Bruce Springsteen wrote his 1985 hit “I’m On Fire” in around two minutes, drawing on the rhythm and style of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three rather than a personal love story. The song became one of the standout singles from Born in the U.S.A., illustrating how a quickly developed, sparse arrangement could become a defining part of Springsteen’s catalogue.

Springsteen said he did not initially expect the track to appear on an album; its recording featured his guitar, synthesiser and Max Weinberg playing a bass foot part. Although it was a major hit, it did not reach number one, reflecting the fact that Springsteen never had a solo UK or US number-one single according to the article; Cash later covered it for the 2000 tribute album Badlands.