Bruce Springsteen delves into the hidden tracks of ‘Tracks II’

Bruce Springsteen’s upcoming box set, ‘Tracks II’, will feature seven unreleased albums that bridge the gap between his known works. Contrary to popular belief, Springsteen was consistently recording during the supposed “lost period” in the ’90s, resulting in a collection of full albums that were never released due to the artist feeling that something was missing from them at the time.

Erik Flannigan, the Springsteen archivist, highlights the significance of these albums, noting that they fill the gaps between the familiar records that fans have cherished for years. Among the featured albums is ‘LA Garage Sessions’, recorded in 1983 between ‘Nebraska’ and ‘Born In The USA’. Another notable entry is ‘Streets of Philadelphia Sessions’, created alongside the titular song for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Philadelphia’. Springsteen experimented with drum loops and synthesizers during this time, exploring a different musical direction while taking a break from the E Street Band.

‘Somewhere North of Nashville’, produced simultaneously with ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’, was initially intended to be a single record. However, Springsteen realized that the material did not blend well together, leading to two distinct albums. ‘Inyo’, inspired by Springsteen’s time in California, serves as a sequel to ‘Joad’, further exploring the introspective and meditative style of his music. ‘Twilight Hours’, a companion to ‘Western Stars’, showcases a nostalgic 60s vibe, channeling influences from artists like Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams.

‘Perfect World’ captures a rock sound infused with the iconic E Street Band elements and features some familiar band members. On the other hand, ‘Faithless’ stands alone as the soundtrack to an unrealized movie project that Springsteen was commissioned to work on in the early 2000s. Despite completing all the songs in a short period, the film never materialized, leaving the music in limbo.

Springsteen reveals that the recent period of isolation during the pandemic provided the perfect opportunity to revisit his vault of unreleased music and complete ‘Tracks II: The Lost Albums’. He also hints at a potential ‘Tracks III’ in the future, promising further treasures for fans to discover. The box set offers a deep dive into Springsteen’s creative process, shedding light on his lesser-known works and providing fans with a comprehensive view of his musical evolution over the years.