What an absolute pleasure it was to finally hear this classic album , going in with high expectations 'The Wild , The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle ' delivered , this really is a stunning album and a must for any true music phile

Incredible to imagine this was album number 2 and Bruce was only 24 yo when this album was recorded , its an album mature beyond its years

No weak track with every note in its perfect place the AllMusic Review for this album states:

"In actual fact The Wild , The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle may well be the greatest record in the history of Rock and Roll "

It really is hard to argue with that

Defining

80/100

Heavily underrated, one of my favorites of Springsteen, the only thing is that Willy Billy Circus Story is pretty bad.

Underrated indeed.

my least listened to Bruce record
But still contains some Amazing songs - incident, rosalita, serenade - which have all become firm favourites due to their live outings over the years.
Signs of greatness to follow ....

A legend to be showing his first glimpses of greatness. This album includes some of his best work, although a bit incoherent in total. Best tracks: Sandy, Incident on 57th street, Rosalita, New York City serenade.

Soulier & jazzier, younger, and better than later in his career

I always love seeing that great picture of Orlando Bloom every time I put this album on.

Bruce Springsteen's second album is a much more jazzier and soul sounding affair, and the songs have begun to take on a more epic stance. Unlike it's predecessor, the wild and the innocent, feels much more like a band album rather than a solo record. It contains at least two Springsteen classics in the beautiful, Sandy, and the thrilling, rosalita, both brilliant. Other standouts are the funky title track, and the jazzy, kitty's back, which could be extended to around 20 minutes in it's live incarnation. Wild Billy's circus story, is about as close as the record gets to the Asbury park album. Incident on 57th street, is another strong track, and the LP closes with the often underrated and overlooked epic, New York serenade. It's a fantastic album and probably the closest Bruce got to bringing the new Jersey atmosphere and all it's character's to life. Wonderful.

This was released between his iconic debut and Born to Run so it's easy to see why this album doesn't get its proper due. Still this is a classic in its own way. He has so many classics it's easy to overlook some but this is great as well.

People need to stop associating Springsteen with Born In the U.S.A. and Glory Days and give New York City Serenade a deep listen. It's a song that develops and builds so powerfully before having one of the best payoffs in music history.

I listen to this album when I wish Born to Run was more musically romantic, instead of lyrically.