Bruce SpringsteenBorn in the U.S.A.

Gated snares crack like rifle shots and Roy Bittan's synthesizers gleam — this is the sound of Springsteen going arena-sized and selling tens of millions. The title track stomps so triumphantly that people still miss its bitter heart: a Vietnam vet abandoned by his country. "Dancing in the Dark" rides a glossy synth pulse straight to restless frustration, while "Glory Days" rolls along on bright organ and small-town nostalgia. Then "I'm on Fire" drops to a whispered slow burn, brushed drums and aching desire proving the range underneath all that big-drum power. Seven Top 10 singles, every one celebratory on the surface and melancholy beneath. Drop the needle and feel the tension that made him a superstar.