Bruce Springsteen’s live tracks from 1986 to be broadcast on radio.
The upcoming release of Bruce Springsteen’s highly anticipated live album has stirred up excitement among record stores, radio stations, and dedicated rock music fans as they eagerly await the arrival of this five-record, 40-song collection. Boasting three hours and 35 minutes of music, this album is set to make a significant impact. A survey of record stores in Ocean and Monmouth counties revealed varying prices for the album, ranging from as low as $21 to as high as $35, while the cassette and compact disc versions are expected to fetch prices between $21 and $50. Fans can look forward to the album, titled “Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live/1975-85,” hitting shelves on Monday, although a select few New York-Philadelphia area radio stations will have the privilege of previewing eight advance-released tracks from the album starting today.
Under an agreement with Columbia Records, the stations granted access to these special eight tracks will only be allowed to play material from the album after 8 a.m. sharp. One of the chosen stations, WJLK-FM (K94) in Asbury Park, will be honoring this agreement by playing the tracks promptly at 8 a.m. Other stations planning to preview the album include WNEW-FM, WMMR-FM, and WXRK-FM (K-Rock). To mark the official release of the album, WXRK will host a live broadcast from Palace Amusements, the home of the Asbury Park Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum, from 7 to 10 p.m. on Monday. As a Freehold native who frequented Asbury Park at the beginning of his career, Springsteen holds a special connection to this area.
Among the tracks included in the promotional disc is the first single from the album, a cover of Edwin Starr’s 1970 hit “War,” recorded during a concert at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1985 as part of Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A” tour. Every song on this album, which marks Springsteen’s first officially authorized live set, was recorded live on stage, with tracks spanning from his “Born to Run” tour in 1975 to the “Born in the U.S.A.” tour, capturing the evolution of his music over the years.
Bootleg recordings of Springsteen’s performances have circulated underground since the early 1970s, and the decision to release this live album was partly influenced by a desire to combat these illegal recordings. In addition to unreleased versions of his classic hits, the album features two original songs, “Paradise by the `C’” and “Seeds,” as well as covers of songs he has never before released, including tracks by Woody Guthrie, Eddie Floyd, and Tom Waits. The promotional sampler also includes “Fire,” a Springsteen original that became a hit for the Pointer Sisters but was never previously recorded by Springsteen.
The album showcases songs recorded across different venues, such as the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum, and the Roxy in Los Angeles, capturing the essence of Springsteen’s live performances over the years. Following the initial broadcast of “War,” WJLK-FM plans to air live recordings of “Hungry Heart” and “Born in the U.S.A.,” popular singles from Springsteen’s studio albums. After listening to the promotional disc, the station’s program director remarked that the album will have broad appeal, especially for fans who have never experienced a live Springsteen performance. The album has received glowing reviews, with one critic calling it “the personal testament of a decade” and hailing Springsteen as “America’s greatest rocker.” With a tracklist that spans his early albums, including hits like “Growin’ Up,” “Thunder Road,” and “Adam Raised a Cain,” this live album promises to be a comprehensive snapshot of Springsteen’s illustrious career.