“Streets Of Philadelphia”, released in 1994, very easily could have been Bruce Springsteen’s last Top 40 single in America. The track, written for the movie Philadelphia, gave Springsteen an Oscar and a Top 10 single.
Videos by American Songwriter
A movie played into the success of what would actually become Springsteen’s last Top 40 hit. Were it not for an enterprising DJ from Portland, it might never have made it.
Springsteen’s Pop Chart History
Most of Bruce Springsteen’s chart success with singles came in a relatively tight window in the mid-80s. That’s when he went nuclear with the Born In The U.S.A. album, becoming a pop star while somehow maintaining his stance as a rock Everyman.
Springsteen lost some of that chart momentum simply because he didn’t release much music in the decade following that album’s 1984 release. Tunnel Of Love, the LP he released in 1987, kept it rolling with three Top 15 hits. But it would be another five years before The Boss delivered another album.
When he did, he released two of them on the same day. Neither of those records (Human Touch and Lucky Town) featured the E Street Band, whom he had jettisoned in the late 80s. But that estimable set of musicians came back to the fold by the time Springsteen got around to releasing his last Top 40 hit.
Getting the Band Back Together
In 1995, Bruce Springsteen released a greatest hits album. Since many of the songs included featured the essential contributions of the E Street Band, he called the band back to record a few new songs for inclusion on the record. One of those new tracks was a ballad called “Secret Garden”.
In many ways, the introspective, hushed song recalled some of the material about adult romantic relationships that peppered Springsteen’s early 90s work. For the most part, the E Street Band stays in the background in the track, except for when Clarence Clemons steps out for a gorgeous saxophone solo.
Upon its release as a single in 1995, “Secret Garden” only made it to No. 63. The story of this song’s commercial prospects might have ended there. But a movie director with an ear for good tunes and a clever DJ gave the song a surprising second life.
Not So “Secret” Anymore
Cameron Crowe, who once made his living as a Rolling Stone journalist, directed the movie Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise, in 1996. He included “Secret Garden” in the movie, which went on to become a major hit. Many moviegoers were hearing this Springsteen gem for the first time, since the original single release was so muted.
To strengthen its exposure, a Portland DJ did a mix of the song that included several snippets of dialogue from the film. This version started to make the rounds to other stations across the country. “Secret Garden” suddenly found a wide audience well after its initial release.
Sensing the way the winds were blowing, Bruce Springsteen authorized a re-release of “Secret Garden” as a single in 1987. Listeners were ready for it this time around, and the song made it all the way to No. 19. As of now, it’s the last time that Springsteen made it that high on the pop charts.
Photo by Neal Preston
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.