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In this episode of Greetings from the Garden State, we welcome acclaimed author and cultural critic Peter Ames Carlin, who joins us to discuss his latest book Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run.

Carlin takes us deep into the pivotal 20 months leading up to the release of Bruce Springsteen’s legendary third album, Born to Run. At that time, Springsteen was at a career crossroads — beloved by critics but struggling commercially, with Columbia Records questioning his future on the label. With his back against the wall, Bruce faced an all-or-nothing moment that would ultimately define his career and launch him into global stardom.

We cover:

• Why Springsteen’s first two albums didn’t initially resonate on the radio.
• How Born to Run became the breakthrough that turned Bruce into a household name.
• The painstaking detail of researching this period in Bruce’s career, down to the day-to-day struggles and triumphs.
• Why Carlin has returned to Springsteen as a subject after already publishing a full biography in 2012.
• Stories of Bruce playing to nearly empty rooms before ultimately filling stadiums across the world.

Carlin also shares details about his book tour stops across New Jersey and his upcoming appearance at the Born to Run symposium at Monmouth University.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who loves Springsteen, American music history, or the story of an artist fighting to define his place in the world.

Links

• Pick up a copy of Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run wherever books are sold.

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