tunnel of love

Bruce Springsteen explored the dark mysteries of romance, relationships, and his troubled marriage in the guise of these brilliant, bluesy reflections. 'Tunnel Of Love' began with basic tracks recorded at Thrill Hill East, his home studio in Beverly Hills, where he lived with his new wife during 1986. Unlike the low fidelity sound of his album 'Nebraska', these recordings were done with multi-track digital technology. The songs reveal the growing divide in his whirlwind marriage to actress Julianne Phillips, who he had met during the tour for 'Born in the U.S.A.'   

Springsteen revealed in 'Rolling Stone':   "I wanted to write a different kind of romantic song, one that took in the different types of emotional experiences of any relationship where you are really engaging with that other person and not involved in a narcissistic romantic fantasy or intoxication or whatever. In my life previously, I hadn't allowed myself to get into a situation where I would even have cause to reflect on these things. When I was in my twenties, I was specifically avoiding it. It was like 'I got enough on my hands, I ain't ready for that, I don't write no marryin' songs.' But when this particular record came around, I wanted to make a record about what I felt, about really letting another person in your life and trying to be a part of someone else's life. That's a frightening thing, something that's always filled with shadows and doubts, and also wonderful things and beautiful things. It's difficult because there's a part of you that wants the stability and the home thing, and there's part of you that isn't so sure. That was the idea of the record, and I had to change quite a bit to just get to the point to write about that stuff. I couldn't have written any of those songs at any other point in my career. I wouldn't have had the knowledge or the insight or the experience to do it...I don't believe that you find something and there it is and that's the end of the story. You have to find the strength to sustain it and build on it and work for it and constantly pour energy into it. I mean, there's days when you're real close and days when you're real far away. I guess I feel like I know a lot more about it than I ever did, but it's like anything else: you gotta write that new song every day...I've been married for three years, just about. And I feel like we just met."

The early recordings were shelved while Springsteen focused on the compilation and release of the boxed set 'Live 1975-85' over the next few months. When that work was completed in early 1987, he began recording new tracks at his home studio in Rumson, New Jersey, with members of the E Street Band brought into the Hit Factory Studio in New York City to add to the basic tracks. In May, he returned to the west coast and recorded tracks at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, where various session musicians were utilized. With Springsteen on lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, sound effects, and harmonica; Roy Bittan on piano and synthesizers; Patti Scialfa and Clarence Clemons on vocals; Danny Federici on organ; Nils Lofgren on guitar and vocals; Garry Tallent on bass; Max Weinberg on drums and percussion; and James Wood on harmonica; the album was co-produced by Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Chuck Plotkin.


 'Tunnel Of Love'  went to fifty-five in Ireland; six in New Zealand; five in Australia; four in the Netherlands; three in Germany; and number one in Canada, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the US. It has sold more than twelve million copies worldwide.  His marriage would come to an end within the next year. 









http://brucespringsteen.net/


 






  'Brilliant Disguise'  found its way to number thirty-eight in Germany, twenty-six in New Zealand, twenty in the UK, seventeen in Australia, fifteen in the Netherlands, nine in Canada, five on the US pop chart, three in Sweden, two in Ireland, and number one in Norway and on the US hot mainstream rock tracks chart. 

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnJnjV_8rg








'Tunnel of Love'  burrowed its way to number forty-eight in New Zealand, forty-five in the UK, forty-one in Australia, thirty-nine in the Netherlands, twenty-two in Ireland, seventeen in Canada, nine on the US pop chart, and number one on the US hot mainstream rock tracks chart. 


It ought to be easy ought to be simple enough
Man meets woman and they fall in love
But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough
And youve got to learn to live with what you can't rise above If you want to ride on down in through this tunnel of love







'One Step Up' rose to number sixty-seven in Canada, forty-four in the Netherlands, twenty-three in Germany, thirteen on the US pop chart, and number two on the US hot mainstream rock tracks chart.

'Tunnel Of Love' 
full album:



All tracks written by Bruce Springsteen. 

Side one
1. "Ain't Got You"   2:11
2. "Tougher Than the Rest"   4:35
3. "All That Heaven Will Allow"   2:39
4. "Spare Parts"   3:44
5. "Cautious Man"   3:58
6. "Walk Like a Man"   3:45
Side two
1. "Tunnel of Love"   5:12
2. "Two Faces"   3:03
3. "Brilliant Disguise"   4:17
4. "One Step Up"   4:22
5. "When You're Alone"   3:24
6. "Valentine's Day"   5:10