Track Listing

1. E Street Shuffle
2. 4th Of July Asbury Park (Sandy)
3. Kitty's Back
4. Wild Billy's Circus Story
5. Incident On 57th Street
6. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
7. New York City Serenade

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3303 in Music
• Released on: 2003-05-05
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
Bruce Springsteen's second album found him at a pivotal point in his development. The most musically expansive record of his career, THE WILD, THE INNOCENT & THE E STREET SHUFFLE found Bruce beginning to find his own sound, moving beyond the Dylan-meets-Van Morrison folk-rock of his debut. Though the signature Spector-on-steroids E Street Band sound wouldn't fall fully into place until the next album, this one sounds like a sudden realisation of a universe of musical possibilities. While this is solidly a rock record, there are hintsof jazz, blues, soul, Latin music, and more.
This would be the only time the cinematic vistas of Springsteen's earlylyrics were matched by equally impressionistic music. "WildBilly's Circus Story" marks the point on wildly divergent career paths when Springsteen and Tom Waits seemed to intersect. "4th of July, Asbury Park" and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" are unlike anything that had come before them, story-songs full of shifts in tone, dynamics, and mood that are as surprising as they are evocative. Springsteen hadn't yet transformed into the Rock God he'd soon become, but THE WILD, THE INNOCENT... clearly shows him already well on his way.

Customer Reviews

Classic Springsteen
I don't often write reviews here - there never seems much need, I never feel too motivated. The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle is one of those albums that has compelled me to lift my pen.

There are definitely a numbe of different styles to Bruce's music and this would certainly sit within the classic genre. While I count myself as a massive fan, I was never hugely fond of the later more commercial music; I would always cast back to Born to Run, The River and Darkness. Born in the USA just never took me to the same place. My passion for his music recently resurfaced with the issuing of The Rising and a return to my favourite sound of the band, and the tour certainly reinforced this. So, desperate for a further new album I acquired this one. I was not disappointed.

This is Springsteen at his very best and while the E Street Band had not taken on it's best known line-up yet, they certainly perform a beautiful sounding album here. The songs are long and poetic, music to make your soul weep with joy. From the outset it's obvious that this is something very special and as the final notes fade, the smile on your face remains, the sun shines and everything is right with the world.

It's not as well known. It's not as popular. But, it certainly is one of the very best albums the Boss has released. There will always be arguments about the best album and everybody has their own taste. For me, this features up there at the very peak. No matter where your preferences lie, you will not dislike it.

"Rosie! Come Out Tonight!"
'The Wild, The Innocent And The E-Street Shuffle'; hapless adventures of the heart from the rough side of town. Weatherbeaten fairgrounds, boardwalked shores, circuses and swamps. Brilliant.

Couldn't Agree More
..With the other reviewers. Born To Run, whilst also great, has overshadowed this and made it forgotten. Yet it's his most soulful and varied work - every track is different and warms you.
Long and complex tracks too.
I originally had it on cassette and the running order (to equal tape length) is better. Rosalita and 4th July are swapped. So when you do the right thing and buy this CD, program the tracks to do that. It makes the first half so dynamic till it chills out at the end (of side one). Then the second half is mellower and more relaxed. The album works so well this way.
Go on, buy it, you know you should.