Bruce Springsteen surprised fans in 1995 by releasing "The Ghost Of Tom Joad," a stripped-back folk album, at a time when many expected a return to full-throttle rock with the E Street Band. The move came after his 1992 albums "Human Touch" and "Lucky Town," which sold reasonably well but drew less critical acclaim than his earlier work and upset fans due to his decision to sideline the E Street Band in favour of session musicians. A reunion with the band for two new tracks on a 1995 Greatest Hits collection had raised hopes of a full rock comeback, making his subsequent folk pivot all the more unexpected.

Unlike his first venture into stark folk territory on 1982's "Nebraska," which arose almost by accident from home demos the E Street Band couldn't replicate, "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" was a deliberate artistic choice. The album, built mainly around acoustic guitar and harmonica, featured occasional contributions from E Street members Danny Federici and Garry Tallent, and focused heavily on social themes such as poverty and immigration through songs including the title track, "The Line," "Galveston Bay" and "Across The Border." Though never expected to be a commercial hit, the record is credited with restoring critical respect for Springsteen and reinforcing his pattern of defying fan expectations.