Icon Bruce Springsteen is finally answering the question fans have whispered for decades. What else is out there? Well, it turns out there’s a lot!
Throughout the years, Springsteen has never been one to toss out a good idea. Rather, he just saves it for the right moment. On June 27, Springsteen will release “Tracks II: The Lost Albums,” an epic seven-album box set filled with 83 unreleased songs that span over three decades of his career, from 1983 to 2018. Shees, talk about a hard-working man!
But don’t call these leftovers. These are fully recorded, mastered, and nearly released albums that simply didn’t fit into the moment they were made. So no, these aren’t rough demos or home tapes. They are full albums that, for one reason or another, never saw the light of day until now.
Luckily for us, the musician, who is getting his biopic soon, is inviting us along for the ride down those backroads we never knew existed. Turns out, even The Boss had too many stories to tell.
More Than Just Bruce Springsteen Anthems
We know Springsteen as the gravel-voiced, outspoken heartthrob who created anthems such as “Born to Run,” “The River,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Tunnel of Love,” and more. But “Tracks II” gives us access to alternate timelines. Think of it as different versions of Springsteen who explored uncharted musical backroads. These seven albums are cohesive, deliberate, and sonically different, genre-wise.
Take “LA Garage Sessions ’83,” for example, which is the first one on the album. Recorded between “Nebraska” and “Born in the U.S.A.,” it’s Springsteen alone in a Hollywood Hills home studio, experimenting with tone and tension. The album is a portrait of an artist blending two sounds and a reminder of Springsteen’s depth and his eye for musical complexity.
One album sprang from the same sessions that gave us “Streets of Philadelphia,” which earned Springsteen an Oscar and four Grammys. The full collection of tracks was once shelved, but now, they’re finally out in the open! There’s also “Faithless,” which is described as a “spiritual Western.” It was apparently written for a film that was never released. This is the shortest album in the anticipated collection, running for a total of 35 minutes.
And just when you think you’ve heard it all, Springsteen heads south, way south. “Inyo” pulls from mild folklore and mariachi traditions, complete with trumpets, Spanish guitars, and violin-laced ballads. These are the kinds of detours that most artists don’t even attempt. But of course, The Boss couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
‘Twilight Hours’ Sneak Peek
Another standout is “Somewhere North of Nashville,” a pedal steel-laced foray into Americana. Springsteen teams up with Marty Rifkin and delivers everything from honky-tonk heartbreakers to a gritty cover of Johnny Rivers’ “Poor Side of Town.” The album also includes two songs, “Stand on It” and “Janey Don’t You Love Hearts,” which were originally set to be released on “The Ghost of Tom Joad.”
But if you’re craving that classic full-band roar, “Perfect World” brings the E Street energy. Featuring leftovers from various sessions and collaborations, he released “Rain in the River” in April of this year. Back then, he revealed the album would be the seventh and final one featured on “Tracks II.” According to Springsteen, this is “the biggest rocker on Perfect World, [and] dates from the waning days of 1994 when Bruce was still working on the ‘Streets of Philadelphia Sessions.”
And if you’ve ever wondered what a Springsteen album influenced by Burt Bacharach’s songwriting would sound like (and really, who hasn’t?), look no further than “Twilight Hours.” As NPR perfectly described it, “Imagine, if you will, Bruce Springsteen wearing a sport coat, holding a whiskey glass, leaning against a grand piano, no guitar anywhere in sight. This is the world of ‘Twilight Hours.”
The singer had actually released a song on June 12, titled “Sunday Love,” from the album. He described it as an “ode to the great American pop tradition.”
Apparently, the singer took inspiration from Andy Williams and none other than Frank Sinatra himself. “At one time, it was either a double record or they were part of the same record. But I separated the ‘Western Stars’ material out, and what I had left is ‘Twilight Hours,’” he said on Instagram, revealing the song and the artwork for the album.
Yes, it’s Springsteen like we’ve never seen or heard him before.
The Boss, Reframed
For die-hard fans, “Tracks II” is the holy grail, different from the 1998 first “Tracks” box set. Remember, it’s not a rehash of B-sides, but full albums that could’ve defined new chapters in Springsteen’s career. They were whole but just missed their moment in time, and now The Boss is letting them speak on their own.
For newcomers or casual listeners who just want a taste, don’t worry, there is also a 20-track highlights album featuring the very best!
Springsteen’s decision to release this treat isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s a reminder that even legends evolve with time. With 20 Grammy Awards, an Oscar, a Tony, and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he’s more than earned the right to reflect. He’s living proof that some stories just need the right time to be told.
“Tracks II: The Lost Albums” will officially be released on June 27.
Happy listening!
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Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Tracks II: The Lost Albums’ Features 83 Unreleased Songs