By: Bruce Springsteen Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: Box set, Original recording remastered Label: Sony Number of Discs: 4 Release Date: November 10, 1998
Amazon.com: Next time you find yourself debating the worth of Bruce Springsteen, pull out this brilliant four-disc outtake set. With a flick of his grease-monkey wrist, Springsteen proves--simply by issuing long-unreleased material--why he's the most consistent (read: important) composer in the pop-rock field of his generation. It's there in a dozen included B-sides ("Pink Cadillac," "Shut Out the Light," "Janey Don't You Lose Heart"). It's there in countless rabble-rousing anthems, the singer's stock in working-class trade ("Roulette," "Stand on It," "Car Wash," "Brothers Under the Bridges"). But, mainly, it's there between the lines, in the small idiosyncrasies Springsteen detected within almost every cut that made him--until now--withhold this material. Some are glaringly obvious--the singsong "Living on the Edge of the World," whose lyrics were later lifted for the more sinister "Open All Night"; the morphing of several "Iceman" verses into sentiments expressed on Darkness on the Edge of Town. Some are collectible curiosities, like the starkly disparate alternate takes of "Stolen Car" and "Born in the U.S.A." And others are more meticulous, often coming down to a simple phrase, riff, or melody line that wound up flunking final-cut muster. And when you stumble across those tiny, fleeting moments, moments that would matter to only a true perfectionist, the true artistry of Springsteen unfurls in all its ragged glory. --Tom Lanham
Before He Got Angry This guy was a genius before he lost his mind and stayed angry forever when his guy wasnt elected president. This collection of didn't make its is one of the best ever, nearly as good as Van Morrisons. Too bad he wasn't decent enough to share some of his writing skills with needy artists, Nils Lofgren for instance sure could have used a hit or two. Instead Bruce gave his little buddy a job as 2nd guitarist in his wall of sound. This collection would be for most artists a greatest hits album to be proud of. I was just listening to Wild Innocent and E. St Shuffle, its SO good i can see why some of these songs didnt make it. Back then Bruce was a happy fun and very creative guy who really rocked, too bad his new stuff like "magic" is total GARBAGE, The recording sounds like it was done using a 1967 transistor radio with mono sound and a cassette tape recorder. Every song on TRACKS sound way better than any of his new crud. I burned my own best of tracks CD and its as good as anything Bruce has ever done, and thats saying a LOT. I wish he could stop watching CNN and getting his brainwashed, he seems to blame the USA for everything bad in the world and has totally forgotten that the muslims attacked us first. That kind of anger must eat a man up inside and thus his very poor last 3 albums. Bruce you have $100 million in the bank, try to smile and relax, who knows maybe you still have one good one left in you.
Bruce Springsteen Tracks (4CD) I have not been at all disappointed with these CDs. If you are a true Springsteen fan, you will not be disappointed!! I am very delighted that I added this to my collection.
Excellent Great album, astounding artist! You'll discover how deep and beautiful is the music of Bruce Springsteen. Before this album, he was nothing more but "Streets of Philadelphia", "Secret Garden" and "Dancing In The Dark". With this album I've discovered an entire universe of sound, rhythm and stories. Enjoy a special artist and a thrilling voice.
Lost Gems I love this collection. It has tons of material never previously released and it's so cool to discover all of them. Some real standouts for me are Loose Ends, Sad Eyes, and Thundercrack. With over 50 Springsteen songs to enjoy you just can't go wrong-there's something that fits whatever mood you're in at that moment.
I thought it was for freakies only, but it's ESSENTIAL Very, very good music. At the beginning I thought this was the typical kind of barroom-music rubbish, only for the real freaks. But no, these are really very good songs, lots of them worthy of being publicated on the first LPs. The problem is, he wrote so many good songs in such a short time, that he had to chose between good and even better songs. This is definitely a must have for all Bruce Springsteen fans, and it's a pleasure to listen to new songs in the 21st Century, with the quality of the much younger Bruce.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
