Bruce Springsteen's prog album

I've been a huge Bruce Springsteen fan since the late 70s, but on this forum I've rarely mentioned him, as frankly he does not fit the prog style to any extent. However, I do admire your attempt to put a 'progressive' gloss on the 2nd album - The Wild.....!

He was still finding his own style after the Dylanesque debut, Greetings.... and it would only be with Born to Run that the
template was found. However, you are right to highlight the whirl of different genres and styles on The Wild... album. It is very jazz-orientated in places and very few artists brought out that mix of folk, rock, blues, Latin/Spanish, jazz and soul influences along with long-form improvisation, at the time (Steely Dan, perhaps?) It was actually that eclectic mix that made it a difficult sell at the time to the record-buying public and threatened his career with Columbia etc. However, retrospectively if was a daring mix and 'progressive' in its scope, if not with the 'prog' overtones we tend to judge the genre by (rightly or wrongly).

'Incident...' is a true classic and the prequel to the sublime 'Jungleland', while 'Rosalita' was the workhorse of live concerts for decades to come. I've shouted out "The record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance!" too many times to mention at concerts over the years!

Anyway....nice to discuss the Boss on PA for a change - although don't think we'll be doing it too much more in the months to come, though!

Edited by Squonk19 - November 22 2018 at 15:52

Manuel wrote: I frankly neve got into Bruce Spreengsteen, and I didn't know about this album. It sounds intersting and I think I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

Springsteen? I'm still waiting for Yoko's prog album to come out.

Squonk19 wrote: I've been a huge Bruce Springsteen fan since the late 70s, but on this forum I've rarely mentioned him, as frankly he does not fit the prog style to any extent. However, I do admire your attempt to put a 'progressive' gloss on the 2nd album - The Wild.....! He was still finding his own style after the Dylanesque debut, Greetings.... and it would only be with Born to Run that the template was found. However, you are right to highlight the whirl of different genres and styles on The Wild... album. It is very jazz-orientated in places and very few artists brought out that mix of folk, rock, blues, Latin/Spanish, jazz and soul influences along with long-form improvisation, at the time (Steely Dan, perhaps?) It was actually that eclectic mix that made it a difficult sell at the time to the record-buying public and threatened his career with Columbia etc. However, retrospectively if was a daring mix and 'progressive' in its scope, if not with the 'prog' overtones we tend to judge the genre by (rightly or wrongly). 'Incident...' is a true classic and the prequel to the sublime 'Jungleland', while 'Rosalita' was the workhorse of live concerts for decades to come. I've shouted out "The record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance!" too many times to mention at concerts over the years! Anyway....nice to discuss the Boss on PA for a change - although don't think we'll be doing it too much more in the months to come, though!

Edited by jamesbaldwin - November 23 2018 at 07:17

micky wrote: .... Springstein was something different. A product of cynical side of the music business

I used to hate Springsteen until i discovered his early stuff which started with this album. So you think this is prog, huh? Not really. Keep in mind that jazz-rock doesn't necessarily mean proggy jazz-rock. There are many bands that have been labeled as such that don't make it onto to this site otherwise any rock band that adds a saxophone solo would be given the golden key to enter this prog kingdom. 

siLLy puPPy wrote: I used to hate Springsteen until i discovered his early stuff which started with this album. So you think this is prog, huh? Not really. Keep in mind that jazz-rock doesn't necessarily mean proggy jazz-rock. There are many bands that have been labeled as such that don't make it onto to this site otherwise any rock band that adds a saxophone solo would be given the golden key to enter this prog kingdom.  Heartland rock isn't my thing really mostly because i'm from that area originally but nevertheless i still have managed to find most Springsteen albums, some Bob Seger, John Cougar Mellencamp and Tom Petty in my collection more for a few select tracks rather than an album listening experience. This album is probablly the best of the lot though, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle

are you into him because he's Italian American? lol

^ funny.. you missed what some, including myself consider to be his single best song.