A significant collection of previously unreleased Bruce Springsteen material is set to reach audiences with the upcoming release of "Tracks II: The Lost Albums" — a box set containing 83 tracks that had been recorded but never officially published. This collection notably includes Springsteen’s first-ever "rap" song, reflecting his artistic explorations during the 1990s.
Among the newly unveiled tracks is "Blind Spot," a piece influenced by the West Coast rap scene of the early '90s, incorporating eerie keyboards and a loping breakbeat reminiscent of the trip-hop genre that was gaining momentum at the time. The track delves into themes of betrayal in relationships, with Springsteen describing its creation as a moment of focused inspiration. He shared, "That was just the theme that I locked in on at that moment. I don't really know why. Patti and I, we were having a great time in California. But sometimes if you lock into one song you like, then you follow that thread."
The box set also features the storied "Streets Of Philadelphia Sessions," often referred to as the "loops record," linked to Springsteen’s acclaimed soundtrack work for the 1993 film Philadelphia. During this period, filmmaker Jonathan Demme invited Springsteen to compose a theme song, resulting in "Streets Of Philadelphia" — a track notable for its electronic pop style with Springsteen solely responsible for the instrumental and drum machine programming. The song soared to critical and commercial success, winning both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
Inspired by this milestone, Springsteen established a workspace in Los Angeles to create a new album that would engage creatively with the pop scene of the mid-1990s. He performed most of the instrumental parts himself, with occasional contributions from his wife, Patti Scialfa, alongside musicians Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell, and members of his early ’90s touring band. Springsteen also collaborated with engineer Toby Scott in crafting drum loops, underscoring his hands-on approach to these sessions.
Originally, the album encompassing these sessions was completed and scheduled for release in spring 1995; however, Springsteen ultimately decided to set it aside. He chose instead to reunite with the E Street Band after almost a decade apart, shifting his creative focus back towards that collaboration and shelving the "lost albums" until the present announcement.
Reflecting on the decision to shelve the project, Springsteen said, "I mentioned, 'Well, maybe it's time to just do something with the band, or remind the fans of the band or that part of my work life.' So that's where we went. But I've always had a real fondness for Streets of Philadelphia Sessions... During the Broadway show, I toyed with the idea of releasing it [as a standalone release]. I tend to put such things away, but I never discard them."
The release of "Tracks II: The Lost Albums," which spans multiple decades but centers largely on these mid-1990s recordings, offers fans both long-awaited access to hidden gems and insight into a distinctive phase of Springsteen’s musical journey. The announcement was accompanied by the release of "Rain In The River," a track recorded more recently, in 2018, adding further depth to the historical breadth of the collection.
Source: Noah Wire Services