1980 in music pt 3: Bruce Springsteen - The River

Fatal car crashes, shotgun weddings, layoffs, mothers-in-law ... a period of decline in the USA chronicled in a massive double album release from Bruce Springsteen (and the E Street Band).

The USA suffered the humiliation of its Embassy being seized in Tehran, followed by a failed rescue attempt, and also boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Many believed that the United States was in an irreversible decline and had already been eclipsed by the communist world.

Following the "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album, Bruce came back with the even darker "The River" album in 1980. He and his band were actually on the rise that year, selling out massive arenas and playing 3 and 4 hour concerts to rave reviews.