Bruce Springsteen: Tracks
Previously unreleased material from 1972-1995
The incredible thing about this excellent box set from Bruce Springsteen is that these are all songs that he rejected from albums that he released between 1973 and 1995. The quality of many of the tracks is simply outstanding, and, in a similar way to that in which one questions Bob Dylan, you find yourself thinking “how could he have left that one off the album, yet put on x, y or z?” Another perplexing thing about the collection is that it has been spectacularly remastered to a standard that some of the original albums simply have not been (even, in some cases, after the 2014 Bob Ludwig series of general excellent remasters). I am thinking in particular about The River. Even master remasterer Ludwig could not do much with the tinny material on this album, yet, the rejects from the sessions for that album are remastered here excellently - big, full, thumping and bassy. The sound is a revelation. The quality of sound throughout this box set is the best on all of Springsteen’s released studio material. All the tracks, though, are “rejects”, which is bizarre.
Disc One
The set begins with for acoustic demos from 1972 and, although interesting in that they gained Springsteen his first recording contract, they are probably the least essential amongst the riches that are on offer here. Funnily enough, the next track after them is the appalling Bishop Danced, which is up there as a contender for Springsteen’s worst ever track. Thereafter though, it is quality all the way. Early highlights are the extended, joyous rock of Thundercrack (does he say "boss time" in the middle?); the wonderful street anthem Zero And Blind Terry; the gorgeous, Spectoresque Linda Let Me Be The One and the end of the pier fairground fun of Seaside Bar Song, with its strident saxophone. It has the line “the highway is alive tonight” that would be used much later on 1995’s The Ghost Of Tom Joad. Not forgetting the melodious, bass and organ Latin majesty of 1973’s Santa Ana.
Next up sees the good time rock of Rendezvous and Give The Girl A Kiss and Springsteen’s original recordings of tracks made famous by Southside Johnny in The Fever and Hearts Of Stone. I am adding the three extra tracks from the shortened 18 Tracks compilation here. The wonderful The Promise is just sombre, hopeful, sad and uplifting, all at once. One of Springsteen’s best evocative tracks of all time. The rocker Don’t Look Back is a corker, too. The enigmatic, bass-thumping, atmospheric Iceman also contains some lyrics that ended up on Badlands.
Disc Two
This has many excellent tracks from The River sessions that would have graced that album - the tender A Good Man Is Hard To Find; the fabulous rocker piano-driven Loose Ends, the frenetic, ecologically-motivated Roulette; the lively Living On The Edge Of The World; the classic E. St rock of Be True and the far superior version of Stolen Car to the one that was eventually used. All seriously good stuff. You can virtually make a River 2 album out of this lot which would more than compete with the original. Oh, and there’s I Wanna Be With You which is a knockout as well. This is something that just doesn’t stop giving. What about the mournful Wages Of Sin as well.
Disc Three
This has many more gold medal contenders from the Born In The USA and Nebraska sessions - the short but lovely Johnny Bye Bye, the original bottleneck blues of Born In The USA (so different from the one everyone knows); the magnificent Frankie with its trademark Clarence Clemons saxophone at the end; the rockabilly boogie that is Stand On It and the sheer emotive exhilaration of This Hard Land. Brothers Under The Bridge (83) is just archetypal E. St Band, why it was left off in favour of tracks like Cover Me or I’m Going’ Down is beyond my comprehension. Man At The Top is catchily appealing too.
Disc Four
This sees us reach the more folky, understated material of the early/mid nineties. It is not quite the sheer, effervescent joy that the previous three discs have brought, but there are still many gems - the underrated, riffy rocker Leavin' Train; the blistering rock of Seven Angels; the sad and starkly soulful Gave It A Name; the sombre, bleak Goin’ Cali'; the bluesy rock of Trouble River and one of the best saved until last - the glorious, romantic Back In Your Arms.
Overall, a fantastic collection of material from this iconic artist who never disappoints. My top five from the set? Thundercrack; Linda Let Me Be The One; The Promise; This Hard Land and Brothers Under The Bridge (83).
