The Rising (album)
| Company type | studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | July 30, 2002 |
| Founder | Bruce Springsteen |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music album |
| Parent | Columbia Records |
The Rising represents the twelfth studio release by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, launched on July 30, 2002, under the Columbia Records label. This album serves as Springsteen's artistic reaction to the September 11 attacks and marked his first project to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart since Tunnel of Love in 1987.
Celebrated as a powerful comeback, the record earned two Grammy Awards and initiated Springsteen’s productive partnership with producer Brendan O'Brien. Arriving seven years after The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995), it was his first studio effort in nearly twenty years featuring the E Street Band, following an acclaimed reunion tour.
Background and recording
The impetus for creating The Rising came when a stranger approached Springsteen after September 11, saying, "We need you now." Some songs had been penned before the attacks occurred. The album’s title track tells the story of a firefighter climbing the World Trade Center as people escape, embodying themes of endurance and optimism.
Originally about Asbury Park, "My City of Ruins" took on a renewed meaning after 9/11, symbolizing hope and regeneration. Springsteen performed it live during the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon shortly following the tragedy, describing it as "'a prayer for our fallen brothers and sisters'". The song incorporates elements from Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready."
"Further On (Up the Road)" was introduced live during the Reunion Tour at Madison Square Garden and recorded professionally but was not included in any official live album. "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" originated in the 1990s and was heard during soundchecks on the Reunion Tour. "Nothing Man," initially completed in 1994, was re-recorded for inclusion on this album.
Notable for its strong Middle Eastern musical influence and featuring Qawwali vocalists, "Worlds Apart" stands out stylistically. "The Fuse" incorporates subtle hip hop rhythms and vocal loops; an orchestral rendition appears in Spike Lee's film 25th Hour. "Mary's Place" draws direct inspiration from Sam Cooke's track "Meet Me at Mary's Place."
Release
Supported by the most extensive pre-release campaign of Springsteen’s career and an accompanying tour, The Rising became his sixth album to top the US Billboard 200 chart and also reached number one in six other countries, including the United Kingdom.
Critical reception
Critics widely praised The Rising, which holds an aggregate score of 82/100 on Metacritic. Rolling Stone commended it as a unified work with a strong thematic core. Thom Jurek of AllMusic described it as "one of the finest demonstrations of how popular art can capture a historical moment and its emotional complexities." Entertainment Weekly emphasized Springsteen’s revitalized relevance despite some weighty lyrical content, supported by vivid musical arrangements. The A.V. Club highlighted the album’s assured musicianship and compassionate songwriting, while Uncut lauded it as "a courageous and stunning work" and "an extraordinary accomplishment."
Conversely, The Guardian offered a mixed perspective, viewing the music as outdated and lyrics as overly simplistic, while The Village Voice criticized its lack of specificity and memorable characters. Critic Robert Christgau acknowledged several strong tracks but ultimately felt the album did not justify its emotional intensity and patriotic emphasis.
Ranked sixth in the 2002 Pazz & Jop critics poll, The Rising also saw its title track named among that year’s best singles by Christgau. It appeared on numerous best-of lists such as that of Kludge magazine and was ranked fifteenth among the top albums of the 2000s by Rolling Stone. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2003 and received a nomination for Album of the Year, ultimately losing to Norah Jones' debut Come Away with Me. The title song "The Rising" also secured a Grammy award.
Legacy
Although The Rising was originally crafted as a direct artistic reaction to the events of 9/11, it has evolved into a broader symbol of perseverance and optimism. Reflecting on the album's impact during its tenth anniversary, Dan DeLuca from the Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted how tracks such as "Lonesome Day", "You're Missing," and "My City of Ruins" utilize evocative and metaphorical language that extends well beyond their initial inspiration. Notably, "My City of Ruins" has been embraced in the wake of other calamities, including Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Springsteen’s 2006 live rendition at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival stirred deep emotions, particularly with the rallying chorus "Come on rise up!" The album’s title song, "The Rising", conveying a message of hope amid hardship, gained renewed prominence when featured during the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Track listing
Issued as a vinyl double LP, the album’s songs are distributed across four sides: tracks 1 through 4 on Side 1; tracks 5 to 8 on Side 2; tracks 9 to 11 on Side 3; and tracks 12 through 15 on Side 4.
Tour edition bonus DVD
- "The Rising" – live performance from the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
- "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" – live recording from The Rising Tour, Barcelona, 2002
- "Lonesome Day" – official music video
- "Mary's Place" – live from The Rising Tour, Barcelona, 2002
- "Dancing in the Dark" – live performance during The Rising Tour, Barcelona, 2002
Personnel
Information sourced from the album’s liner notes:
- Bruce Springsteen – vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, harmonica
- Roy Bittan – piano, keyboards, Mellotron, Kurzweil, pump organ, Korg M1, Crumar
- Clarence Clemons – saxophone, backing vocals
- Danny Federici – Hammond B3, Vox Continental, Farfisa
- Nils Lofgren – electric guitar, Dobro, slide guitar, banjo, backing vocals
- Patti Scialfa – vocals
- Garry Tallent – bass guitar
- Steven Van Zandt – electric guitar, backing vocals, mandolin
- Max Weinberg – drums
Additional musicians
- Soozie Tyrell – violin and backing vocals on selected tracks
- Brendan O'Brien – hurdy-gurdy, glockenspiel, orchestra bells across various pieces
- Larry Lemaster, Jere Flint, and Jane Scarpantoni – cello parts on specific selections
- Nashville String Machine:
- Carl Gorodetzky – contractor and concertmaster for violins
- Ensemble comprising violins, violas, and celli with Ricky Keller serving as conductor and arranger
- Asif Ali Khan and ensemble – guest vocalists on track 7, featuring harmonium and tabla performers
- Alliance Singers (featured on tracks 8 and 11), including choir contractor and soloist
- The Miami Horns (appearing on track 11):
- Trumpets by Mark Pender and Mike Spengler
- Trombone by Rich Rosenberg
- Tenor saxophone by Jerry Vivino
- Baritone saxophone by Ed Manion
Technical
- Production and mixing by Brendan O'Brien
- Engineering handled by Nick Didia
- Additional engineering contributions from Karl Egsieker and Billy Bowers
- Track 8 received further engineering support from Toby Scott
- Melissa Mattey provided second engineering for the Nashville String Machine on track 5
- Recording and second engineering for Asif Ali Khan and Group (track 7) were conducted by Chuck Plotkin, Dave Reed, and Bryan Humphrey
- Mastering completed by Bob Ludwig
- Digital editing overseen by Laurie Flannery
- Art direction and design created by Chris Austopchuk and Dave Bett
- Design work by Michelle Holme
- Photography credited to Danny Clinch
Weekly rankings
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart {{album chart|Ireland|2|year=2002|week=31|rowheader=true|}| Chart (2002) | Highest rank |
|---|---|
| European Albums (Music & Media) | 1 |
Annual rankings
| Chart (2002) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 43 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 16 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 88 |
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) | 53 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 40 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 111 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 14 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 3 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 34 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 87 |
| US Billboard 200 | 34 |
| Worldwide Albums (IFPI) | 20 |
| Chart (2003) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 99 |
| US Billboard 200 | 166 |
See also
- The Rising, tribute to the September 11 attacks