's got me singing this song
It's just nobody knows honey where love goes
But when it goes it's gone gone

When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you're alone
When you're alone you ain't nothing but alone"

~ ~ ~