The Bruce Springsteen song that could have been No. 1: ‘Would have done well’

Follow Cult Following

Get more of our coverage in Google.

Bruce Springsteen has more than a few big hits under his belt, but one song could have gotten The Boss a chart-topping song. Fans believe a Born in the U.S.A. track would have fared well as a single release and were left confused as to why it didn’t receive such a push at the time. Listeners discussed the possible hits in a post to the r/BruceSpringsteen subreddit, where they shared what could have been for Springsteen’s greatest hits.

One fan asked: “Which Bruce album track could have been a No. 1 hit if it had been released as a single? Bruce never had a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, which is surprising considering his career. Since chart rules were different during much of his prime and many album tracks weren’t eligible to chart the way they would be today, is there any non-single or album track you think could have had a chance of becoming a No. 1 hit if it had been released and promoted as a single?

“This can also include singles that were only released in Europe and outside the US. Tougher than the Rest only being released as a European single always surprised me, and Bruce has always said Sherry Darling should have been a single.” Springsteen once introduced the song on stage and said it should have been rolled out as a single. He said: “This is called Sherry Darling. It should’ve been a single, it should’ve been released in the summertime.”

Fans believe so too, but focused on the Born in the U.S.A. song No Surrender, as a song that “would have done well” if released as a single. One fan wrote: “No clue about Number 1, but No Surrender would have done well. Only song on Born in the U.S.A. not released as single.”

Another agreed, adding: “Agreed! It would have at least been a top ten hit, and I can even see it performing better as a single than I’m Goin Down.” A third added: “No Surrender for me is probably a top five track on the record, and it has always confused me why he didn’t release it as a single. Also Bobby Jean sounds like it should have been in every 80s teen movie and sung in every football stadium across the country.”

But others believe that Springsteen gave it his best shot in getting to number one in the charts, and that his greatest songs weren’t up to the task of getting him there. One person wrote: “Guys, if Born in the U.S.A., Dancing In The Dark and I’m On Fire couldn’t reach number one, then there is no prayer for Working on the Highway and Bobby Jean. Same goes for all his albums. If Hungry Heart didn’t do it, Sherry Darling isn’t getting close.”

Another added: “I don’t know about #1 Hit, but I’m always curious how Tougher Than The Rest would have been received in the US if it had been released as a single here. My guess is: favourably. It seems to be one of his most covered songs – it’s a borderline country standard at this point.”