The Vinyl Project: The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle by Bruce Springsteen (1973)
A Trip Thru Your Grooves - Episode 5
Release Date: 11-November-1973
Genre: Rock
Producer: Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Label: Columbia Records
Time: 46m 47s
Review Date: 12-November-2018
Format: LP
Side One
Release Date: 11-November-1973
Genre: Rock
Producer: Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos
Label: Columbia Records
Time: 46m 47s
Review Date: 12-November-2018
Format: LP
Side One
- The E Street Shuffle
- 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)
- Kitty's Back
- Wild Billy's Circus Story
Side Two
- Incident on 57th Street
- Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
- New York City Serenade
Review: There was a time during the mid-to-late 1960s where record labels were trying to get bands to release Bob Dylan-like albums. The Beatles' U.S. release of Rubber Soul on Capitol Records is a great example. Springsteen's first album, Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ, was as Dylan-esque as it gets, and his follow up, The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle leaned heavily on the same formula for the most part.
On this sophomore release, though, Springsteen's writing and arrangements show a gigantic leap in maturity. Incident on 57th Street, for example, follows the same pattern Springsteen established on his debut album, but with more depth and breadth compositionally. The same could be said of 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) which is really an epilogue of sorts to the previous LP.
Springsteen's mix of hometown swagger and folk rock only garnered him critical acclaim, however. The positive reviews didn't translate well to sales, much like his debut, which sold only 25,000 copies in its first year after release. But something clicked for the Boss and his (unnamed, at the time) band in the studio this time around: a mix of nostalgic rock & roll, soulful R&B and just a touch of funk on a few songs changed the entire trajectory of Springsteen's career.
The underrated The E Street Shuffle kicks off this long player and offers the first glimpse of the new Boss, and Kitty's Back follows suit, a frenetic combination of rock and rhythm and blues with more than a hint of swaggering sexuality. Meanwhile, the anthemic sensibilities of Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - the resplendent jewel of this album - would become a big part of Springsteen's live performance MO over the next four decades.
For me Rosalita was the epitome of the youthful spirit of America when I first heard it. Its strength lies in its ever-changing array, and combines lively enthusiasm and endearing optimism through lyrics that play out like a Shakespearian sonnet over three separate acts. Not only did the song make Bruce a household name, it put him on the path toward a career-defining moment with his release of the Jon Landau-produced Born To Run.
I didn't discover this great album until nearly five years after its release. I'd assume most Springsteen fans had heard Rosalita on FM stations but never really did a deep dive on the song's album, at least not until Born to Run came out in '75 and everybody tried to catch up on his earlier works. And though I am a late bloomer - I didn't become a Springsteen fan until I heard Prove it All Night from his 1978 release, Darkness on the Edge of Town - this album remains my favorite in Springsteen's entire oeuvre.
Best Songs: Kitty's Back, Rosalita, 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)
A Deep Cut You'll Love: Incident on 57th Street
Feeling feverish: The Fever, a song which had also been recorded by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes for the album I Don't Want to Go Home, was recorded during the sessions for this album but removed before the first pressing. It's inclusion would have made this a far stronger album and is a fan favorite. Springsteen later released that song on his 18 Tracks CD.
An interesting note about this album: There is disagreement on The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle's release date between official and third-party sources, including various Springsteen biographies covering the era. Springsteen's official website provides a release date of September 11, 1973; however, it is known that Springsteen was still in the studio recording for the album well past that date. The consensus among other sources is that the album was released on November 11th, though November 5th has also been cited among some online sources.
Hey.... wanna donate toward my passion? I thank you kindly in advance.
On this sophomore release, though, Springsteen's writing and arrangements show a gigantic leap in maturity. Incident on 57th Street, for example, follows the same pattern Springsteen established on his debut album, but with more depth and breadth compositionally. The same could be said of 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) which is really an epilogue of sorts to the previous LP.
Springsteen's mix of hometown swagger and folk rock only garnered him critical acclaim, however. The positive reviews didn't translate well to sales, much like his debut, which sold only 25,000 copies in its first year after release. But something clicked for the Boss and his (unnamed, at the time) band in the studio this time around: a mix of nostalgic rock & roll, soulful R&B and just a touch of funk on a few songs changed the entire trajectory of Springsteen's career.
The underrated The E Street Shuffle kicks off this long player and offers the first glimpse of the new Boss, and Kitty's Back follows suit, a frenetic combination of rock and rhythm and blues with more than a hint of swaggering sexuality. Meanwhile, the anthemic sensibilities of Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - the resplendent jewel of this album - would become a big part of Springsteen's live performance MO over the next four decades.
For me Rosalita was the epitome of the youthful spirit of America when I first heard it. Its strength lies in its ever-changing array, and combines lively enthusiasm and endearing optimism through lyrics that play out like a Shakespearian sonnet over three separate acts. Not only did the song make Bruce a household name, it put him on the path toward a career-defining moment with his release of the Jon Landau-produced Born To Run.
I didn't discover this great album until nearly five years after its release. I'd assume most Springsteen fans had heard Rosalita on FM stations but never really did a deep dive on the song's album, at least not until Born to Run came out in '75 and everybody tried to catch up on his earlier works. And though I am a late bloomer - I didn't become a Springsteen fan until I heard Prove it All Night from his 1978 release, Darkness on the Edge of Town - this album remains my favorite in Springsteen's entire oeuvre.
Best Songs: Kitty's Back, Rosalita, 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)
A Deep Cut You'll Love: Incident on 57th Street
Feeling feverish: The Fever, a song which had also been recorded by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes for the album I Don't Want to Go Home, was recorded during the sessions for this album but removed before the first pressing. It's inclusion would have made this a far stronger album and is a fan favorite. Springsteen later released that song on his 18 Tracks CD.
An interesting note about this album: There is disagreement on The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle's release date between official and third-party sources, including various Springsteen biographies covering the era. Springsteen's official website provides a release date of September 11, 1973; however, it is known that Springsteen was still in the studio recording for the album well past that date. The consensus among other sources is that the album was released on November 11th, though November 5th has also been cited among some online sources.
- Previous Review: Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits (1985)
- Up Next: Live 1975-1985 by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (1986)
Hey.... wanna donate toward my passion? I thank you kindly in advance.
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