Bruce Springsteen announces a treasure trove of lost albums coming soon

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Not only does Bruce Springsteen have 21 albums, nearly 100 singles, over 100 live discs, and ten box sets under his belt, but he’s also planning to add even more “new” music to his collection this coming summer.

Title II: The Unreleased Studio Albums isn’t fresh; it’s a comprehensive collection of tunes that the Boss has recorded throughout his career but never officially put out on a studio album. Some have gained popularity from live performances and unauthorized recordings, while others were just whispers among fans. Mostly, they’ve remained hidden, even in live or compilation albums.

What sets this collection apart as more than just a random selection from the archives is clearly indicated by its title – it’s a series of “lost albums.” Over seven discs, you’ll find seven unique albums that span a significant portion of Bruce Springsteen’s highly productive career. From 1983 to 2018, the legendary American rocker thought up and recorded these seven albums, but for unknown reasons, he never chose to make them public.

Bruce Springsteen announces a special gift for fans

On Friday, the debut of “Rain in the River” marked the initial taste we got of this song. Lyrically, it evokes the turbulent romances that Springsteen frequently delved into during his productive late ’70s period of groundbreaking albums, but musically, it offers a grandeur that wasn’t as prominent back then.

The song “Rain in the River” comes from Springsteen’s last unreleased album titled “Perfect World“, which is the only one among seven that he claims wasn’t originally planned as a unified collection. This suggests that the album might have a more diverse or eclectic mix of songs, although this remains to be seen until its release on June 27. In the meantime, it’s fun to speculate.

The title of the last album is derived from a Bruce Springsteen composition, which John Mellencamp recorded for his 2023 album titled “Orpheus Descending.” This final record begins with “I’m Not Sleeping,” a song written over a decade ago by Springsteen and his friend Joe Grushecky. Grushecky has performed this song multiple times.

Other records are associated with distinct phases of Bruce Springsteen’s career. The first one, titled “LA Garage Sessions ’83“, is quite clear in its origins. However, whether it offers fresh insights into two of the 1980s most iconic albums – “Nebraska ” and “Born in the USA ” – remains to be determined. These tracks were conceived during the timeframe that produced those timeless albums. With a total of 18 songs, it is the longest album included on Tracks II.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share some intriguing insights about the albums that Bruce Springsteen has been working on over the years. Apart from the widely recognized “High Hopes” (1994) and “Western Stars” (2019), there are several other projects that were created during those intervening years.

One of these unheard gems is a collection from the “Streets of Philadelphia” sessions in 1993, initially intended for an unreleased movie soundtrack. Another intriguing album is a country-style record, which he crafted during that seemingly barren period. The title “Inyo,” as described in a press release, revolves around legacies born from separation. With titles focusing on the southern border, it’s not hard to imagine that “Inyo” may delve into stories of immigration.

Although I’m not familiar with many tracks on “Tracks II“, the ones I’ve listened to suggest that these songs are anything but discards or last-minute additions. “Richfield Whistle” captures the same stark beauty as the music from the era of “Nebraska“.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but draw parallels between the emotional depth of “Waiting on the End of the World” (not to be confused with Elvis Costello) and the way Bruce Springsteen has nailed mid-tempo rock ballads. The B-side of his 1985 single “I’m Goin’ Down,” titled “Janey Don’t You Lose Heart,” was originally released on his first Tracks collection in 1998, and it had the potential to be a massive hit.

It’s a mystery as to why certain songs become constant hits on the radio or end up hidden away in vintage record stores. Similarly, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why some “lost” albums disappeared. However, luckily for us, Bruce Springsteen has the drive and resources to make sure that these high-quality tracks from his back catalog won’t be lost forever. On June 27, fans of The Boss will be thrilled to discover 83 previously unknown songs.

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2025-04-06 00:00