Tonight in Jungleland
The Making of Born to Run
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Tonight in Jungleland
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Narrated by:
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Peter Ames Carlin
About this listen
A fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the making of Bruce Springsteen’s ground-breaking album, Born to Run–one of the most iconic records in rock history–Tonight in Jungleland combines lush music writing with unprecedented inside access to Springsteen, his bandmates, and the full story behind every song… and coincides with the album’s 50th anniversary in August 2025.
From the opening piano notes of “Thunder Road,” to the final outro of “Jungleland”–with American anthems like “Born to Run” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” in between–Bruce Springsteen’s seminal album, Born to Run, established Springsteen as a creative force in rock and roll. With his back against the wall, he wrote what has been hailed as a perfect album, a defining moment, and a roadmap for what would become a legendary career.
Peter Ames Carlin, whose bestselling biography, Bruce, gave him rare access to Springsteen’s inner circle, now returns with the full story of the making of this epic album. Released in August, 1975, Born to Run now celebrates its 50th anniversary. Carlin reveals a treasure trove of untold stories, detailing the writing and recording of every song, as well as the intense and at times tortuous process that mimicked the fault lines in Springsteen’s psyche and career, even as it revealed the depth of his vision. A must-hear for any music fan, Tonight in Jungleland takes us inside a hallowed creative process and lets us experience history.
©2025 Peter Ames Carlin (P)2025 Random House AudioCritic reviews
“Bolstered by interviews with Springsteen himself... this audiobook thrives in exploring the hard work that preceded it. An admirably comprehensive study of a masterpiece and its creation.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Captivating. . . Carlin takes a fascinating look at the challenges of making an album whose success now seems inevitable, exploring what drives artists to create as well as how their relationship with their work can shift as it becomes part of popular culture. Springsteen fans should snap this up.”—Publishers Weekly (starred)
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