Tunnel of Love (Bruce Springsteen song)

Last updated

"Tunnel of Love"
TunnelOfLoveSingle.jpg
Single by Bruce Springsteen
from the album Tunnel of Love
B-side "Two for the Road"
ReleasedNovember 1987 [1]
RecordedJune - July 1987 at Thrill Hill East (Springsteen's home studio) [2]
Genre Rock, pop [3]
Length5:10
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Bruce Springsteen
Producer(s) Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Plotkin
Bruce Springsteen singles chronology
"Brilliant Disguise"
(1987)
"Tunnel of Love"
(1987)
"One Step Up"
(1988)

"Tunnel of Love" is the title song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as the second single from the album, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Like the first single from the album, "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" reached number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached the top twenty in Canada peaking at number seventeen. The music video received five MTV Video Music Awards nominations, including Video of the Year and Best Male Video.

Contents

History

Engineer Toby Scott recorded "Tunnel of Love" in late June thru early July 1987, with Springsteen on all instruments, at his home studio in Rumson, New Jersey. All songs for a new, nameless album had been recorded by this time, with "Lucky Man" in the album sequence. Next, Scott was sent to an amusement park in Point Pleasant, New Jersey to record sounds of a family riding a roller coaster. [4] Finally, several members of the E Street Band recorded instrumental tracks that Scott added, replacing Springsteen's. [2] Roy Bittan played synthesizers, Nils Lofgren lead guitar, Max Weinberg drums, and Patti Scialfa provided backing vocals. "Tunnel of Love" became the title track of the album, replacing "Lucky Man", which was released as the b-side of the first single, "Brilliant Disguise". [2]

The song uses a fairground funhouse ride as a metaphor for marriage. [4] [5] The relationship described in the song has three principals - the singer, his wife, and all the things they are scared of. [4] The singer feels that marriage should be simple ("man meets woman and they fall in love"), but recognizes that along the way the ride can become difficult and unpredictable. [4] [6] The characters in the song laugh when they see each other in the funhouse mirrors, but it is not clear if they are laughing out of humor, or laughing at each other in derision. [4] The song notes that it is all too easy for two people to lose each other on the "funhouse ride" of marriage. [4] [5]

The music of the song echoes the lyrics. The music is complex and has half of the E Street Band playing on the song. [4] [5] Lofgren's surging guitar sound has been likened to the sound of the bickering couple, and the percussion and synthesizer add to the carnival atmosphere. The chanted vocal bridge at 3:40 in the song borrows the melody from the bridge of the Moody Blues' song "New Horizons" (from their 1972 album Seventh Sojourn ).

The song was later released on the compilation album The Essential Bruce Springsteen . [7]

The song has been listed as the #20 Best Rock and Roll single of all time by Jimmy Guterman in 1992 and as one of the 7500 most important songs from 1944 through 2000 by Bruce Pollock.[ citation needed ] It was also ranked as the #10 single of 1987 by the Village Voice [ citation needed ] and the Single of the Year in 1987 by Rolling Stone . [8]

Music video

Like several other videos from the Tunnel of Love album, including "Brilliant Disguise", "One Step Up" and "Tougher Than the Rest", the video for "Tunnel of Love" was directed by Meiert Avis. [9] The video narrative reflects the fun house described in the song. It was filmed at Palace Amusements, Asbury Park, New Jersey over November 16–17, 1987. [10] The video was later released on the VHS and DVD Video Anthology / 1978-88 . [11]

Live performance history

Despite the personal nature of the song, it has occasionally been performed live. Between the Tunnel of Love Express Tour that supported the initial release of the album through July 2005, the song received 71 live performances in concert. [12] [ failed verification ] It received renewed attention on the 2007–2008 Magic Tour as a showcase for Patti Scialfa's singing and Nils Lofgren's guitar work.

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon: [13]

Chart performance

Chart (1987–1988)Peak
position
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [14] 17
Ireland (IRMA) [15] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [16] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [17] 39
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [18] 48
UK Singles (OCC) [19] 45
US Billboard Hot 100 [20] 9
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [21] 1

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Tunnel of Love</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Bruce Springsteen

Tunnel of Love is the eighth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on October 2, 1987. Although members of the E Street Band occasionally performed on the album, Springsteen recorded most of the parts himself, often with drum machines and synthesizers. Tunnel of Love is not officially regarded as an E Street Band album, as The Rising (2002) was marketed as his first studio album with the E Street Band since Born in the U.S.A. (1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E Street Band</span> Bruce Springsteens backing band

The E Street Band is an American rock band, and has been musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. For the bulk of Springsteen's recording and performing career, the band consisted of guitarists Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, and Patti Scialfa, keyboardists Danny Federici and Roy Bittan, bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, and saxophonist Clarence Clemons.

<i>Chimes of Freedom</i> (EP) 1988 EP by Bruce Springsteen

Chimes of Freedom is a live EP by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. It was released in 1988 to support the multi-artist Human Rights Now! Tour in benefit of Amnesty International. This tour was announced near the end of a first-set radio broadcast during Springsteen's July 3, 1988, show in Stockholm, Sweden, after which Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" was performed. The performance of "Chimes of Freedom" on this EP peaked at number 16 on the Mainstream Rock charts in mid-late 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cover Me (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1984 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Cover Me" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the second single released from his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A.. Springsteen wrote the song for Donna Summer. However, his manager, Jon Landau, decided the song had hit potential, and so he kept it for the upcoming Springsteen album. It has been certified Gold in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm on Fire</span> 1985 single by Bruce Springsteen

"I'm on Fire" is a song written and performed by American rock performer Bruce Springsteen. Released in 1985, it was the fourth single from his album Born in the U.S.A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Born in the U.S.A. Tour</span> 1984–85 concert tour by Bruce Springsteen

The Born in the U.S.A. Tour was the supporting concert tour of Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. album. It was his longest and most successful tour to date. It featured a physically transformed Springsteen; after two years of bodybuilding, the singer had bulked up considerably. The tour was the first since the 1974 portions of the Born to Run tours without guitarist Steven Van Zandt, who decided to go solo after recording the album with the group. Van Zandt, who was replaced by Nils Lofgren, would appear a few times throughout the tour and in some of the music videos to promote the album. It was also the first tour to feature Springsteen's future wife, Patti Scialfa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1985 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Glory Days" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. In 1985, it became the fifth single released from his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A.

<i>Blood Brothers</i> (EP) 1996 EP by Bruce Springsteen

Blood Brothers is a five-song EP by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, released in 1996. The EP was originally released along with a film, also titled Blood Brothers, which documented the 1995 temporary reuniting of Springsteen with the band to record extra tracks for his Greatest Hits release of that year. Long out of print, the EP was re-released in January 2014 to ITunes, Spotify and other download sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prove It All Night</span> 1978 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Prove It All Night" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on May 23, 1978, as the first single from his fourth studio album Darkness on the Edge of Town.

"Bobby Jean" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, from his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A. Although not released as a single, it reached number 36 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fade Away (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1981 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Fade Away" is a 1980 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, accompanied by the E Street Band. It is included on his album The River, and the second single released from it in the United States, reaching the top twenty in both the United States and Canada.

"Out in the Street" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen from the 1980 album The River. It was recorded at The Power Station in New York between March and May 1980, as one of the last songs recorded for the album. Originally, Springsteen was going to keep the song off the album because it was so idealistic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brilliant Disguise</span> 1987 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Brilliant Disguise" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 album Tunnel of Love. It was released as the first single from the album, reaching the No. 5 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart in the United States. The follow-up single, "Tunnel of Love", also reached No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, giving Springsteen two consecutive No. 1's. The single reached the top 10 in four additional countries including Canada and Ireland and the top 20 in Australia, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. "Brilliant Disguise" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Step Up</span> 1988 single by Bruce Springsteen

"One Step Up" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his eighth studio album, Tunnel of Love (1987). It was released as the third single from the album, following "Brilliant Disguise" and the title track. It reached position #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States, and #23 in Canada. It also reached #2 on the U.S. Album Rock Tracks chart, giving Springsteen three straight top two tracks from the album. The song was only released as a single in America. One of the unreleased songs from 1980's The River, "Roulette", recorded April 3, 1979, was released as the b-side, using an alternate vocal mixed on April 12, 1980, that would also be used in 1998, when it was chosen for Tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Touch (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1992 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Human Touch" is a song recorded by the American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the first single from his tenth studio album of the same name and was released on March 9, 1992. The song features Randy Jackson on bass guitar, and Toto's Jeff Porcaro on drums. In the United States, the song reached number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100—charting as a double A-side single with "Better Days"—and topped the Mainstream Rock chart for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tougher Than the Rest</span> 1988 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Tougher Than the Rest" is a song by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as a single in some countries, following "Brilliant Disguise" and the title track, but was not released as a single in the United States. It reached as high as No. 3 on the Swiss charts, and also reached the Top 20 in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Austria. While the song is not one of his most popular ones in the USA, it sold much better in the UK and is one of Springsteen's most beloved songs in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spare Parts (song)</span> 1988 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Spare Parts" is a power ballad by Bruce Springsteen from his 1987 Tunnel of Love album. It was released as a single in some countries, following "Brilliant Disguise", the title track and "Tougher Than the Rest", but was not released as a single in the United States.

<i>Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984</i> 2015 live album by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984 is a live album by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, released in May 2015 and was the fifth official release through the Bruce Springsteen Archives. The show was originally recorded live at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey on August 5, 1984.

<i>LA Sports Arena, California 1988</i> 2015 live album by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and The Horns of Love

LA Sports Arena, California 1988 is a live album by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with The Horns of Love, released in July 2015 and the sixth official release through the Bruce Springsteen Archives. The show was originally recorded live at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California on April 23, 1988 during the Tunnel of Love Express.

"Letter to You" is a 2020 single by American heartland rock band Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. The song was released as a lead-in for the album of the same name on September 10, 2020. The song has received critical praise.

References

  1. "Retail - Single". Brucebase Wiki. 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tunnel Of Love - Studio Sessions". Brucebase Wiki. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  3. "Tunnel of Loveby Bruce Springsteen – Classic Rock Review". October 17, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sawyers, June Skinner (2006). Tougher Than the Rest: 100 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs. pp. 112–114. ISBN   978-0-8256-3470-3.
  5. 1 2 3 Humphries, Patrick (1996). Bruce Springsteen. p. 80. ISBN   0-7119-5304-X.
  6. Marsh, Dave (1996). Glory Days. p. xxvi–xxvii. ISBN   1-56025-101-8.
  7. "The Essential Bruce Springsteen". AllMusic . Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  8. "Rolling Stone 1987 Critics". Rolling Stone . Retrieved May 27, 2009.
  9. "Meiert Avis". IMDb . Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  10. "Palace Amusements". Brucebase Wiki. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  11. "Bruce Springsteen: Video Anthology 1978-1988 (Video 1989)". IMDb . Retrieved August 4, 2008.
  12. "Bruce Springsteen Set List Page Tunnel of Love". Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
  13. Margotin, Philippe; Guesdon, Jean-Michel (2020). Bruce Springsteen All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 284. ISBN   978-1-78472-649-2.
  14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0926." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Tunnel of Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bruce Springsteen" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  17. "Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  18. "Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  19. "Bruce Springsteen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  20. "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  21. "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2021.