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After a five year recording hiatus following the emotionally eloquent TUNNEL OF LOVE (and a subsequent world tour), Springsteen returned in 1992 with the tandem release of HUMAN TOUCH and LUCKY TOWN. Though released separately, both albums signalled the singer's more mature preoccupation with introspective, complicated themes of desire, despair and regret. The albums were also Springsteen's first without the full E Street Band. HUMAN TOUCH and LUCKY TOWN marry Springsteen's popular persona of fist-waving, stadium rocker with the more reflective, rootsier sound the singer favored on NEBRASKA.
LUCKY TOWN's "Better Days" is Springsteen's forthright contemplation of his contradictory status as a multi-millionaire, working class hero. The slight Nashville lilt of "If I Should Fall Behind" is reminiscent of the sentimental balladry on BORN IN THE USA and "Leap of Faith" is a keening, raspy return to the Springsteen of anthemic yore. HUMAN TOUCH and LUCKY TOWN may never be revered in same way as some of his other releases, but both albums are immensely satisfying as a double shot farewell to the raucous rebelliousness of Springsteen's youthful rock and roll years.
Recorded at Thrill Hill Recording, Los Angeles, California.
Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar); Bruce Springsteen (bass guitar); Crystal Taliefero (vocals, guitar, percussion); Patti Scialfa (vocals, background vocals); Bobby King , Angel Rogers, Gia Ciambotti, Carol Dennis, Cleo Kennedy (vocals); Shane Fontayne (guitar); Tommy Sims (bass guitar); Gary Mallaber, Zachary Alford (drums); Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell (background vocals); Roy Bittan (keyboards, keyboard bass).
Audio Mixer: Bob Clearmountain.
Recording information: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA; Thrill Hill Recording.
Editors: Dave Collins ; Scott Hull .
Photographers: Pamela Springsteen; David Rose.
Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, various instruments); Ian McLagen (Hammond organ); Roy Bittan (keyboards); Randy Jackson (bass); Gary Mallabar (drums); Patti Scialfa, Lisa Lowell, Soozie Tyrell (background vocals); Roy Bittan.
Producers: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan.
Rolling Stone (4/30/92, p.67) - 4.5 Stars - Excellent Plus - "...the album's ten songs paint a convincing--and only rarely cloying--portrait of domestic homelife and its contents...the fascinating progress of one of the most compelling artists of our time..."
Entertainment Weekly (4/3/92, p.50) - "...comparatively more intimate, with delicate acoustic tracks, nods to folk rock and twang..." - Rating: B
Q (1/93, p.73) - Included in Q's list of the 50 Best Albums Of 1992.
Q (5/92, p.87) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...has an infectious swagger..."
Village Voice (3/2/93, p.5) - Ranked #18 in the Village Voice's list of the 40 Best Albums Of 1992.
Bruce Springsteen - Lucky Town Songs
| 1 | Better Days | 4:05 | $0.99 | |
| 2 | Lucky Town | 3:24 | $0.99 | |
| 3 | Local Hero | 4:02 | $0.99 | |
| 4 | If I Should Fall Behind | 2:55 | $0.99 | |
| 5 | Leap of Faith | 3:22 | $0.99 | |
| 6 | Big Muddy | 4:03 | $0.99 | |
| 7 | Living Proof | 4:44 | $0.99 | |
| 8 | Book of Dreams | 4:19 | $0.99 | |
| 9 | Souls of the Departed | 4:15 | $0.99 | |
| 10 | My Beautiful Reward | 3:54 | $0.99 | |
Lucky Town Music Review
Average Rating: (4.6 out of 5 stars)    natural
Much better than Human touch, more natural sound and fluent songs.
The productions is also closer to what we expect from Bruce and there are a lot of good songs.
I listened to Huma Touch before this and I was worried, but with Lucky Town I was sure not to have lost the boss.
Submitted by Daniele (Venice, Italy)
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Most personal album??
This album has not faded in strength like the simultaneously released Human Touch. That one was fancied up a bit too much and the songs were universal in approach, rather than more personal. I think Lucky Town is the most personal of all Bruce's albums - it was certainly written and recorded in the shortest time frame. It just seems like there was less time to edit, and revise, and think it over, and try to fit it into a grand theme - all of which Bruce does extraordinarily well, but for Lucky Town he just let it go in a few weeks and here it is. That's why it feels so personal. Five of the songs are clearly tied to his wife and new family, especially "Better Days", "Leap of Faith", and "Living Proof". "Souls of the Departed" is a reflection on the first Iraq war - like Devils & Dust is a reflection on the second one. I play this CD quite frequently - and my wife likes it very much as well. I think it just has plenty of heart in the right place, and I recommend it.
Submitted by Michael (Canal Winchester, OH, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Go Even Deeper Boss!!!
The Boss is the hoss of the USA. Yes, he is and he goes down deep into your soul. He goes down very deep. Get this one for your Boss music collection. It is a hot one.
Submitted by jejr9 (Irvine)
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Bruce is the Boss
I haven't listen to this cd in a year since i lost my cd. so i bought it again....wow is bruce a phenominal artist!!! he knows how to reach down deep.
Submitted by a reviewer (Pearl River, NY)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Great Overlooked Album
At a time when expectations were far too unrealistic The Boss & Columbia decided to provide free donuts at certain major outlets so that fans could have a virtual breakfast with their idol while purchasing not 1 but 2 newly released albums, the other being Human Touch. Both albums were fine by anyone else's standards, only anticipation was too high. I still think these albums deserve 5 stars and THEY DO improve with age. In my case what I have done is taken several songs from the Backtracks box set and sprinkled them between some of the cracks in these albums somewhat in my opinion fortifying the originals...it really seems to work. If you are a Springsteen fan and have got past Born to Run and are too astute to settle for meaningless compilation albums, you should purchase Lucky Town & Human Touch...
Submitted by faust8577 (Lorraine, Que. Canada)
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