Note: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Issued on the four-track 12" vinyl EP American Beauty, released April 19, 2014 in association with Record Store Day and digitally on April 22, 2014. Springsteen has stated that it was originally a demo made during the Brendan O'Brien period and was never cut for an album. Contains some lines and lyrics that were used in other songs, including "Down in the Hole", "Gypsy Biker", and "Livin' in the Future".
| AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) - V1 |
5:13 |
SA / 2001 promo |
| AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| AMERICAN SKIN (41 SHOTS) - V3 |
7:24 |
HOPES |
Note: Written by Springsteen during the spring of 2000 and soundchecked several times in April and May of 2000 before it was premiered live on June 4, 2000 in Atlanta. "American Skin (41 Shots)" was inspired by the February 1999 police shooting of Amadou Diallo in New York City. Springsteen recorded V1, or at least a new vocal, at The Hit Factory, New York City on March 2, 2001. It appears that this recording utilizes the backing music (with a slightly altered mix) from the live version recorded on July 1, 2000 at Madison Square Garden and officially released on Live In New York City. Produced by Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin, it was released on a promotion-only single in June 2001.
Ron Aniello revealed in a December 2013 interview with Rolling Stone that the song was also recorded during the Wrecking Ball recording sessions (V2), but ultimately was not used. "We did try a track of that," he said, "but it wasn't really an outtake." V3 was recorded in 2013 and features Tom Morello on guitar. "His presence made a big, big difference," Springsteen said. "He obviously brings those things to great life and deepens them and deepens the characters." Prior to the March 2013 Australian leg of the Wrecking Ball Tour, Tom Morello was sent the song to add guitar: "I did that in my home studio and Bruce seemed to like that very much," he told Andy Greene in a January 2014 interview for Rolling Stone. "That song to me was the most challenging one. It was also the first one I did. Normally I'll go in there and tinker with a song a bit and try to capture inspiration and see if the world likes it or not. But that song just didn't come together for me. I went back to it a couple of times, and I'm glad that I did because at the end of the day I was really pleased with how the guitar solo and the rhythm stuff came out. But that one felt like it was work. I had to really work on that one." The final result was issued on High Hopes in 2014.
| DOWN IN THE HOLE - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| DOWN IN THE HOLE - V2 |
4:59 |
HOPES |
Note: Springsteen confirmed in a December 2013 Rolling Stone interview that "Down In The Hole" V1 was recorded during sessions for The Rising. V2 is from 2013 and was issued on 2014's High Hopes; the 2002 base track was used, with the later addition of overdubs. Produced by Brendan O'Brien and featuring Clarence Clemons on tenor saxophone and Danny Federici on organ.
| DREAM BABY DREAM |
5:00 |
HOPES |
Note: Composed by Alan Vega and Martin Rev of Suicide. Springsteen premiered his version during 2005's Devils & Dust Tour, always performed as the final song of the show. Recorded in 2013 with Tom Morello. Aniello has stated that Springsteen made around ten recordings before settling on the final take. First released on October 10, 2013 as soundtrack to a video commemorating the Wrecking Ball Tour which concluded on September 21, 2013. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen.
| FRANKIE FELL IN LOVE - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| FRANKIE FELL IN LOVE - V2 |
2:48 |
HOPES |
Note: Springsteen has stated that "Frankie Fell In Love" was recorded for Magic but did not make the album. However, studio footage appears to date the song from the Working On A Dream sessions. Partially re-recorded in 2013 and issued on High Hopes. Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Features Sessions Band violinist Sam Bardfeld. Drums, bass and Van Zandt's contribution all date to 2013.
| HARRY'S PLACE - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| HARRY'S PLACE - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| HARRY'S PLACE - V3 |
|
uncirculating |
| HARRY'S PLACE - V4 |
4:04 |
HOPES |
Note: The background of this song is somewhat confusing. Springsteen has confirmed that seventeen songs were recorded in Atlanta and that "Harry's Place" was one of the two songs that didn't make the final 15-song line-up for The Rising – Bruce felt this rocker about a fictitious local kingpin didn't blend in well with the rest of the album's material. During a July 31, 2002 TV interview Springsteen, upon request of Ted Koppel, actually recited the entire first verse of this song's lyrics. Comments made by Springsteen since suggest that only the lyrics were written in 2001 (V2) during sessions for The Rising (although he has also stated that the band attempted to record the song at sessions prior to The Rising, perhaps in the late '90s - V1), and the music dates from the mid-2000s, probably from the Magic sessions in 2007 (V3). V3 was recorded at Southern Tracks studio during the Spring of 2007 for Magic. Bruce has said that it almost made the album, but was left off because he wanted twelve songs rather than thirteen, indicating the late addition of "Terry's Song" bumped it from the final sequence. Screen captures of the lyric book show that only the first verse dates from 2002, the rest appears to have been re-written in the intervening years. The song is not related, either musically or lyrically, to "Mary's Place" – they merely happen to share the same word in the title. Subsequently issued on 2014's High Hopes. It should be noted that "Hard Drive" (often mentioned in the same breath as "Harry's Place") was not a Rising-era recording or song – rather it was a never developed (i.e., no lyrics/music) title found in Springsteen's Rising sessions songwriting notebook that had first been seen and noted by journalist Jon Pareles in a July 2002 interview with Springsteen at Bruce's home.
| HEAVEN'S WALL - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| HEAVEN'S WALL - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| HEAVEN'S WALL - V3 |
3:50 |
HOPES |
Note: V1 recorded by Springsteen during the mid 2000s, V2 recorded by Brendan O'Brien at Southern Tracks Studios, Atlanta, most likely in spring 2007 during the recording sessions for Magic. Ron Aniello has stated that the original basic track (vocals, drum and bass) was used, and 2013 overdubs, including guitar by Tom Morello, completed the song.
| HEY BLUE EYES - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| HEY BLUE EYES - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| HEY BLUE EYES - V3 |
|
uncirculating |
| HEY BLUE EYES - V4 |
4:34 |
BEAUTY: EP |
Note: Recorded with Brendan O'Brien at Southern Tracks Studios, Atlanta, during the Working On A Dream sessions in 2008, which formed the basis of the released track, along with additional parts by the E Street Band, recorded on later dates. Considered for High Hopes in 2013, but was among the several tracks not selected, prompting Springsteen to release American Beauty, a 12" vinyl EP on RSD April 19, 2014, and digitally on April 22. The presence of Patrick Warren and lyrical content helps confirm that this recording (or at least part of it) emanates from Atlanta.
| HIGH HOPES - V1 |
3:31 |
YBNT2 |
| HIGH HOPES - V2 |
4:20 |
BB: EP |
| HIGH HOPES - V3 |
2:46 |
private |
| HIGH HOPES - V4 |
|
uncirculating |
| HIGH HOPES - V5 |
|
uncirculating |
| HIGH HOPES - V6 |
4:57 |
HOPES |
Note: Song written in 1987 by Tim McConnell (aka Tim Scott). Recorded by Springsteen in January, 1995 at The Hit Factory, New York City. V1 is a brief snippet of a different recorded take, as heard in the video. V2 is the complete take officially issued on the Blood Brothers EP. V3 is an alternative, rather funky arrangement with low, almost whispered lyrics and is reminiscent of War's "Spill The Wine". The take is aborted early, with Bruce requesting a cup of tea.
Thanks to a text by Tom Morello, who was filling in for actor Steve Van Zandt on the ten-day 2013 Australian tour, Springsteen decided to open the March 16 Brisbane show with "High Hopes", the first time he has ever played it live! He also phoned Nick Didia, former Southern Tracks studio engineer, now living Down-Under at Byron Bay, 750 km from Sydney. Nick made arrangements for time at Studios 301 in Sydney the next day, as well as an evening slot for Morello at their Byron Bay branch office (running late from Brisbane). On March 17, 2013, a travel day to Sydney, the E Street Band arrived at the studio in the afternoon, recording two takes of "High Hopes" V4 and V5, and completing "Just Like Fire Would", in an unknown number of takes. The word is Morello recorded his parts at Byron Bay late into the night, but he was on time and ready next day for the opener in Sydney, with "High Hopes" still in the lineup. V6 is the final album track that opens High Hopes, featuring numerous overdubs, courtesy of co-producer Ron Aniello, recorded later that year in New York and Los Angeles. On November 19, 2013, a CD-R single, digital download and video were all released, well ahead of the January 2014 album date.
| HUNTER OF INVISIBLE GAME - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| HUNTER OF INVISIBLE GAME - V2 |
4:42 |
HOPES / ESSENTIAL: 2015 |
Note: With Tom Morello. Produced by Brendan O'Brien, suggesting this recording dates from 2004–2008, presumably with a Morello overdub. Morello has stated in an interview that he heard O'Brien tinkering with a recording of the song in 2007 or 2008, and being credited on High Hopes release, after he had parted with Springsteen, proves it was recorded prior to 2009.
Note: One of several tracks considered for the album but ultimately rejected. Issued on the four-track 12" vinyl EP American Beauty, released April 19, 2014 in association with Record Store Day and digitally on April 22, 2014.
| JUST LIKE FIRE WOULD - V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| JUST LIKE FIRE WOULD - V1b |
|
uncirculating |
| JUST LIKE FIRE WOULD - V2 |
3:56 |
HOPES |
Note: Written by Chris Bailey, frontman of Australian band The Saints and first released in 1986 on their album All Fools Day. Springsteen premiered his cover of "Just Like Fire Would" on March 14, 2013 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia. V1a was recorded March 17, 2013, at Studios 301 in Sydney with engineer Nick DiDia, in an unknown number of takes. Tom Morello recorded his parts at Studios 301, Byron Bay late that night. V2 is the final album track, with overdubs recorded later that year in New York and Los Angeles. Released January 22, 2014 as a single Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen.
| MARY MARY - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| MARY MARY - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| MARY MARY - V3 |
2:51 |
BEAUTY: EP |
Note: V1 recorded at Southern Tracks Studios with Brendan O'Brien during the Magic sessions in 2007, and again in 2008. V3, the High Hopes version, was completed in 2013 with Ron Aniello. Considered for High Hopes, but missed the cut. Released on the four-track 12" vinyl EP American Beauty on April 19, 2014, in association with Record Store Day, and digitally on April 22, 2014.
Note: Written as a rock song for the Greatest Hits project, but abandoned when Springsteen couldn't find an arrangement. Re-imagined as an acoustic song, and recorded May 23, 1995 at Thrill Hill Recording, Beverly Hills, California. Springsteen handles guitar and vocals, and his four-man backing band on this recording is Danny Federici (keyboards), Garry Tallent (bass), Marty Rifkin (pedal steel, dobro), and Gary Mallaber (drums). V3 is an entirely re-recorded version, but was not recorded during any of the three Seeger Sessions. It was recorded at various stages and studio locations during mid-/late-2006. Bruce's parts (vocal, harmonica) were recorded at Thrill Hill Recording, Rumson, New Jersey in August 2006. Pete Seeger's vocals were recorded at Seeger's cabin in Beacon, NY on July 4, 2006. The backing band's individual parts were recorded at various locations around the United States during mid-/late-2006 and then everything was mixed together at Shelter Island Sound Studios in New York City by David Seitz, and produced by Springsteen, Jim Musselman, and Seitz. The recording was first released on September 11, 2007 on the Various Artists charity compilation Sowing The Seeds (Appleseed). V4 was recorded, most likely early 2009, in his home studio for the The People Speak documentary. V5 was recorded in March 2013 in Los Angeles, the day before a flight to Australia for the Australian leg of the Wrecking Ball Tour, and was produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen.
| THE WALL - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| THE WALL - V2 |
|
HOPES |
Note: Written December 1997–January 1998. The title and idea came from Joe Grushecky and the rest was written by Springsteen after he and Patti Scialfa visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Bruce premiered the song live on February 19, 2003 at Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA, and prefaced the performance by mentioning that he'd visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington in December 1997 and that several days later Grushecky (in advance of their songwriting sessions) sent Bruce a newspaper clipping about the Vietnam Memorial. Grushecky subsequently wrote a different, but similarly themed, song called "On The Wall" that appeared on his 2002 Fingerprints album. Recorded in the late '90s (perhaps during sessions for Tracks) with the E Street Band, including Danny Federici. Played twice during 2005's Devils & Dust Tour. V2 issued on 2014's High Hopes, produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen.
| THIS IS YOUR SWORD |
2:52 |
HOPES |
Note: Produced by Ron Aniello and Springsteen. Song features Springsteen on guitar, synths, mandolin, banjo, and piano; Roy Bittan on piano and organ; Patti Scialfa, Steve Van Zandt and Soozie Tyrell on backing vocals; Ron Aniello on bass, guitar, and synth; and Cillian Vallely on uilleann pipes and hi & lo whistle. Session musician Josh Freese plays drums since Max Weinberg was busy on tour. Also features Sessions Band violinist Sam Bardfeld.
