10 November 1998 ORIGINAL 4xHDCD ISSUE
With Long Digibook Presentation and Detached Booklet In Inner Pouch
With Short Digibook Presentation and Attached Booklet Inside
15 Tracks from the 4xHDCD Book Set
With Three New Previously Unreleased
"Trouble River", "The Fever" and "The Promise"
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- Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters
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"...Be True..."
A huge amount of background work went into this amazing vault-trawl through the legendarily voluminous unreleased catalogue of The Boss – originally issued 10 November 1998 in a Long Book Set with Detached Booklet.
Months of cataloguing, remixing, adding new parts, remastering took place – even calling in original members of the band to finish and bolster up early Seventies recordings. It is in fact rumoured that over 120 songs were considered for the Box Set that might initially have been a 6CD variant. But senses prevailed and 66 cuts became the final tally – 56 of which are Previously Unreleased Studio Outtakes or Live Versions with the others being Nine Single B-sides and One Alternate Version of a tenth Flipside. And it was sumptuously packaged too.
Columbia even followed up with a truncated single-CD variant called "18 Tracks" issued 13 April 1999. It came with three more new unreleased tracks tagged onto 15 from the 4CD Box - "Trouble River" (6 June 1990 recording, 4:18 minutes), "The Fever" (16 May 1973 recording, 7:35 minutes) and "The Promise" (12 February 1999 new recording with Bruce on Piano only, 4:48 minutes). Typically I thought all three of these newbees were better than some on the Big Daddy that preceded it. The seven-minutes of "The Fever" even includes a rare Backing Vocal from Clarence Clemons (he's got the fever).
Then Sony Music and Columbia reissued "Tracks" on 23 September 2013 as a handier Short 4CD Digibook Variant - this time with the booklet attached (review based on this). And now in June 2023, there is talk of Tracks 2 on its way after the 2023 World Tour. Let's get to the details because there is a lot...
UK re-issued 23 September 2013 – "Tracks" by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN on Sony Music/Columbia 88883768742 (Barcode 888837687423) is a 66-Song 4xHDCD Reissue Edition in a Short Hardback Digibook with attached 56-Page Booklet (originally issued 10 November 1998 as a Long Hardback Book Set with Detached Booklet in a Pouch). "Tracks" plays out as follows:
CD1 (67:40 minutes):
1. Mary Queen Of Arkansas (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo at Columbia Studios with John Hammond Spoken Introduction and Count In)
2. It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo)
3. Growin' Up (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo)
4. Does This Stop At 82nd Street? (3 May 1972 Acoustic Demo)
5. Bishop Danced (31 January 1973 Live Recording at Max's Kansas City in New York)
6. Santa Ana (1 July 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions)
7. Seaside Bar Song (24 July 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions)
8. Zero And Blind Terry (7 August 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions)
9. Linda Let Me Be The One (29 June 1975 outtake from "Born To Run" album sessions)
10. Thundercrack (9 August 1973 outtake from "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" album sessions with 1997 additions from original musicians)
11. Rendezvous (31 December 1980 Live Recording at Nassau Coliseum)
12. Give The Girl A Kiss (11 October 1977 outtake from "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" album sessions)
13. Iceman (11 October 1977 outtake from "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" album sessions)
14. Bring On The Night (13 June 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
15. So Young And In Love (1 June 1974 outtake from "Born To Run" album sessions)
16. Hearts Of Stone (14 October 1977 outtake from "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" album sessions with 1997 additions – track first appeared on the Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes LP "Hearts Of Stone" in October 1978 – that album's guest musicians included Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg of The E Street Band and also had two other songs written by Springsteen that were exclusive)
CD2 (62:49 minutes):
1. Restless Nights (2 May 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
2. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (Pittsburgh) (6 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
3. Roulette (12 April 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions, also used as a Non-LP B-side to the February 1988 45-single for "One Step Up" from the "Tunnel Of Love" album)
4. Dollhouse (21 August 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
5. Where The Bands Are (9 October 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
6. Loose Ends (18 July 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
7. Living On The Edge Of The World (3 December 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
8. Wages Of Sin (10 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
9. Take 'Em As They Come (10 April 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
10. Be True (18 July 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions, used as the Non-LP B-side to the January 1981 45-single "Fade Away")
11. Ricki Wants A Man Of Her Own (10 April 1980 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
12. I Wanna Be With You (31 May 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
13. Mary Lou (13 July 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
14. Stolen Car (Alternate Version) (24 September 1979 outtake from "The River" double-album sessions)
15. Born In The U.S.A. (Demo Version) (3 January 1982 outtake from "Nebraska" album sessions)
16. Johnny Bye Bye (4 January 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, a reworking of a Chuck Berry song)
17. Shut Out The Light (19 January 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, also the Non-LP B-side of the October 1984 45-single for "Born In The U.S.A.")
CD3 (67:33 minutes):
1. Cynthia (15 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
2. My Love Will Not Let You Down (5 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
3. This Hard Land (11 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
4. Frankie (14 May 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
5. TV Movie (13 June 1983
outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
6. Stand On It (Alternate Version) (16 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions – the original version of this song was issued May 1985 as the Non-LP B-side to "Glory Days" – the version here is different)
7. Lion's Den (25 January 1982 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
8. Car Wash (31 May 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
9. Rockaway The Days (12 January 1984 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
10. Brothers Under The Bridge '83 (14 September 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
11. Man At The Top (12 January 1984 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions)
12. Pink Cadillac (31 May 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, also released May 1984 as the Non-LP to the 45-single for "Dancing In The Dark")
13. Two For The Road (1 February 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)
14. Janey, Don't You Lose Heart (16 June 1983 outtake from "Born In The U.S.A." album sessions, also released August 1985 as the Non-LP B-side to "I'm Goin' Down")
15. When You Need Me (20 January 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)
16. The Wish (22 February 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)
17. The Honeymooners (22 February 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)
18. Lucky Man (4 April 1987 outtake from "Tunnel Of Love" album sessions)
CD4 (55:18 minutes):
1. Leavin' Train (27 February 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
2. Seven Angels (29 June 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
3. Give It A Name (24 August 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions, re-recorded 24 August 1998 for the "Tracks" Box Set)
4. Sad Eyes (25 January 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
5. My Lover Man (4 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
6. Over The Rise (7 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
7. When The Lights Go Out (6 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
8. Loose Change (31 January 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
9. Trouble In Paradise (1 December 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions, co-written with E-Street Band Keyboardist Roy Bittan)
10. Happy (18 January 1992 outtake from "Lucky Town" album sessions)
11. Part Man, Part Monkey (January 1990 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions, also released June 1992 as the Non-LP B-side to "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" album sessions)
12. Goin' Cali (29 January 1991 outtake from "Human Touch" album sessions)
13. Back In Your Arms (12 January 1995 outtake from "Greatest Hits" album sessions)
14. Brothers Under The Bridges '95 (22 May 1995 outtake from "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" album sessions)
The 56-page attached booklet is beautiful and comprehensive (recording credits, dates, players and unusually, lyrics to every song) and all of it with gorgeous period-appropriate photos between the text as the songs move from 1972 through to 1995. The only noticeable downer is perhaps there could have been liner notes from the great man on the genesis of each song or what they mean, but I guess the lyrics kind of do that anyway (the entire set is Produced by SPRINGSTEEN and his long-time associate CHUCK PLOTKIN).
A huge team of people did the Audio Research, Cataloguing, Remixes and eventual Remasters – principal among the names being TOBY SCOTT, GREG GOLDMAN, BOB LUDWIG, ED THACKER, ROSS PETERSEN, BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, DAVID BOUCHER with THOM PANUNZIO and KOOSTER McALLISTER. The transfers are often so good, I am sure Boss-o-philes have already taken songs from CD3 and 4 and even the single 18 Tracks CD – and made their own new album or alternate version. The clarity on the 1972 demos is hair-raising, even that fabulous live version of Rendezvous. So while the quality of the outtakes may vary wildly (at least to my ears they do) – the Audio is superlative throughout.
The January 1973 American Debut Album "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J." has always been my least favourite of his albums - a worthy beginning with moments of brilliance like "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City", "Growin' Up" and the opener "Blinded By The Light". On this set we get four Demos with the first (unbelievably) announced by John Hammond – as if he knew "Mary Queen Of Arkansas" was by someone special. They are just Bruce and Guitar – so quietly dignified and knowing and make for a beautiful opener.
After the earnest but awkward feel of the debut – the improvement in Springsteen’s 2nd album "The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle" (November 1973 USA, February 1974 in the UK) whomps you in the proverbial chops. Not surprising then that the bulk of the outtakes come from this creative time frame. Fans have been hearing these fully-fledged studio efforts on dodgy-sounding bootlegs for decades, but I suspect many will have their jaws dropped by the present beauty of "Santa Ana" or "Seaside Bar Song". Similarly the two "Born To Run" outtakes ("Linda Let Me Be The One" and "So Young And In Love") could have gone on the B-sides of the officially released title track and "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" 45s – but alas. And I love that live "Rendezvous" – a late 70s outtake here presented in sparkling 1980 concert form. And dig those Darkness outtakes, especially the joyful "Give The Girl A Kiss".
CD2 is dominated by the 1979 and 1980 mammoth double-album sessions for "The River" whilst moving towards "Nebraska" in 1982 and the big baby break out of "Born In The U.S.A." in 1984 (Courtney Cox ahoy). I have to say that stuff like "Restless Nights" and "Where The Bands Are" do little for me but I have always flipped for "Be True" – a song I would have swapped out "Sherry Darling" for on Side 1 of "The River" as a better fit. I also cannot believe how later-period "Wages Of Sin" sounds – could be on an album now. The "Born In The U.S.A." demo leaves me stone cold as does the alternate "Stolen Car" which is almost completely devoid of the desolation and hurt the released version has on "The River" (the right choice there). And "Take Em As They Come" is an excellent find too. I actually found most of the "Born In The U.S.A." outtakes kind of lacklustre but when you get "Tunnel Of Love" – things are creatively jumping again. My fave is "When You Need Me" and it is amazing again that the genuinely cool "Rockaway The Days" or "This Hard Land" were not used as flipsides somewhere.
By the time we get to the home-stretch of CD4, I am way more invested because despite having a short playing time and track number, I think stuff like "Leavin' Train", the shuffle of "Sad Eyes" and the great riffage of "Seven Angels" should definitely have been on the much bad-mouthed "Human Nature" album. Three of the end four are fantastic to me - "Happy", "Back In Your Arms" and the May 1995 remade version of "Brothers Under The Bridge". I have formed a CD album of my won from these and other stragglers.
To sum up – with its 5-star presentation and 5-star Audio efforts but material that spans from 3 to 4 - "Tracks" is not as revelatory as say the Bob Dylan Bootleg Series stuff and can feel a tad underwhelming at times (4-stars overall). It even charted in the USA at No. 27. But man when you get that Springsteen nugget – it floors you. And as a fan that is more than I had hoped for. Roll on Volume 2 and do make it 6CDs – live for Disc 5 and 6 baby...
Photographic Evidence of Previous Crime Scene
