The legends of the music industry are consistently among the most revered celebrities in popular culture. We know everything about them - who they dated, where they played, and how they died. However, what they sought to tell us through their music often remains undiscovered or forgotten. "The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection" provides critical analysis and commentary on the work of such important artists as John Lennon, Carole King, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Bob Marley, Frank Zappa, Tupac Shakur, and David Bowie, and does so in the hope that, from behind such legendary faces, voices can again emerge. Bruce Springsteen enjoys a popularity that has transcended generations. His 1975 album, "Born to Run", was voted the best album of all time in a recently published Zagat survey; his 1984 album, "Born in the U.S.A.", spawned seven Top Ten singles while selling 11 million copies; and his 2002 album, "The Rising", was regarded by many critics as the most poignant artistic reaction to 9/11. Springsteen, now 55, has evolved from an over-hyped version of the "next Bob Dylan," and "the future of rock and roll" into a pop culture icon of Reagan's America and a 21st-century populist voice. His career has been covered many times over, and yet many of the complexities and apparent contradictions of Springsteen's music remain unresolved, such as Springsteen's hard-rock-influenced musical background; his movement from themes of rebellion and isolation in his early work to those of a more populist complexion later on; and his contribution in the 1980s to a conservative patriotism - despite his albums' close association with the music and ideas of Woody Guthrie. After a brief biographical treatment, Kirkpatrick considers all of Springsteen's significant albums in chronological order. In addition to a probing musical analysis, he offers a guide to Springsteen's lyrical themes and motifs, allowing readers a coherent insight into the complicated nature of the artist's underlying concerns, influences, and ideas. Rounding out the volume is a consideration of Springsteen's legacy as a songwriter and musician, as well as appendices featuring a biographical timeline and complete discography. Bruce Springsteen presents an extremely compelling subject. Through an examination of his music, readers will can find new ways of understanding the art, the life, and the times of this thoroughly complex and persistently captivating artist.