"Cover Me" by Bruce Springsteen

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  2015
Date:  08/11/1984
Debut:  52
Peak:  7
Weeks:  18
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Springsteen got the biggest hit of his career when "Dancing in the Dark," the first single from his LP Born in the U.S.A., made it to #2. Accompanied by a very popular MTV video, the song pushed Springsteen directly into the mainstream. For that song's follow-up, this rock track was selected. Even though there was no video to help promote it, fans helped get the song into the Pop Top 10 and #2 at Rock. It would also do surprisingly well at Dance peaking at #11. The single would sell well enough to get awarded a gold record.

ReduxReview:  I was surprised this song did so well. It's a solid rock tune, but it just didn't seem like something that would race up into the Top 10. It was actually one of my least favorite tracks on the album. But on an LP like Born in the U.S.A., least favorite is still far better than a lot of songs out there! It was a quick blast of rock from The Boss that seemed to please listeners.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  In the 70s and early 80s, Springsteen was not only writing songs for himself, but he was also writing songs that would potentially be recorded by other artists. This particular song was one that Springsteen wrote with someone else in mind. The intended artist was Donna Summer. This came about when a request was made from Summer's camp for Springsteen to write a song for her next album. Springsteen came up with "Cover Me," but when his manager/producer Jon Landau heard the song, he thought it was too good to give away and convinced Springsteen to keep it. Springsteen did and then wrote "Protection" for Summer. She recorded the tune for her self-titled 1982 album. Following Landau's advice resulted in a third Top 10 hit for Springsteen.

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