Note: Two demos (V1 & V2) were recorded in April 1981, under the title "Fist Full Of Dollars", but they also had quite a few verses written, all about Atlantic City. You can hear him turning pages of his notebook as he worked on them. Some lyrics would remain for "Atlantic City", including the opening lines "Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night / Now that town sets in for a fight."
The story continues in late 1981, still at Colts Neck with V3. The lyrics are getting into shape; The rest is Bruce trying variations of the chorus. V4, V5 and V6 were recorded on his Portastudio at Colts Neck during a two-week period, December 17 to January 3, 1982, with V6 take 3 chosen for Nebraska. Take 1, V4 is the only outtake from this session. In a letter to Jon Landau, Springsteen noted that "this song should probably be done with the whole band really rockin' out." And indeed, Bruce went into the studio for two weeks from late April 1982 and spent the first day working on "Atlantic City", and a number of takes were cut at the Power Station over three days on April 26–28, 1982. However these recordings remain unheard; information from various sources suggests this was with the band, but we can't confirm.
| DEPUTY - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| DEPUTY - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| DEPUTY - V3 |
|
uncirculating |
| DEPUTY - V4a |
5:30 |
LM-1 / HNWB |
| HIGHWAY PATROLMAN - V4b |
5:36 |
NEBRASKA |
| HIGHWAY PATROLMAN - V4c stereo mix |
5:37 |
NEBRASKA |
| HIGHWAY PATROLMAN - V5 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: Four different takes were recorded - the three variants of V4 are merely alternate mixes. The original title was "Deputy". In a letter to Jon Landau, Bruce said he "worked very long on this and always had the feeling I was comin up short. Not really finished but is about as good as I can get it at the time. Don't think the ending was quite strong enough." Logs show takes at Power Station on April 30, 1982, either solo or with the band.
| JOHNNY 99 - V1 |
3:50 |
FFOD / HNWB |
| JOHNNY 99 - V2 |
3:26 |
FFOD / HNWB |
| JOHNNY 99 - V3 |
|
uncirculating |
| JOHNNY 99 - V4 take 1 |
|
uncirculating |
| JOHNNY 99 - V5a take 2 |
3:30 |
LM-1 |
| JOHNNY 99 - V5b take 2 |
3:36 |
NEBRASKA / ESSENTIAL: 2015 |
| JOHNNY 99 - V5c take 2 stereo mix |
3:36 |
NEBRASKA |
| JOHNNY 99 - V6 take 3 |
|
uncirculating |
| JOHNNY 99 - V7 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: V1 is similar to the released version, with some lyrical variations. V2 is closer still. Both are acoustic demos recorded at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, NJ from mid-September to December 1981. Three different, complete, recordings were made on January 3, 1982, but only one has surfaced (V5), in three alternative mixes. One of the recordings has a different ending verse. In late April 1982 Bruce recorded takes at the Power Station on April 27–28 and May 3, 1982. These cuts may be solo or with the band.
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1a |
|
uncirculating |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1b |
4:00 |
LM-1 |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1c |
4:01 |
NEBRASKA |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1c stereo mix |
3:55 |
NEBRASKA |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: Written by Springsteen during the River Tour, although the themes found in the song were explored prior to this, during the Darkness sessions. For example, the lyric "there's a palace on the edge of town / risin' from the factories and railroad shacks" can be found in the Darkness box set facsimile book, which is very similar to a lyric found in "Mansion On The Hill". The first song completed for Nebraska, and only one recording was made - the four variants above are merely alternate mixes. Springsteen recorded multiple takes at Power Station on April 27, 28, and 30, 1982 either solo (Springsteen would re-record the Nebraska tracks around this time in a failed attempt to reproduce his demos in a professional environment) or with the band.
Note: Two different, complete, recordings on separate cassettes were made on May 25, 1982, over five months after the vast majority of the Nebraska tracks were cut. Only one take has surfaced (three mixes). V1 and V2a do not include any synthesizer (the synthesizer was likely added at The Power Station). V2b includes an additional 28 seconds of synthesizer at the end that was cut from the official release. The master tape for this longer version was accidentally sent to Japan in 1985 and released on the first-ever CD print run of the album, as well as a second pressing of the Japanese CD in 1986/87. The long version was also utilized on original 1986/87 export editions of the Japanese CD sent to Europe and the USA. The mistake was eventually corrected on all versions. The long version has not been officially available anywhere since 1995. Some early promotional copies of the album sent to press and radio stations (certainly in the UK, and perhaps worldwide) also included the synth coda.
| STARKWEATHER - V1 |
1:09 |
LM-1(17) / HNWB |
| STARKWEATHER - V2 |
1:05 |
LM-1(18) / HNWB |
| STARKWEATHER - V3 take 1 |
|
uncirculating |
| STARKWEATHER - V4 take 2 |
|
uncirculating |
| STARKWEATHER - V5 take 3 |
|
uncirculating |
| STARKWEATHER - V6a take 4 m |
4:25 |
LM-1(1) |
| NEBRASKA - V6b take 4 mix 1 |
4:25 |
NEBRASKA / ESSENTIAL: 2003 |
| NEBRASKA - V6c take 4 mix 2 early fade |
4:25 |
uncirculating |
| NEBRASKA - V6d take 4 mix 3 bad harp |
4:25 |
uncirculating |
| NEBRASKA - V6e take 4 mix 4 glock |
4:25 |
uncirculating |
| NEBRASKA - V6f stereo mix |
4:16 |
NEBRASKA |
| NEBRASKA - V7 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: The first song recorded, and the first song in the final running order, for Nebraska. V1 and V2 are takes of the introduction and first two lines, recorded in late 1981 at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, NJ. Six takes were recorded on January 3, 1982, including V6b take 4, the title track of the album. V6 above are alternate mixes. Mix #1 is complete, with a 12-string guitar. #2 fades early, #3 is noted as "bad harp no good". Take #4 is with glock. Listed as "Starkweather" in an early song line-up, the song is about the Charles Starkweather murder spree in the 1950s. "Nebraska" was later recorded over three days at Power Station on April 27, 28 and 30, 1982; these recordings could be either solo or with the band, or possibly both.
| OPEN ALL NIGHT - V1 |
1:24 |
FFOD / HNWB |
| WANDA (OPEN ALL NIGHT) - V2 take 1 |
|
uncirculating |
| WANDA (OPEN ALL NIGHT) - V3a take 2 mix 1 |
2:50 |
LM-1 |
| OPEN ALL NIGHT - V3b take 2 mix 2 |
2:51 |
NEBRASKA |
| OPEN ALL NIGHT - V3c take 2 mix 3 stereo mix |
2:48 |
NEBRASKA |
| OPEN ALL NIGHT - V4 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: In early 1981 Springsteen took the storyline and lyrics from 1979 River outtake "Living On The Edge Of The World" to create a new composition, "Open All Night". The first audio we have is a curious solo acoustic demo that was recorded at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, NJ during a gap in the River Tour in late March or early April 1981. The opening verses of this demo are lifted from "Living On The Edge Of The World", while the third is from another Born In The U.S.A. outtake, "This Hard Land". Two takes were included on Springsteen's demo tape, V2 and V3. Both were recorded between December 17, 1981 and January 3, 1982, also at Colts Neck; only V3 has surfaced in three different mixes. The only song on Nebraska with electric guitar accompaniment. Springsteen used the title "Wanda (Open All Night)" in an early song line-up. A number of takes were recorded by Springsteen at the Power Station on April 27, 1982. It is unknown if these are with the band or solo, and any completed recordings remain in the vault.
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V1a take 1 |
4:00 |
LM-1 |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V1b take 1 |
4:02 |
NEBRASKA |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V1c take 1 stereo mix |
3:56 |
NEBRASKA |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V2 take 2 |
|
uncirculating |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V3 |
3:34 |
private |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V4 |
0:50 |
private |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V5 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: On January 3, 1982 two complete recordings were made but only one has surfaced, which is take #1. This take circulates in three different mixes. The second (unused) take has an extra verse. Inspired by Springsteen's own experience driving down Highway 33 on his way to Millstone, a township in Monmouth County. V3 is a full-band rehearsal (missing the opening lines) of the song Springsteen recorded solo in January 1982. This performance is a work-in-progress, with some lyrical variation including an extra third verse, suggesting it was recorded before "Reason To Believe" was completed, probably during a band get-together at Springsteen's house some time between the end of the River Tour and late December 1982. The first verse is sung by Springsteen alone accompanied by electric guitar, before drum and bass join in for the rest of the song. A driving beat features throughout. V4 is a short take of just the second verse. V5 is multiple studio takes from April 27–28, 1982 at Power Station. These takes could be solo or with the band.
| STATE TROOPER - V1 |
|
uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V2 |
|
uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V3 |
|
uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V4 |
|
uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V5a |
3:05 |
LM-1 |
| STATE TROOPER - V5b |
3:10 |
NEBRASKA |
| STATE TROOPER - V5c stereo mix |
3:04 |
NEBRASKA |
Note: Five takes were recorded. The two variants of V5 are merely alternate mixes. In a letter to Jon Landau, Bruce wrote, "I dreamed this one up comin back from New York one night. I don't know if it's even really a song or not, but I did it, so I figured I'd throw it on. It's kinda weird." According to studio logs, Bruce did not attempt to re-record "State Trooper" in April 1982, unlike the majority of the songs found on the Nebraska demo tape.
| USED CARS - V1 |
3:17 |
FFOD / HNWB |
| USED CARS - V2 |
2:30 |
FFOD / HNWB |
| USED CARS - V3 |
2:45 |
FFOD / HNWB |
| USED CARS - V4 |
|
uncirculating |
| USED CARS - V5 |
|
uncirculating |
| USED CARS - V6 take 1 |
|
uncirculating |
| USED CARS - V7a take 2 |
3:00 |
LM-1 |
| USED CARS - V7b take 2 |
3:01 |
NEBRASKA |
| USED CARS - V7c take 2 stereo mix |
2:59 |
NEBRASKA |
| USED CARS - V8 |
|
uncirculating |
Note: V1–V3 are acoustic demos recorded at Springsteen's home in Colts Neck, NJ from mid-September to December 1981, similar to the released version with some lyrical and melodic variations. Then four different, complete, recordings were made - only one has surfaced (three mixes). Take 1 was "a little dirty recording wise," according to Springsteen. V8 was cut during sessions at the Power Station on April 30, 1982, and could either be solo or with the band.
