Mike Appel

Lore & Background

Mike Appel was born in Flushing, Queens, New York City, of three-quarters Irish and one-quarter Jewish heritage, and was raised Roman Catholic. His father was a successful real estate broker on Long Island. Appel began playing guitar at age 14 and later became a guitarist and songwriter for several obscure groups during the 1950s and 1960s. He was a member of The Balloon Farm, co-writing their 1967 hit 'A Question of Temperature,' and also worked as a producer and songwriter for the early metal band Sir Lord Baltimore.

In 1971, Carl 'Tinker' West, manager of some of Springsteen's early bands, referred Springsteen to Appel. Springsteen auditioned for Appel that year, but Appel told him to return when he had written more songs. When Springsteen came back in 1972, Appel signed him to a production contract and arranged the audition with Columbia Records' John H. Hammond that led to Clive Davis signing Springsteen. Appel produced Springsteen's first two albums, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, both released in 1973, and co-produced the third album, Born to Run (1975).

During the recording of Born to Run, Appel gradually alienated Springsteen, who sought to replace him with Jon Landau as both manager and producer. A lengthy legal battle between Appel and Springsteen began in 1976 and was eventually settled out of court. Appel, unable to find further success in the industry, co-wrote the 1992 book Down Thunder Road with Marc Eliot about his experiences with Springsteen.

Reader's Guide

Mike Appel's significance lies in his aggressive tactics that helped launch Bruce Springsteen's career, securing the Columbia Records deal that led to Springsteen's early albums. While his production abilities have often been criticized, Appel is sometimes credited with fostering the looser, more musically adventurous and lyrically romantic approach of Springsteen's first two albums. After Jon Landau took over, Springsteen's work became more tightly focused musically and more political in content. Appel's legal battle with Springsteen marked a turning point, and his subsequent inability to replicate his earlier success underscores the unique circumstances of his partnership with Springsteen. His legacy is thus tied to both the launch of a major musical career and the contentious end of that professional relationship.

Did You Know?

• Mike Appel co-wrote the 1967 hit 'A Question of Temperature' as a member of The Balloon Farm.
• He co-wrote five songs recorded by the Partridge Family, including the chart hit 'Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted'.
• He produced or co-produced Springsteen's first three albums: Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, and Born to Run.