Released in 1982 when I was a junior in high school, Nebraska was Bruce Springsteen's follow-up to The River, a double album he recorded with the E Street Band. Nebraska on the other hand was recorded in his basement on a four-track recording machine and it features nobody but the Boss himself. I have owned this recording on LP, cassette, CD and audio download over the past 42 years. You can listen to it here.

I used to listen to it on repeat when driving north on Interstate 95 to see my children, several states away, after their Mom and I split up. The songs tell stories and some, like Highway Patrolman, convey an entire movie's worth of details in one 5:40 track.

Through the years, other artists have covered many of these tunes and among my favorites in the version of Atlantic City that The Band recorded in 1993.

Steve Earle also did a great job on State Trooper on Austin City Limits back in the 80s.

Tracks

1 Nebraska
04:31

2 Atlantic City
04:00

3 Mansion on the Hill
04:08

4 Johnny 99
03:42

5 Highway Patrolman
05:40

6 State Trooper
03:17

7 Used Cars
03:10

8 Open All Night
02:58

9 My Father's House
05:07

10 Reason to Believe
04:08