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Hailing from Trondheim in Norway, Arabs in Aspic has been mid-Norway’s flagship of 70s inspired progressive rock and proto-hardrock for the past 15 years. They’ve been described as a sweet mixture of loud, heavy guitars and drums, 12 string acoustics, funky bass and percussion, screaming Hammond organs, soft Rhodes, Mellotrons and 70s Synths, topped with plentiful vocal harmonies. The bands first three albums have been re-mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo, and are collected in this limited box set on exclusive “Aspic Colored Vinyl”. The box also contains a 12 page booklet about the early years of the band, and a slipmat with their Crown logo. The booklet and slipmat will be exclusive to this box set.

“IV – VI” continues where the previous Arabs In Aspic box set left off, and collects remixed / remastered / re-worked versions of the 4th, 5th and 6th albums from this now legendary Norwegian prog band. “Pictures in a Dream” and “Victim of your Father’s Agony” have been mixed and edited from scratch by Jostein Smeby, with additional overdubs. And “The Magic of Sin” is a brand new English version of the album “Syndenes Magi” – the way the album was originally written. This has also been mixed again from scratch, resulting in a very different sounding version of the six year old Norwegian album. All three albums have been meticulously mastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo (White Willow, Opium Cartel, Solstein) in Dude Ranch Studios. All three albums are presented on limited Colored Vinyl (also available seperately). While “Pictures…” and “Victim...” have regular gatefold covers, the limited first pressing of “The Magic of Sin” comes in a special tri-fold cover revealing more of Julia Proszowska’s striking cover art made for the album – and if combined with the first version of the “Syndenes Magi” LP, all five panels of the painting will be visible. This box set also contains an exclusive 12-page booklet loaded with pictures and stories about the albums.

Strictly Limited TO 7,500 Numbered Copies: Ultradisc One-step 180g 33pm LP SET Presents 1973 Album IN Audiophile Sound 1/4" / 15 IPS / DBX analogue copy to DSD 256 to analogue console to lathe / Released only eight months after his exhilarating debut, Bruce Springsteen's The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle contains rousing dispatches from the boardwalk, the street, the beach, and the bedroom. It explodes with energy, dares to dream, teases with humour, crackles with tragedy, clings to hope, and overflows with discovery, youthfulness, and personality. It features an unforgettable cast of characters — corner boys, teenage hustlers, doomed lovers, jazz men, junk men, factory girls, fortune tellers, alley cats, pimps, escorts, and more — illuminated by vivid colour, breathtaking detail, and poetic action.

Musically, the heartfelt 1973 record is inhabited by sympathetic vignettes and cinematic arrangements steeped in rock 'n' roll, soul, jazz, and R&B. It finds the New Jersey native looking beyond the parameters of his preceding record and seeking to move on from environments he knows well (and chronicles here) by rushing headlong toward unknown territories, adventures, and people. Underpinned by the singer-guitarist's ambitious poetic enterprise and will to succeed, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle is the album on which Springsteen becomes the Boss.

Mastered on Mobile Fidelity's renowned mastering system, pressed at RTI on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 7,500 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33rpm LP set is the definitive-sounding version of Springsteen's sophomore record. Benefitting from SuperVinyl’s nearly non-existent noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle plays with a clarity, energy, presence, and openness that complement the expressiveness, dynamics, and scope of the seven restless songs that comprise a work Rolling Stone ranked the 345th Greatest Album of All Time.

Beyond the audiophile sonics that practically place you behind the console at 914 Sound Studios — listen to the separation between the instruments, natural decay of the notes, interplay within the widescreen soundstaging, and nothing-to-lose youthfulness of Springsteen’s voice — this reissue takes seriously this record’s influential merit by presenting it in packaging that underlines its status. Tucked in a beautiful slipcase, the LP is housed in a special foil-stamped jacket with faithful-to-the-original graphics. This reissue is made for listeners who prize sound quality and who want to engage themselves in everything involved with the invigorating set that busted Springsteen loose from the club circuit and landed him on the radio

Determined to liberate anyone within earshot and unafraid to come on strong, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle serves as the debut of the E Street Band — not only heard but seen for the first time by most of the public courtesy of the back-cover photograph. This is where saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist-accordionist Danny Federici, and pianist David Sancious step out of the shadows — and drummer Vini Lopez and bassist Garry Tallent again stoke a fiery rhythmic engine that helps drive the untamed, reimagined big-band swing of “Kitty’s Back,” breathless R&B thrust of “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” and carefree dance steps of the funky “The E Street Shuffle.”

Of course, the main attraction remains a then-24-year-old visionary on the precipice of becoming a sensation and turning a then-bloated rock scene on its head. Recorded over three months while Springsteen and company were busy touring his debut LP, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle reflects the high-octane approach the vocalist embraced onstage and drifts away from the label-dictated acoustic-based frameworks of his debut. The set also witnesses Springsteen deepening his observational skills, with narratives such as the romantically tinged “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” and redemptive epic “Incident on 57th Street” mirroring changes taking place in the singer’s own life, small towns, and America at large.

A thrilling collision of memories, reflections, and composites — Sandy, Rosalita, and the latter’s parents are all based on actual people Springsteen knew, as is the community depicted in the opening track — the aptly titled The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle resonates decades on due to its truths, authenticity, and spirit. Those characteristics — as well as the fact that many of its lengthy songs come on as the equivalent of sweaty, feverish soul revue that won’t stop until you’ve been exhausted — also explain how this now-iconic album triumphed over the reservations of industry “experts” that both demanded Springsteen re-record it and instructed deejays not to play it. Yet there’d be no stopping a record that saw the past, present, and future, a band whose will would not be denied, and a phenomenon who was born to run. A never-ending invitation to act real cool and stay up all night, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle always feels alright.

Netherworld marks a considerable step onwards from the territory that Louise Patricia Crane explored on her debut long player Deep Blue, crafting audial landscapes that go further into both inner and outer space; hallucinatory and surrealistic yet also grittier and more direct. For all that this stemmed in part from early Genesis and The Beatles, Netherworld also sits in alignment with the luxurious but oddly intimate realm of modern classics, by the likes of Tears For Fears, Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell, with passionate intensity set in a bold, cinematic vista. In realising these romantic and expansive visions, Crane not only wrote or co-wrote the entire album, but arranged, co-produced and played a wide variety of instruments on it. Yet as a supporting cast, she has surrounded herself with a formidable selection of mercurial contributors. Once again, Jakko M. Jakszyk (King Crimson) brings his fiery and mellifluous solo guitar work, as well as contributing backing vocals, keyboards and co-production. Elsewhere, the flute soliloquies of Tiny Bard are the work of Jethro Tull’s Ian Andersonwhile saxophone duties are handled by Mel Collins, whose work with King Crimson marks only one chapter in an incredibly storied life in music. Providing violin and viola across the stylistic expanse of the album, Shir-Ran Yinon (New Model Army / Eluveitie) returns as a collaborator. The rhythm section for the lion's share of the record consists of the dream team of Tony Levin (King Crimson / Peter Gabriel) and Gary Husband (John McLaughlin / Billy Cobham / Allan Holdsworth) with Nick Beggs stepping in on bass for Dance With The Devil and upright bass on Long Kiss Goodnight. Crucially however, even amidst this kind of company, Louise’s voice and vision is never remotely overshadowed—with the talents on offer only serving to make the backdrop to her songs still more vivid, sharp and intense. In as much as Netherworld is a work that exists on a lineage of progressive music and the visionary artists who’ve expanded their boundaries of exploration to form sound-worlds as big as their imagination, it’s also a work of magical realism in the tradition of Pan’s Labyrinth, The Company Of Wolves or the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Haruki Murakami—in which the supernatural and otherworldly, lead to a shortcut to the essence of being human. In this World, Louise Patricia Crane is our Storyteller. Disc 1 (CD)Dance With The DevilTiny BardCelestial DustLittle Ghost In The RoomToil And TroubleThe Red RoomLady Peregrine's ConcubineSpirit Of The ForestBête NoireLong Kiss GoodnightThieves Fools And CrowsMidnight View日本人形 (Japanese Doll) Disc 2 (DVD)Dance With The Devil (5.1 Mix)Tiny Bard (5.1 Mix)Celestial Dust (5.1 Mix)Little Ghost In The Room (5.1 Mix)Toil And Trouble (5.1 Mix)The Red Room (5.1 Mix)Lady Peregrine's Concubine (5.1 Mix)Spirit Of The Forest (5.1 Mix)Bête Noire (5.1 Mix)Long Kiss Goodnight (5.1 Mix)Thieves Fools And Crows (5.1 Mix)Midnight View (5.1 Mix)日本人形 (Japanese Doll) (5.1 Mix) "7 (Boxset only)A Ladies Of The Road (King Crimson) AA Dirty (Johnny Winter)

180g 2LP 45rpm

180g 2LP 45rpm

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

First Genesis album to feature drummer/vocalist Phil Collins!

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

Mastered directly from the original master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing

Genesis' album Nursery Cryme, released in November 1971, marked a significant moment in the band's evolution and showcased the burgeoning talents of their new drummer and vocalist, Phil Collins, plus guitarist Steve Hackett.

Nursery Cryme saw the band take a more aggressive direction of some songs, with substantially improved drumming. The opening piece, "The Musical Box" combined the band's trademark mix of twelve-string guitars with harsh electric guitars and keyboards. The song, a macabre fairy story set in Victorian Britain, became the inspiration for the album cover, and went on to be a live favorite.

This album played a pivotal role in establishing the band's progressive rock sound and laid the foundation for their future success.

Although Peter Gabriel remained the band's primary vocalist, Collins' distinctive voice began to shine through on tracks like "For Absent Friends" and "Harlequin." Collins' vocals added a new dimension to the band's sound, blending seamlessly with Gabriel's, and hinting at the vocal prowess that would later define his solo career. His emotive and versatile singing style contributed to the album's overall charm.

Nursery Cryme is regarded as a crucial stepping stone in Genesis' discography, and with time, became recognized as a progressive rock classic. The album received acclaim for its adventurous and intricate compositions, combining elements of folk, rock, and classical music. Genesis' signature storytelling lyrics, often filled with surreal and whimsical imagery, captivated listeners and added depth to the music.

Critics praised the band's musicianship, with particular attention to the intricate guitar work of Steve Hackett and the melodic basslines of Mike Rutherford.

All the hallmarks of a top-notch Analogue Productions reissue are here for you to savor: Mastered directly from the original master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and cut at 45 RPM. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.

180g 2LP 45rpm

180g 2LP 45rpm

180g 2LP 45rpm Gatefold Sleeve

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

Foreigner's singles smash follow-up to its blockbuster debut!

Driving title track and "Hot Blooded" rock strong!

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Gatefold old-style "tip-on" jacket by Stoughton Printing

Foreigner's Double Vision album achieved success through a combination of well-crafted songs, strong songwriting, talented musicians, extensive radio airplay, and favorable timing within the music industry.

Double Vision, released in 1978, followed up the group's blockbuster debut with an album of FM mega-hits. Songs such as "Hot Blooded," "Double Vision," and "Blue Morning, Blue Day" became radio staples and resonated with a wide audience. Lou Gramm's powerful vocals and Mick Jones' guitar playing were key components of the band's sound, and their musical prowess was evident throughout the album.

The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and earned platinum-selling certification just a week after its release, and now has marked 7x platinum for sales in excess of 7 million units. "Hot Blooded," reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In September, it was followed by "Double Vision," which charted at No. 2. This was the highest position Foreigner had attained to that time. The third and final single, "Blue Morning, Blue Day," was released in December and climbed to No. 15 on the chart.

Foreigner was known for their energetic live performances, and they toured extensively to promote Double Vision. Their live shows helped to further connect with fans and promote the album.

Analogue Productions is proud to offer the definitive reissue deluxe 45 RPM 2LP of Double Vision. For Foreigner fans, this is a can't-miss addition to your album collection.

180g 2LP 45rpm Gatefold Sleeve

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

From the king of the psychedelic bayou, Dr. John!

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing

Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time rated No. 356 in the 2020 edition

The debut album from the king of the psychedelic bayou — the hypnotic, mystical and powerful sound of the swamp coming to life. As he became Dr. John (real name Mac Rebennack), it was his LA session work with musicians such as Sonny & Cher, Canned Heat, and Zappa that allowed him to start conjuring up his visions of guitar psych-pop to walk alongside his authentic New Orleans upbringing.

Gris-Gris was released on Atco Records, a sub label of Atlantic, in 1968. The musical style of Gris-Gris is a hybrid of New Orleans rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock. The album introduced Rebennack's Dr. John character, inspired by a reputed 19th century voodoo doctor.

The album was taken under the wing of a small percentage of the "underground" upon its release in 1968 and did not find a true following for years.

Allmusic gave the album five out of five stars, referring to it as "The most exploratory and psychedelic outing of Dr. John's career" and "that it "sounds like a post-midnight ceremony recorded in the bayou swamp," naming it "among the most enduring recordings of the psychedelic era; it sounds as mysterious and spooky in the 21st century as it did in 1968."

Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.

180g 2LP 45rpm

200g 2LP 45rpm Gatefold Sleeve

200g 2LP 45rpm Gatefold Sleeve

180g 2LP 45rpm

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

Platinum-selling 1982 studio album by Crosby, Stills & Nash

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

Mastered directly from the original master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing

Although Crosby, Stills & Nash had, in effect, been together for well over a decade when Daylight Again (1982) was issued, it was only their third studio long-player of concurrently new material. Initially, the project began as a collaborative effort between Stephen Stills (guitar/banjo/keyboards/percussion/vocals) and Graham Nash (guitar/keyboards/percussion/vocals), as David Crosby was descending into a self-induced state of perpetual drug dependency. However, Crosby was included, although arguably in name alone, and his hauntingly lyrical "Delta" stands as one of his finest contributions. Perhaps the most telling element in the trio's state of affairs was the addition of the Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit and CSN bandmember Mike Finnigan (keyboards/vocals) on vocals throughout.

Among the most notable material on the album are Graham Nash's "Wasted on the Way," and "Southern Cross," composed by Michael and Richard Curtis with Stephen Stills. Both were extracted as singles and became among the best-known tracks not only on Daylight Again, but also in the post-'60s CSN canon.

This reissue has all the earmarks of a phenomenal Analogue Productions reissue. Mastered directly from the original master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and cut at 45 RPM. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.

180g 2LP 45rpm

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

Buffalo Springfield's second album

Featuring "Bluebird," "Rock & Roll Woman" and "Expecting to Fly"

180-gram 45 RPM double LP

Mastered directly from the original master tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

Pressed at Quality Record Pressings

Tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing

Due in part to personnel problems which saw Bruce Palmer and Neil Young in and out of the group, Buffalo Springfield's second album did not have as unified an approach as their debut, writes AllMusic.

Still, the group continued to make major strides in both their songwriting and arranging, and this record stands as the band's greatest triumph, peaking at No. 44 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. As of 2012 the album was No. 188 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Stephen Stills' "Bluebird" and "Rock & Roll Woman" were masterful folk-rockers that should have been big hits (although they did manage to become small ones); his lesser-known contributions "Hung Upside Down" and the jazz-flavored "Everydays" were also first-rate. Young contributed the Rolling Stones-derived "Mr. Soul," as well as the brilliant "Expecting to Fly" and "Broken Arrow," both of which employed lush psychedelic textures and brooding, surrealistic lyrics that stretched rock conventions to their breaking point.

Richie Furay (who had not written any of the songs on the debut) takes tentative songwriting steps with three compositions, although only "A Child's Claim to Fame," with its memorable dobro hooks by James Burton, meets the standards of the material by Stills and Young; the cut also anticipates the country-rock direction of Furay's post-Springfield band, Poco.

Analogue Production's reissue skill makes this record sound killer. Mastered from the original tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Double LP cut at 45 RPM, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in a Stoughton Printing tip-on old style gatefold jacket. That's how you upgrade a classic.

2xSACD

180g 2LP 45rpm

An analog reissue of Flower Travellin' BAND's masterpiece third album ""made IN Japan"" has been decided!

The strongest new rock band, Flower Travelin' Band (ftb) A masterpiece third album that pursues all possibilities and fully packs the band's charm. First Canadian recording. As much as possible at this time, we have chosen materials that are as close to the original materials as possible to recreate the original cardboard jacket.

180g 2LP 45rpm Gatefold Sleeve

180g 2LP 45rpm

An analog reissue of Flower Travellin' BAND's last album in the 70's, "make UP", has been decided! The strongest new rock band, Flower Travelin' Band (ftb) The last album in the 70's, full of live feeling that most embodies the band's style. Produced by: Flower Travelin' Band, Yuya Uchida, Ikuzo Orita

Øresund Space Collective (øsc), formed in 2004, is a totally improvising Scandinavian space rock band and has been releasing albums since 2006. The band has played concerts & festivals all over Europe. Their music is quite diverse and influenced by the ever-changing line up in the collective. Picks From Space was a Cd-r series produced by Dr Space between 2005-2007. The collective during this time period was primarily the members of the bands Mantric Muse (dk), Bland Bladen (se), and The Carpet Knights (se). The main players being: Magnus (guitar and synth), Sebbe (guitar), Tobias (guitar), Jocke (bass), Michael (bass), Dave (bass), Kaufmann (drums), Søren (drums), Ola (synths), Mogens (synths), Dr Space (synths) plus additional players like Solvi (guitar), Eduardo (guitar), and a few others…. There were 12 CDs in the series. Each disc was a mixture of usually one or two rehearsal room jams with the exception of Disc 11, which was unreleased studio material (most but not all of which has appeared now). It is estimated about 50 complete sets were burned and exist. A few volumes exist in more copies as they were more popular and there was a period where you could buy them separately. During the covid period, Dr Space found most of the original recordings and was able to greatly improve the sound on most of the recordings. This is what you hear on this limited-edition set starting with some tracks from the very first Jam session in April 2004 to one of the last regular jams in 2007. There are some of the best jams the band ever had in this very inspired series of music exploring the early origins of the band. Artwork by David Graham

Pride by Arena, released in 1996 was the bands second release. For the first time the original release has been remastered and released on Vinyl! The double gate fold has two red 180g vinyl discs Full colour cardboard inner sleeves with all the original artwork and lyrics.

Drummer Kinichi Motegi, currently with the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, curated a selection of tracks for this album based on the concept of "Kuchu (Aerial)" and "Uchu (Universe)," featuring music from two labels in 2005. The album has been highly requested by Fishmans fans for an analog version and is available as a limited edition on clear sky blue 2LP.

Drummer Kinichi Motegi, currently with the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, curated a selection of tracks for this album based on the concept of "Kuchu (Aerial)" and "Uchu (Universe)," featuring music from two labels in 2005. The album has been highly requested by Fishmans fans for an analog version and is available as a limited edition on clear sky blue 2LP.

Released in 1971, this was the first album produced by a Japanese artist with the overseas market in mind. It was released simultaneously in the United States, Canada, and Japan, and the single ""satori Part 2"" reached number 8 in Canada. Due to the trend of Oriental thought in Europe and America, his works are characterized by incorporating more Eastern and Japanese sounds. Japan at this time was also in the transition period from GS to folk, and there were still few people who accepted rock, but they continue to be supported by their advanced sound. Of course, it is very popular overseas and its popularity is still undiminished.

Motoaki Masuo, known for his active role as a guitarist in the 1970s and 1980s, debuted his album on Polydor in 1973. This album, a hidden gem of Japanese soft rock, showcases his talent as a songwriter, arranger, and singer. Notable guests on the album include Masami Tsuchiya, who later formed Ippudo, as well as Takeru Sato and Tetsuji Hayashi.

Analogue Productions (Atlantic 75 Series)

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Atlantic Records!

90125 from Yes featuring "Owner Of A Lonely Heart"

Hybrid Stereo SACD

Yes' 90125 was a departure from their progressive style but it introduced the band to a new generation of fans, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 16 on the U.K. albums chart. The 1983 album remains their best-selling album with more than 3 million copies sold in the U.S. "Cinema" earned the group a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, while "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" was the band's first and only single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Named for its Atco catalog number, 90125, the album — the band's 11th studio effort — it was born out of the band's self-reinvention. Begun as Cinema, a new band by Chris Squire and Alan White, the project grew to include the slick production of Trevor Horn, the new blood (and distinctly '80s guitar sound) of Trevor Rabin, and eventually the trademark vocals of returning founder Jon Anderson. His late entry insured that Rabin and Horn had a heavy influence on the sound. The album also marked the return of prodigal keyboardist Tony Kaye, whose crisp synth work on "Changes" marked the band's definitive break with its art rock roots.

"Owner Of A Lonely Heart" was a huge crossover hit, and its orchestral break has been relentlessly sampled by rappers ever since. The vocal harmonies of "Leave It" and the beautifully sprawling "Hearts" are additional high points,

90125 is a significant and well-regarded album in the Yes discography.

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The treasured Japanese soft rock album produced by Haruomi Hosono is finally reissued in analog LP format! The only album "Aiiro no Kisetsu" (The Season of The Color of Love) (original release date: July 1975) by the group "Kaze Chorus Dan" (Wind Chorus Group) from the Yamaha Popular Song Contest is reissued on analog vinyl. Haruomi Hosono participated fully as producer, lyricist, composer, arranger, and player. The beautiful chorus work of mixed voices, the tight performance by the Tin Pan Alley family, and the Western taste and groove that is like A&M are the best kept soft-rock treasures.

Sacd: Mastered ON Mobile Fidelity's Renowned Mastering System: Numbered-edition Hybrid Sacd Plays With Expressive Clarity / Released only eight months after his exhilarating debut, Bruce Springsteen's The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle contains rousing dispatches from the boardwalk, the street, the beach, and the bedroom. It explodes with energy, dares to dream, teases with humour, crackles with tragedy, clings to hope, and overflows with discovery, youthfulness, and personality. It features an unforgettable cast of characters — corner boys, teenage hustlers, doomed lovers, jazz men, junk men, factory girls, fortune tellers, alley cats, pimps, escorts, and more — illuminated by vivid colour, breathtaking detail, and poetic action.

Musically, the heartfelt 1973 record is inhabited by sympathetic vignettes and cinematic arrangements steeped in rock 'n' roll, soul, jazz, and R&B. It finds the New Jersey native looking beyond the parameters of his preceding record and seeking to move on from environments he knows well (and chronicles here) by rushing headlong toward unknown territories, adventures, and people. Underpinned by the singer-guitarist's ambitious poetic enterprise and will to succeed, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle is the album on which Springsteen becomes the Boss.

Mastered on Mobile Fidelity's renowned mastering system, pressed at RTI on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 7,500 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 33rpm LP set is the definitive-sounding version of Springsteen's sophomore record. Benefitting from SuperVinyl’s nearly non-existent noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle plays with a clarity, energy, presence, and openness that complement the expressiveness, dynamics, and scope of the seven restless songs that comprise a work Rolling Stone ranked the 345th Greatest Album of All Time.

Beyond the audiophile sonics that practically place you behind the console at 914 Sound Studios — listen to the separation between the instruments, natural decay of the notes, interplay within the widescreen soundstaging, and nothing-to-lose youthfulness of Springsteen’s voice — this reissue takes seriously this record’s influential merit by presenting it in packaging that underlines its status. Tucked in a beautiful slipcase, the LP is housed in a special foil-stamped jacket with faithful-to-the-original graphics. This reissue is made for listeners who prize sound quality and who want to engage themselves in everything involved with the invigorating set that busted Springsteen loose from the club circuit and landed him on the radio

Determined to liberate anyone within earshot and unafraid to come on strong, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle serves as the debut of the E Street Band — not only heard but seen for the first time by most of the public courtesy of the back-cover photograph. This is where saxophonist Clarence Clemons, organist-accordionist Danny Federici, and pianist David Sancious step out of the shadows — and drummer Vini Lopez and bassist Garry Tallent again stoke a fiery rhythmic engine that helps drive the untamed, reimagined big-band swing of “Kitty’s Back,” breathless R&B thrust of “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight),” and carefree dance steps of the funky “The E Street Shuffle.”

Of course, the main attraction remains a then-24-year-old visionary on the precipice of becoming a sensation and turning a then-bloated rock scene on its head. Recorded over three months while Springsteen and company were busy touring his debut LP, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle reflects the high-octane approach the vocalist embraced onstage and drifts away from the label-dictated acoustic-based frameworks of his debut. The set also witnesses Springsteen deepening his observational skills, with narratives such as the romantically tinged “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” and redemptive epic “Incident on 57th Street” mirroring changes taking place in the singer’s own life, small towns, and America at large.

A thrilling collision of memories, reflections, and composites — Sandy, Rosalita, and the latter’s parents are all based on actual people Springsteen knew, as is the community depicted in the opening track — the aptly titled The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle resonates decades on due to its truths, authenticity, and spirit. Those characteristics — as well as the fact that many of its lengthy songs come on as the equivalent of sweaty, feverish soul revue that won’t stop until you’ve been exhausted — also explain how this now-iconic album triumphed over the reservations of industry “experts” that both demanded Springsteen re-record it and instructed deejays not to play it. Yet there’d be no stopping a record that saw the past, present, and future, a band whose will would not be denied, and a phenomenon who was born to run. A never-ending invitation to act real cool and stay up all night, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle always feels alright.