Darkness on the Edge of Town

I'll be there on time and I'll pay the cost, For wanting things that can only be found in the darkness on the edge of town... (Bruce Springsteen - Darkness on the Edge of Town)

Finally we get word on the release date that I have been really excited about all year. Columbia records will release the 3 cd/3 dvd set The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story from Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band on November 16. Disc 1 is a remastered Darkness on the Edge of Town. Discs 2 & 3 are unreleased music from this era. DVD disc 1 is the documentary on the making of the album. DVD discs 2 & 3 are live music from the Darkness era, as well as a recent show that featured all Darkness music.


First of all let me say that Darkness on the Edge of Town was originally released in 1978. I did not hear it until around 1980 after I really started getting into Springsteen. Since this time my favorite album of all time has sort of alternated between Darkness and Born to Run.

Two discs of unreleased material will be the most exciting Springsteen release since Tracks in 1999. I expect this one will be in my cd player in my car and on my ipod for a long time. Read more about it here.

Springsteen: It Takes Two

Two hearts are better than one; Two hearts get the job done; Two hearts are better than one... (Bruce Springsteen - Two Hearts)

Bruce Springsteen has played with many other artists over the years. He has played the likes of Roy Orbison, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Moore, artists that certainly influenced him. He has played with his contemporaries like Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, R.E.M., U2, John Fogerty, to name a few. He has also shows up on occasion with the next generation of artists including Jessie Malin and most recently The Gaslight Anthem.

Some of these collaborations turn into recordings. It seems like the frequency of this has increased as of recent years. Bruce sings on a new track from Alejandro Escovedo's excellent new record Street Songs of Love and on the song Faith.

Here is a partial listing of some recent tracks that Bruce has appeared on:

• Alejandro Escovedo – Faith (2010)
• Rosanne Cash – Sea of Heartbreak (2009)
• John Fogerty - When Will I Be Loved (2009)
• Alejandro Escovedo - Always a Friend (2008)*
• RogerMcGuinn - Turn! Turn! Turn! (2008)*
• Tom Morello - The Ghost of Tom Joad (2008)*
• Jessie Malin – Broken Radio (2007)
• Jerry Lee Lewis – Pink Cadillac (2006)
• Warren Zevon - Disorder in the House (2003)
• Warren Zevon - Prison Grove (2003)
• Emmylou Harris – One Big Love (2000)
• John Prine – Take a Look at My Heart (1991)

*Live Recordings from Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's ep Magic Tour Highlights

A complete list can be found on Matt's Bruce Springsteen Discography

Here are a few videos that feature some of these songs: