Radioinfo is taking you back to the songs that turn 50 this year.

I imagine almost all of you reading know Born to Run, but in 1975, actually in 1974, this was make or break for the guy we call ‘The Boss’ Bruce Springsteen. He and his E Street Band had released two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, to critical recognition but no popular success, although, as a live unit, their reputation was building.

This was literally the final throw of the dice. Springsteen’s label Columbia Records had thrown their attention toward another up and comer called Billy Joel and he was told they would finance just one more album. If it failed then he and his band, featuring lifelong friends including Clarence Clemons who Bruce rests on the shoulder of in the iconic album cover below, would be dropped.

This song, a homage to big dreams, lack of patience, Wendy, war and the working class was always going to be the lead single from the album that was called the same. It was recorded mid 1974. The mixing of the seventy-two tracks recorded in the style of Phil Spector‘s Wall of Sound and Duane Eddy‘s guitar ended in a huge array of test arrangements before one, THE ONE, was finally the one chosen for release. Then it sat for another year waiting for the rest of the album to be done.

That was arduous for all concerned because Bruce was a perfectionist trying to replicate what he heard in his head as well as wanting to replicate the feel of live performance melded with a big studio sound, which he managed to achieve with this song. No video clip was recorded but it has and is a staple of live shows with one now used by YouTube to reflect both the Boss and the power of Born to Run:

The above was recorded in 1985 during the biggest period of Bruce’s career, the Born in the USA album. His many, many songs, well known and those tucked away on albums for the aficionados, have generally aged well and speak to topics timeless, much like Springsteen himself.

As to Wendy, he’s never identified her. But this song, in the first person, makes her the embodiment of hope and desire. Her name has been replaced by one closer to the heart by many who have listened.

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and music trivia buff for Radioinfo.