| ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| ALL I'M THINKIN' ABOUT V1b |
4:22 |
DEVILS |
Note: Song reportedly written in 1997. The core recording (which likely dates from that period) is Springsteen solo, on all instruments (vocals, guitar, keyboards and drums). The bass (Brendan O'Brien) and possibly the backing vocals were added in 2004. Mixed by Brendan O'Brien.
| ALL THE WAY HOME - V1 |
3:54 |
GUEST: BETTERDAYS / 1991 promo |
| ALL THE WAY HOME - V2a |
|
uncirculating |
| ALL THE WAY HOME - V2b |
3:38 |
DEVILS |
Note: Written sometime in 1990 or early 1991. Springsteen donated the song to Southside Johnny, and Bruce took part in the July 1991 recording session in New York that produced Southside's cover version. At least Springsteen's parts were recorded in mid-1991 at Sigma Sound Studios in New York City, NY. Bruce recorded his own version of the song in a dramatically different arrangement during the "daytime sessions" during the recording of The Ghost Of Tom Joad; it was presumably that version which was long-listed for Tracks. This recording provided the base track for the version released in 2005 on Devils & Dust. Brendan O'Brien (bass, tambora, sitar, electric sarangi) and Steve Jordan (drums) recorded their parts in 2004; the album version was mixed by Brendan O'Brien at Southern Tracks.
| BLACK COWBOYS V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| BLACK COWBOYS V1b |
4:08 |
DEVILS |
Note: "Black Cowboys" originated as a solo recording cut in September 1997 at Boxwood Studio, Colts Neck, NJ, with Bruce handling vocals, guitar, keyboards and percussion. In 2004, further percussion was added (Steve Jordan), as well as bass (Brendan O'Brien) and strings (Nashville String Machine). Horns (Brice Andrus, Donald Strand, Susan Welty, and Thomas Witte) added in Atlanta. The strings and horns are arranged by Eddie Horst; the mix is by Toby Scott.
| DEVILS & DUST V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| DEVILS & DUST V2a |
|
uncirculating |
| DEVILS & DUST V2b |
4:58 |
DEVILS / ESSENTIAL: 2015 |
| DEVILS & DUST V2c |
5:11 |
2005 video mix |
Note: Song written in mid-2003 (first known from appearances at soundchecks in April 2003) and the only song on Devils & Dust positively verified to have been composed after 2001. A rock-style studio demo was supposedly attempted at some point (V1); the released version is based on a solo acoustic demo (V2a) that, according to Brendan O'Brien, they "went back and basically redid everything." On the released take, Springsteen handles vocals, guitar and keyboards, with Brendan O'Brien on bass and Steve Jordan on drums (which include both live drums and loops). The strings (Nashville String Machine) and horns (Susan Welty and Thomas Witte) were arranged by Eddie Horst and were added later as overdubs. Most likely recorded March–August 2004, probably at Thrill Hill East, Rumson, NJ, with additional recording at Southern Tracks Recording, Atlanta, GA. Strings were recorded separately at Masterphonics, Nashville, TN. Mixed by Brendan O'Brien at Southern Tracks. V2c is the version used for the commercially released video – it is the same base recording as V2b, but features an alternate ("live") Springsteen vocal and a somewhat different mix.
| JESUS WAS AN ONLY SON |
2:54 |
DEVILS |
Note: Springsteen solo, on all instruments; it's not certain when the core recording was completed. The background harmonies (Scialfa-Tyrell-Lowell) were later overdubs. Mixed by Toby Scott.
| LEAH V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| LEAH V1b |
3:31 |
DEVILS |
Note: "Leah" was recorded solo, with Springsteen on all instruments, in June 1996 at one of Bruce's home studios. Mark Pender's trumpet part was recorded separately and overdubbed later, most likely in 2004. Patti Scialfa's backing vocals are uncredited but clearly audible. Mixed by Toby Scott.
Note: Recorded during sessions for The Ghost Of Tom Joad in spring/summer 1995 at Thrill Hill West, Beverly Hills, "Long Time Comin'" was premiered live on October 16, 1996 and performed 35 times on the Joad Tour. An early Tracks six-CD sample set from June 1998 indicates that "Long Time Comin'" was considered for Tracks, but ultimately rejected. It's highly likely that this is V2a, perhaps with some additional overdubs to complete the song. The sample set listed the song as "version 2", indicating there may have been a "version 1" that had already been rejected. This could have been V1 without overdubs, or an even earlier recording we are unaware of. The Devils & Dust release uses the 1995 recording, featuring Danny Federici, Marty Rifkin, Soozie Tyrell and Patti Scialfa, as its base track. It was recorded by Toby Scott and produced by Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin. Drums (Steve Jordan) and bass guitar (Brendan O’Brien) were added to the mix in 2004; additional production and mixing was completed by O'Brien at Southern Tracks Recording, Atlanta.
Note: It is unknown if "Maria's Bed" dates from the 1990s or from 2003–4, although its substantial lyrical overlap with with "Further On (Up the Road)" (written in 1999–2000) my indicate a pre-Rising composition date. Brendan O'Brien recalls that it was the first song he and Steve Jordan recorded with Springsteen; it's no known if these were overdubs or if they trio recorded a base track from scratch. Mixed by O'Brien.
| MATAMOROS BANKS V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| MATAMOROS BANKS V1b |
4:20 |
DEVILS |
Note: The base track for "Matamoros Banks" was recorded in September 1996 at Boxwood Studio, Colts Neck, NJ by Springsteen solo, on multiple instruments. The Eddie Horst-arranged strings (the Nashville String Machine) were recorded at Masterphonics, Nashville, TN in 2004 and overdubbed onto the core recording. Mixed by Toby Scott.
| RENO V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| RENO V1b |
4:08 |
DEVILS |
Note: The song was first recorded during studio sessions in June 1996. Completed in 2004 and released on Devils & Dust. The core track (which is most likely the '90s recording) is Springsteen solo, on all instruments (vocals, guitar, keyboards, and tambourine). The strings (Nashville String Machine) and horns (Brice Andrus, Donald Strand, Susan Welty, and Thomas Witte) were recorded and added in 2004. Mixed by Brendan O'Brien at Southern Tracks.
| SILVER PALOMINO V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| SILVER PALOMINO V1b |
3:22 |
DEVILS |
Note: "Silver Palomino" was inspired by the September 4, 1996 death of Fiona Williams-Chappel (who had been Bruce's stylist and whose children were friends with his) at age 37, leaving behind two young boys (Bruce’s liner notes read: "A mother dies, leaving her young son to come to terms with the loss. In remembrance of Fiona Chappel, for her sons Tyler and Oliver." The song was presumably written sometime shortly after, and the solo base track was probably recorded in 1997. The strings (Nashville String Machine) were arranged by Eddie Horst and recorded at Masterphonics, Nashville in 2004 and overdubbed onto the core recording in Atlanta. Mixed by Brendan O'Brien.
| THE HITTER - V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| THE HITTER - V1b |
5:53 |
DEVILS |
Note: Written by Bruce while on the Ghost Of Tom Joad Tour and recorded solo in the studio in June 1996, "The Hitter" premiered live on November 13, 1996. In 2004, strings (recorded at Masterphonics, Nashville) and horns (recorded at Southern Tracks, Atlanta), both arranged by Eddie Horst, were recorded and overdubbed onto the original recording for release on Devils & Dust. Mixed by Brendan O'Brien.
