 Indeed, September 23 was the final recording date, and after mixing and sequencing tweaks, the album was released on November 5, 1973.However, there was very little press, no advertisements in the trade papers and no release party, possibly because of Springsteen's deteriorating relationship with Columbia Records, and the departures of John Hammond and Clive Davis, the men who had signed him as a Columbia artist.This situation would continue, and would almost result in the termination of Springsteen's contract in 1974.