"The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle" is the second studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Recorded with the E Street Band at 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt, New York, it was released on November 5, 1973, by Columbia Records. The album features the song "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)," which became the band's most-used set-closing song through 1985.
Like Springsteen's debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., released earlier that year, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle received critical acclaim but achieved little commercial success initially. Locally, however, it sold well and was frequently played on Northeast album-oriented rock stations, making Springsteen a local phenomenon. Following his rise to national popularity with Born to Run in 1975, several tracks from this album gained popularity on FM radio and became concert favorites. On November 7, 2009, Springsteen and the E Street Band performed the album in its entirety for the first time during a concert at Madison Square Garden. In Rolling Stone's 2020 edition of its "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time," the album was ranked at number 345.
Recording began on May 14, 1973, focusing initially on "Circus Song," which was later retitled "Wild Billy's Circus Story." Two days later, "The Fever" was recorded in one take but was ultimately discarded. Recording sessions resumed on June 22, and by the end of the week, most of the album was completed. The final recording session took place on September 23, 1973, where final touches were applied to several tracks, including "Kitty's Back" and "Rosalita." "Incident on 57th Street," along with "New York City Serenade" and "The E Street Shuffle," were also part of the album.
Biographer Peter Ames Carlin noted that Springsteen had developed a renewed passion for full-band rock 'n' roll with this album. Critics have described it as a departure from the folk influences of his debut, featuring a blend of nostalgic rock 'n' roll and soulful R&B.
The album cover features a photograph of six members of the E Street Band standing in a doorway of an antique store in Long Branch, New Jersey. The building, which has since been demolished, was previously a bicycle repair shop and penny candy store. The album's title is partly inspired by the 1959 film The Wild and the Innocent.
There is some confusion regarding the album's release date. Official sources, including Springsteen's website, indicate a release date of September 11, 1973, but it is known that recording continued into late September. The album was officially released on November 5, 1973, with minimal press coverage, no advertisements, and no release party, likely due to Springsteen's deteriorating relationship with Columbia Records. This situation nearly led to the termination of his contract in 1974.
