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Today in rock history: On this date in 1973, up-and-coming New Jersey singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen released his second album, the critically acclaimed The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle. As Bruce's sophomore album, the record came out in the very same year as his debut album, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.. Although both albums received praise from many rock journalists and were well received in and around New Jersey, both were commercial disappointments and sold poorly around the country. The album contains several songs that would become Springsteen classics, most notably "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)," a song that would become a live staple and a regular part of The E Street Band's live repertoire for many years. Often referred to as the favorite album of the Springsteen catalog by many of his diehard fans, the record gained more notoriety, airplay and attention after the success of its follow-up, Springsteen's 1975 breakthrough album, Born To Run.
SPRINGSTEEN AND SIMON WALK INTO A BAR
Today in rock history; Born To Run and Graceland see release, Elvis Costello is born and more
Today in rock history: On this date in 1982, John Cougar became the first male solo artist to hold down the No. 1 album spot on Billboard's pop albums chart at the same time that he had two singles lodged into the Top 10 of Billboard's pop singles charts. Cougar's breakthrough album American Fool held the top spot for the first of nine weeks starting on this date at the same time that the album's two major hit singles, "Hurts So Good" and "Jack And Diane" were both sitting at No. 8 and No. 4, respectively, on the chart of the nation's best-selling singles.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 2001, the day on which the World Trade Center tragedies occurred in New York City, comic book illustrator Gerard Way witnessed the attacks firsthand while walking to work in the city. The events affected the artist greatly and inspired him to write the song "Skylines and Turnstiles," the first rock song he'd write that would lead him to form successful hard rock/emo band My Chemical Romance, one of the most successful and popular bands of the 2000s.
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Today in rock history: On this date in 1952, the co-founder and president of legendary record label Atlantic Records Ahmet Ertegun began recording his newest addition to the label's roster, 21-year-old piano playing-phenom Ray Charles. Ertegun bought Ray's recording contract from the small Los Angeles-based record label Swing Time Records for a total of $2,500, and Ray wound up being one of the most popular and successful acts to record for Atlantic, and helped define the imprint as one of the most important and significant record labels of all time.
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