Springsteen's music career began in the early 1970s, playing gigs in local bars and clubs in New Jersey. His debut album, (1973), was a critical success, but it was his second album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (1974), that started to gain him attention. These early albums showcased Springsteen's unique blend of rock, folk, and soul, and introduced the world to his iconic E Street Band.