Bruce Springsteen’s Overlooked 1973 Classic Only Took Off After Another Rock Band Covered It
Bruce Springsteen’s legacy runs far and deep. Widely regarded as the poetic heart of America’s working class, it’s the humanity in his art that has brought the world so close to him. A pioneer in the rock genre, Springsteen’s storytelling journeys through love, loss, and labor, finding all the romance within the disillusionment that comes with chasing the American Dream.
Springsteen’s influence spans generations, having earned 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and induction into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The upcoming biopic of his life, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, led by Jeremy Allen White, is set to bring his legacy even further to the masses. But interestingly enough, when you think of everything Bruce Springsteen has contributed to the industry and beyond, his arguably most famous song typically doesn’t come to mind. That’s because in actuality, he isn’t credited with making it famous. A rock act known as Manfred Mann’s Earth Band took Bruce Springsteen’s little-known 1973 song “Blinded by the Light” and turned it into a massive, chart-topping international hit, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Yet, even today, it’s an afterthought to associate Springsteen with his most groundbreaking hit.
The Legacy of “Blinded by the Light”
bruce-springsteen-western-stars-movie-imageImage via Warner Bros.
The iconic track globally known as “Blinded by the Light” was originally written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen for his 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Though it was actually more folk-leaning, contrary to the song it would eventually become, it held the same cosmic potency as it does today. Lyrically, “Blinded by the Light” is a larger-than-life song that invigorates the spirit and makes you proud to be alive. However, the project ultimately sold modestly; therefore, the song itself faded into oblivion. Springsteen was still years away from mainstream fame and “Blinded by the Light” would be long forgotten as the hit that could have been.
Luckily, there were some undeniably talented ears that the song did happen to fall upon. British progressive rock group Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, formed by South African musician Manfred Mann, had perfected their stylistic approach to every cover they took on. In 1976, only three years after Springsteen’s debut, the band found inspiration in “Blinded by the Light” and reimagined it with a bold, synthesizer-driven arrangement, birthing the timeless rock anthem that introduced it to the masses and cemented the legacy it holds today.
Manfred Mann Revives a Bruce Springsteen Classic
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, a fusion of progressive rock textures meeting Springsteen catchy hooks gave the song a breath of new life. So much so that in 1977, their cover soared to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was an instant success, as many felt electrified by the passion embedded in the song. It also introduced Springsteen’s songwriting to an international scale, as this somehow served as the only Springsteen–penned song ever to top the U.S. charts. But though it was honored as Springsteen’s, the song’s success did the most heavy lifting by boosting Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s career.
While Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s version has accumulated over 167 million streams of the song on Spotify, Springsteen’s version has only earned 23 million, proving that even today, it’s much more commonly recognized as their sonic effort rather than his. While Springsteen’s own version, of course, remains a cult favorite among devout fans, Mann’s electrified reinterpretation became one of the most enduring rock covers of all time.
But rather than pin both versions against each other, it’s important to recognize and celebrate what happens when talent meets talent. Neither song would hold the cultural weight it does without both parties being involved. Springsteen has always had a sense of humor about Manfred Mann’s version and expressed appreciation for the song’s success. Mann, in turn, expressed nothing but admiration for Springsteen’s writing, calling him “one of the greatest lyricists of his generation.” Their mutual respect proves that when done with pure intention and a true passion for the art, reinvention will only amplify original genius. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band cover of “Blinded by the Light” ultimately ended up proving that Bruce Springsteen’s impeccable songwriting possessed a universal power, even when filtered through a completely different artistic vision.
