The Wild , the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle The Wild , the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle Studio album by Bruce Springsteen Released September 11 , 1973 Recorded June - August 1973 at 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt , New York Genre Rock Length 46 : 47 Label Columbia Records Producer ( s ) Mike Appel , Jim Cretecos Professional reviews All Music Guide link Robert Christgau ( A- ) link Rolling Stone link Bruce Springsteen chronology Greetings from Asbury Park , N . J . ( 1973 ) The Wild , the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle ( 1973 ) Born to Run ( 1975 ) The Wild , the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle is the second album by Bruce Springsteen and the as-yet-unnamed E Street Band , it is described by All Music Guide as One of the greatest albums in the history of rock and roll . It was released in 1973 ( see 1973 in music ) . As with his first album , it was well-received critically but had little commercial success at the time . However , once Springsteen achieved popularity with Born to Run , several selections from this album became popular FM radio airplay and concert favorites . Template : Factoid In 2003 , the album was ranked number 132 on Rolling Stone magazine 's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time . Track listing `` The E Street Shuffle '' – 4 : 31 `` 4th of July , Asbury Park ( Sandy ) `` – 5 : 36 `` Kitty 's Back '' – 7 : 09 `` Wild Billy 's Circus Story '' – 4 : 47 `` Incident on 57th Street '' – 7 : 45 `` Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight ) `` – 7 : 04 `` New York City Serenade '' – 9 : 55 Track listing `` The E Street Shuffle '' `` The E Street Shuffle '' introduces a small group of characters including Power Thirteen and `` his girl , Little Angel . '' The song describes the sordid characters of `` E Street. '' Sex references abound , such as `` All the little girls ' souls grow weak when the man-child gives them a double shot '' and references to `` teenage tramps in skintight pants. '' The police have also been particularly oppressive : `` the newsboys say the heat 's been bad since Power Thirteen gave a trooper all he had in a summer scuffle. '' The song is fast-paced and exciting , and sets the mood for the album . The story behind the song was Springsteen 's desire to share an allegorical story to modern day urbania . First line `` Sparks fly on E Street when the boy prophets walk it handsome and hot '' `` 4th of July , Asbury Park ( Sandy ) `` `` 4th of July , Asbury Park ( Sandy ) `` is a powerful love ballad , dedicated to Sandy and describing the depressing atmosphere that threatens to smother the love between the singer and Sandy . Locals include the `` stoned-out faces , `` `` switchblade lovers '' and `` the greasers `` who `` tramp the streets or get busted for sleeping on the beach all night. '' The singer is tired of `` hangin ' in them dusty arcades `` and `` chasin ' the factory girls . `` Van Morrison 's influence can be heard in this song , as `` 4th of July , Asbury Park ( Sandy ) `` closely parallels his romanticization of Belfast in such songs as `` Cypress Avenue '' and `` Madame George `` . One of the first other artists to cover Springsteen were The Hollies , who recorded a single of `` Sandy '' in 1975 . This song was chosen by Tony Blair as one of his Desert Island Discs , apparently because he listened to it many times when he was courting his future wife Cherie Booth . First line `` Sandy , the fireworks are hailin ' over Little Eden tonight '' Cover Singer-songwriter Richard Shindell has recored what has been described as a `` near-holy reading '' of this song for his live album , Courier . `` Kitty 's Back '' `` Kitty 's Back '' describes , in contrast to the happy-in-spite-of-everything lovers of `` 4th of July '' , the depressed and unlucky characters of the seedy part of town . Catlong , Kitty , Sally , Big Pretty and Jack Knife are the only characters introduced by name , and the song focuses on Catlong ( usually referred to as `` Cat '' ) and Kitty , his ex-girlfriend , who `` left to marry some top cat '' ( referring to Big Pretty , and contrasting with her boyfriend , Catlong ) . In the end , Catlong can not resist Kitty when she returns because `` she 's so soft , she 's so blue , `` and , even though he `` knows his Kitty 's been untrue '' he `` just sits back and sighs/Ooh , what can I do ; ooh , what can I do . `` First line `` Catlong sighs holding Kitty 's black tooth '' `` Wild Billy 's Circus Story '' `` Wild Billy 's Circus Story '' describes a panoply of circus people , including the fat woman ( `` Big Mama '' ) , the fire-eater ( who 's `` lyin ' in a pool of sweat , a victim of the heat wave '' ) and more . None of the characters get more than a line or two of description , characterizing them as dysfunctional , and bored in spite of the apparent freakishness . The titular character , Billy , is not introduced until the very end when the `` circus boss '' whispers to him `` hey son , do you wantto try the big top ? /All aboard , Nebraska 's the next stop. '' This song may be one large reference to Bob Dylan 's talltale of starting his music career with a traveling circus at the age of 13 . First line `` The machinist climbs his ferris wheel like a brave '' `` Incident on 57th Street '' `` Incident on 57th Street '' is about `` Spanish Johnny , `` who is `` dressed just like dynamite `` though he drives a `` beat-up old Buick `` and ca n't find a girlfriend . A desperate Johnny is told he is a cheater and a liar by `` the pimps `` who `` swing their axes . '' He meets `` Puerto Rican Jane '' who wants to take him `` to the other part of town where paradise ai n't so crowded. '' The new couple find their `` soul flame `` while `` out on the street tonight. '' In spite of their sudden love , Jane knows `` he 'd never be true but she did n't really mind. '' Though Johnny tries not to get involved in the sordid affairs of his neighborhood , preferring to watch `` the kids playin ' down the street. '' Jane sleeps with her `` sheets damp from sweat `` while `` Johnny sits up alone and watches her dream on , dream on. '' When Jane wakes up , she sees `` Johnny putting his clothes back on '' and all she can say is `` those romantic young boys/All they ever want to do is fight. '' Johnny 's friends call in through the window , asking if he wants to make `` some easy money `` and he leaves , promising to meet Jane `` tomorrow night on Lover 's Lane . `` The song is often remembered for Garry Tallent 's bass solo at 4.00 minutes `` Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight ) `` Main article : Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight ) `` Rosalita ( Come Out Tonight ) `` is a story of forbidden love between the singer and `` Rosalita '' . It one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 's `` 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll '' . The song 's music video occupied the # `` 71 spot on Rolling Stone 's 1993 list of the top 100 videos . First line `` Spread out now Rosie , Doctor , come cut loose her Mama 's reins `` `` New York City Serenade '' `` New York City Serenade '' makes less coherent sense than the earlier songs . The first verse concerns `` Billy '' and `` Diamond Jackie , `` who are `` gonna boogaloo down Broadway and come back home with the loot. '' The second verse is about a `` fish lady '' who `` baits them tenement walls '' and `` wo n't take corner boys '' because they `` ai n't got no money . '' The singer invites her come with him `` down Broadway '' and `` shake away your street life/shake away your city life , `` and `` hook up to the train ; `` she , however , `` wo n't take the train '' because `` she 's afraid them tracks are gonna slow her down/and when she turns , this boy 'll be gone. '' The third verse is a plea directed towards the `` jazz man '' who is asked to `` play me your serenade '' and advised to `` save your notes , do n't spend 'em on the blues boy/Save your notes , do n't spend 'em on the darlin ' yearlin ' sharp boy . `` First line `` Billy he 's down by the railroad tracks '' Personnel The E Street Band Clarence Clemons – saxophone , vocals Danny Federici – accordion , keyboards , organ , piano , vocals Vini `` Mad Dog '' Lopez – drums , cornet , vocals David Sancious – clavinet , electric piano , keyboards , organ , piano , saxophone Bruce Springsteen – guitar , harmonica , bass guitar , mandolin , maracas , vocals Garry Tallent – bass , horn , tuba , vocals Additional musicians Richard Blackwell – conga , percussion Suki Lahav - choir vocals on `` 4th of July , Asbury Park ( Sandy ) `` ( uncredited ) Albee Tellone – baritone saxophone Production Teresa Alfieri – design John Berg – design David Gahr – photography Louis Lahav – engineer External link Album lyrics and audio samples Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Bruce Springsteen | Roy Bittan | Clarence Clemons | Danny Federici | Nils Lofgren | Patti Scialfa | Garry Tallent | Soozie Tyrell | Steven Van Zandt | Max Weinberg Ernest `` Boom '' Carter | Suki Lahav | Vini `` Mad Dog '' Lopez | David Sancious Original studio albums Greetings from Asbury Park , N.J. | The Wild , the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle | Born to Run | Darkness on the Edge of Town | The River | Nebraska | Born in the U.S.A. | Tunnel of Love | Human Touch | Lucky Town | The Ghost of Tom Joad | The Rising | Devils & Dust | We Shall Overcome : The Seeger Sessions Live albums Live/1975-85 | Chimes of Freedom ( EP ) | In Concert/MTV Plugged | Live in New York City ( also DVD ) | Live in Barcelona ( DVD ) | Hammersmith Odeon London '75 Compilations , Reissues , and Unreleased material albums Greatest Hits | Tracks | 18 Tracks | The Essential Bruce Springsteen | Born To Run 30th Anniversary Edition ( with DVD ) Bruce Springsteen discography Tours Born to Run tours | Darkness Tour | River Tour | Born in the U.S.A. Tour | Tunnel of Love Express | Human Rights Now ! | `` Other Band '' Tour | Ghost of Tom Joad Tour | Reunion Tour | Rising Tour | Vote for Change | Devils & Dust Tour | Seeger Sessions Band Tour Other Related Articles Mike Appel | Jon Landau | The Max Weinberg 7 | The Miami Horns Categories Bruce Springsteen | Bruce Springsteen albums | Bruce Springsteen songs | Bruce Springsteen musicians | Bruce Springsteen tours Notes and references ^ Jeff Schwatcher , Courier review at the All Music Guide ( 4.5/5 ) Categories : Bruce Springsteen albums | 1973 albums In other languages : Français | Italiano The Wild , the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle Album Bruce Springsteen TheWildTheInnocent.jpg September 11 , 1973 June - August 1973 at 914 Sound Studios in Blauvelt , New York Rock 46 : 47 Columbia Records Mike Appel , Jim Cretecos * All Music Guide link * Robert Christgau ( A- ) link * Rolling Stone link Greetings from Asbury Park , N . J . ( 1973 ) The Wild , the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle ( 1973 ) Born to Run ( 1975 ) The E Street Band is known to to have taken its name from Sancious ' mother 's home in Belmar , New Jersey . But based on first-hand recounts of David Sancious , the 'shuffle ' occurred when the band 's rented truck broke down late one night after a gig in New York City . Snowing , but within walking distance of Sancious ' mother 's home , the band decided to walk the short distance. 132 