This is the album you play for someone if they want to know what American rock & roll is. This is an album that was masterfully written and performed by the band and masterfully produced by Todd Rundgren. It’s a way better example of what the genre is than something like [Bruce Springsteen’s] Born To Run. I love Bruce, and in fact we know each other, but I will say this: Born To Run is a great album, and his songwriting is great. I don’t hold any of that against him. What I don’t understand is why someone would say that Born To Run is more American when it’s so identifiable with New Jersey. Californian people don’t really identify with Born To Run, whereas they do identify with We’re An American Band. I think this is because the band are from Detroit, and when you’re from Motown you’ve got a certain rock worthiness that you don’t carry when you’re the king of New Jersey.
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