Annotation

Disc One (1) details:

Recording details:
- Track 11 recorded at The Hit Factory, Feb 1982.
- Tracks 1,3,4 recorded at The Hit Factory, March or April 1982.
- Track 2 recorded at The Power Station, April or May 1982.
- Track 10 recorded at The Hit Factory, April 1982.
- Track 5 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 11, 1982.
- Track 8 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 14, 1982.
- Track 6 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 5, 1982.
- Track 9 recorded at The Power Station, November 9th 1983.
- Track 13 recorded at Thrill Hill West, LA, CA, January 30, 1983.
- Track 14 recorded at Thrill Hill West, LA, CA, January 4, 1983.
- Tracks 7,12,15,16 recorded at Thrill Hill West, mid Jan to mid Feb 1983.

Source details:
- Tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,11 from 'This Hard Land', BS2002
- Tracks 9,12 from 'Lost Masters XIX', LOVE 019
- Tracks 7,17 from 'Lost Masters XVII', LOVE 017
- Tracks 14,15,16 from 'Lost Masters XVI', LOVE 016

Track descriptions:
01 Contains a different Springsteen vocal overdub and a very long, extended jam ending.
02 This track has the original Van Zandt background vocals.
03 Slighly different version / mix.
04 Unedited, contains an entire extra verse (about Bruce’s dad) that was cut from the officially released version.
05 One of his finest studio performances. For some bizarre reason Springsteen & The E Street Band re-recorded the
song in 1995 and released that re-recording on 'Greatest Hits' – but it pales in comparison to this original.
06 Different mix than on the one released on 'Tracks'.
07 Bruce borrowed the first two lines from Chuck Berry’s song “Bye Bye Johnny” (as well as the play on the title),
which is why it’s registered as a Springsteen-Berry composition.
08 Originally recorded for "Darkness", and recorded again here, this was considered for the 'Greatest Hits' collection but was finally dropped.
09 Full, unedited version that includes lyric changes and the complete raucous ending. This track runs nearly a full 1:30 longer than the released version.
10 Slighly different version / mix.
11 A bit longer version.
12 Beautiful keyboards by Danny and Roy augment some fine acoustic guitar playing by Bruce.
13 Presented in best-ever quality, this unreleased gem far eclipses any current circulated versions.
14 Unreleased studio outtake.
15 Wonderful tune with a killer chorus - note the bass line similar to the Human Touch B-side '30 Days Out'
16 Short but energetic rocker.

- * 'Thrill Hill West' is Springsteen’s home studio in Los Angeles (aka 'Hollywood Hills Garage Studio').
- * Most band tracks are E Street Band backing versions from so-called “electric Nebraska session”
--

Disc Two (2) details:

Recording details:
- Track 1 recorded at The Hit Factory, from the April-June 1983 sessions.
- Track 3 PROBABLY recorded at The Hit Factory during Jan or early Feb 1982. May be from later.
- Track 2 recorded at The Power Station, April or May 1982.
- Track 4 recorded at The Hit Factory, June 16, 1983
- Track 5 recorded at The Hit Factory, May 5, 1982.
- Track 6 recorded at The Hit Factory, April 20, 1983.
- Track 7 recorded at The Power Station during April or May 1982.
- Track 8 recorded at The Hit Factory, Feb 1982.
- Track 9 recorded at The Hit Factory, June 13, 1983.
- Track 10 recorded at The Hit Factory, April or May 1983.
- Tracks 11,13 recorded at Thrill Hill West, August 1982 through April 1983.
- Tracks 12,14,16 recorded at Thrill Hill West, January through May 1983.
- Track 15 recorded at Thrill Hill West, January 4, 1983.

Source details:
- Tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6 from 'Murder Incorporated', FR03
- Track 7 from 'This Hard Land', BS2002
- Tracks 9,10 from 'Lost Masters XIX', LOVE 019
- Tracks 14,16, from 'Lost Masters XVII', LOVE 017
- Track 12 from 'Lost Masters XVIII', LOVE 018
- Tracks 15,11,13 from 'Lost Masters XVI', LOVE 016
- Track 8 from 'Lost Masters IV', LOVE 004

Track descriptions:
01 The original mix without the new (90's) vocal track or the overdubbed second guitar on 'The Essential BS'. One of my favourite tracks, too bad the sound quality is what it is.
02 Different mix permutation of the same core recording as #1.
03 Completely different recording than the released 'Cover Me' done in a dramatically different arrangement.
This may actually date from a later period in the sessions than the original 'Cover Me'.
04 Same core recording as on 'Tracks', but has a much longer fade out (very nice) and features Steve Van Zandt on background vocals and guitar.
05 Different mix permutation of the same core recording as #1.
06 Different mix than on the one released on 'Tracks'.
07 Includes slightly different lyrics and an alternate beginning and ending.
08 This song was given to Donna Summer, who was recording an album at the time at the same studio.
Summer’s cover version (with Springsteen on guitar) was recorded in March 1982 (released Aug 82).
Bruce and Donna also recorded a duet vocal version at her sessions – it remains uncirculating.
09 Original mix with the saxophone track (deleted on 'Tracks').
10 Features Ruth Jackson on background vocals. Possibly recorded at the same session as 'My Hometown' (which also features Jackson).
11 By far the definitive version of this song – contains an additional, important lyric verse that has been cut from all the other versions.
12 Brilliant song that developed from a 1981-82 work-in-progress composition called 'James Lincoln Dear'
13 Unreleased studio outtake.
14 Unreleased studio outtake.
15 Compelling song. Features a dark, brooding beat that mirrors the disturbing nature of the lyrics. A nice vocal performance here and we're left wondering what possessed him to write this one.
16 Add this to the ever expanding list of Bruce's greatest unreleased songs. A man surveys his life and wonders if he can ever escape the demons of his past.

- * 'Thrill Hill West' is Springsteen’s home studio in Los Angeles (aka 'Hollywood Hills Garage Studio').
- * Most band tracks are E Street Band backing versions from so-called “electric Nebraska session”

Annotation last modified on 2024-02-05 12:08 UTC.

Tracklist

1CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Born in the U.S.A. (alternate take)
recorded at:
Power Station Studios (Power Station at BerkleeNYC, fka Power Station 1977–1996, then Avatar Studios 1996–2017) in Hell's Kitchen, New York, New York, United States
recording of:
Born in the U.S.A. (on 1982-04-27)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1981)
publisher:
Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
version of:
Vietnam
8:12
2Murder Incorporated (alternate take)
recording of:
Murder Incorporated (on 1982-05-04)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1982)
4:07
3Downbound Train (alternate mix)
recording of:
Downbound Train (from 1982-04-27 until 1982-04-28)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (from 1981 until 1982)
publisher:
Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
3:18
4Glory Days (alternate take)
recording of:
Glory Days (on 1982-05-05)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (from 1981 until 1982)
publisher:
Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
5:30
5This Hard Land (alternate take)
recording of:
This Hard Land (on 1982-05-11)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1982)
4:54
6My Love Will Not Let You Down (alternate mix)
recording of:
My Love Will Not Let You Down (on 1982-05-05)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1982)
4:24
7Johnny Bye Bye (alternate take)
recording of:
Johnny Bye Bye (on 1983-01-04)
lyricist and composer:
Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen (in 1983)
is based on:
Bye Bye Johnny
1:50
8Frankie
recording of:
Frankie (on 1982-05-14)
lyricist:
Bruce Springsteen (from 1976 until 1977)
composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1976)
7:41
9I’m Goin’ Down (alternate take)
recording of:
I’m Goin’ Down (from 1982-05-12 until 1982-05-13)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1982)
publisher:
Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
4:58
10Working on the Highway (alternate mix)
recording of:
Working on the Highway (on 1982-04-30)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1982)
publisher:
Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
is based on:
Child Bride
3:15
11I’m on Fire (alternate take)
recording of:
I’m on Fire (on 1982-05-11)
publisher:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1982)
publisher:
Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC (1995–2020) and Zomba Music Publishers Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Zomba Music Publishing)
2:54
12Sugarland
recording of:
Sugarland (on 1983-02-08)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1983)
2:52
13Follow That Dream
cover recording of:
Follow That Dream (arrangement by Bruce Springsteen) (on 1983-02-08)
lyricist and arranger:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1983)
writer:
Ben Weisman and Fred Wise
is based on:
Follow That Dream
3:59
14Don’t Back Down
recording of:
Don’t Back Down (on 1983-03-10)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (from 1981 until 1982)
3:34
15One Love
recording of:
One Love (on 1983-01-19)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1983)
4:44
16Little Girl
recording of:
Little Girl (Like You) (on 1983-01-20)
lyricist and composer:
Bruce Springsteen (in 1983)
1:24
2CD