When debating the top American rock ‘n’ roll acts of all time, you don’t have to go far down the list to find Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band.

Hit songs like “Born to Run”, “Glory Days”, “Dancing in the Dark” and “Born in the USA” still rock arenas and car radios decades after their initial release.

Photographer David Gahr (1922-2008) befriended Springsteen before he hit the big time, capturing rare images of the soon-to-be superstar in the early 1970s. The two eventually partnered for 25 sessions over 14 years, however, most of the photos went unpublished as only a select few were used for album art or magazine covers.

“Even Bruce had not seen most of these photos,” Govinda Gallery director Chris Murray said. “It’s pretty fun to have them come out of the vault.”

In the newly released Bruce Springsteen: From Asbury Park, to Born To Run, to Born In The USA, Murray displays his selections from Gahr’s large collection of Springsteen photographs. The book chronicles Springsteen from 1973-1986, when he went from up-and-coming to world famous.

“The nice thing is that David was with Bruce from the beginning,” Murray said. “It was a great dynamic between a musical artist and a visual artist.”

Springsteen is still going strong at 68. The star is hosting Springsteen on Broadway through the end of the year, opting to have an intimate gathering to tell stories and sing at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

“I would say that Bruce is literally at the peak of his fame right now,” Murray said. “I don’t know if he’s ever been more famous or admired. The ‘Born to Run’ era will always be the anthem of Bruce, but I think he’s evolved so well.”

Launch the gallery to see never-before-seen photos of Springsteen during his glory years. Photos by David Gahr (© The Estate of David Gahr/Courtesy Govinda Gallery).