October 17, 1980 — Bruce Springsteen opened the new decade with The River, a double album that felt like a movie about real life in small-town America. It was raw, emotional, and full of heart — from the anthemic “Hungry Heart” to the haunting title track that spoke to love, loss, and growing up too soon. MTV was just around the corner, but Springsteen didn’t need flashy videos — his stories and songs were the pictures. The River marked a turning point, where the working-class poet became the vo