Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Jungleland

This version of "Jungleland", played live at London's Hammersmith Odeon, was part of the package when Columbia Records released a 30th anniversary edition of Bruce Springsteen's classic Born To Run album in 2005. Originally released in 1975 it was, of course, Springsteen's breakthrough album, containing some of his most well-known songs. "Jungleland" is the epic, 10 minute closing track, a fabulous tale of "The Rat" and his escapades, rightfully described on Wikipedia as mirroring "the pattern of the entire Born to Run album, beginning with a sense of desperate hope that slides slowly into despair and defeat." As good as Springsteen still is, I do miss the sense of urgency of his earlier songs, and his first albums, up to and including Born In The U.S.A., are his best. It's as simple as that.

Watch and listen