re: What is the best beginner Bruce Springsteen album?

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Nebraska is the record for people that otherwise, don't like Bruce.. It's a great record and this comment is not to diminish anyone's opinion, if it's their favorite... I love it!

But for a beginner, it's not indicative of his "sound," with the e street band and most of his other records... it is in line with his songwriting and ability to tell a story in a song...

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Great points. I think Nebraska is a bit dark and unique for the Boss novice. For a beginner the classic sound is it. My 17 y/o musician son asked me the same question as the O.P. because he wanted to know why I thought Springsteen was so great. I pointed him first to "Born to Run" (which he voted "epic"), then gave him selections to listen to..."The Fever", "Rosalita", etc...early classics. This turned him on to older Boss where instrumentation was more important (he's a pianist). Then we saw him live at Jazz Fest (epic again).

Once he was into it he gave "Born in the USA" a listen and deemed it too "pop".

Born To Run
Darkness On The Edge of Town
The River

In a four year period, the dude cranked out 3 awesome albums, any of which singularly would give you a good sampling of what "classic" Springsteen is all about. At that time, there was almost a mystic quality to the guy given his legendary live shows, coupled with the quality of his songwriting. He was a prolific singer/songwriter (I get that has written and recorded a ton of material after this period).

I also really like Nebraska, but consider that more of a truly raw, bare bones, personal affair as a singer/songwriter. I don't consider it "classic" to the man and his catalogue in the sense of playing it with the full ensemble of the "E" Street Band.