This cardboard point-of-purchase (POP) display was used by record stores to promote the 1984 release of Bruce Springsteen's masterwork, Born in the U.S.A.

The night before BITUSA was officially released, I'd waited all night in a box office parking lot to buy tickets to Springsteen's upcoming three-night stand at the Rosemont Horizon. After purchasing my tickets and buying the album, I came home and listened to BITUSA for the first time. I knew instantly that the album would become a classic.

The photograph on the POP was considered for the album cover, but bumped for the famous and somewhat controversial shot of Bruce's backside. [Note: I have written a in-depth article on this subject, which can be found in my recently published book of essays.]

Born in the USA went on to be one of the most popular albums ever recorded--selling more than 18 million copies in 1984.

The POP display was sold to a private collector in 2002.