Note: Two demos (V1 and 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, at Springsteen's Colts Neck home 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 known 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. The result is officially released in October 2025 on Electric Nebraska in an arrangement very similar to that played live for many years with some lyrical variation, particularly in the closing verses. The released take was recorded on April 27.
| 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 one single take at the Power Station on April 30, 1982, performed by Springsteen alone, designated V5. If any band takes were attempted, presumably they were either incomplete or unsatisfactory.
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 during the Portastudio sessions (December 17, 1981–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 are probably all with the band. A recording from April 27 is officially released in October 2025 on Electric Nebraska.
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1a (mix 1) |
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uncirculating |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1b (mix 2) |
4:00 |
LM-1 |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1c (mix 3) |
4:01 |
NEBRASKA |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V1c stereo mix |
3:55 |
NEBRASKA |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V2 |
4:13 |
NEBRASKA82: ELECTRIC |
| MANSION ON THE HILL - V3 |
|
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. Bruce's demo tape included three mixes, two described as "a little dirty", and the third as "best recording quality". It can be assumed that the third mix was selected for the album. 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. In all likelihood, the takes from April 27 and 28 are with the band, and April 30 are solo. A band rendition recorded on April 27 is officially released in 2025 on Electric Nebraska, in an arrangement very similar to that played live on the Born In The U.S.A. Tour.
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 |
4:45 |
NEBRASKA82: ELECTRIC |
Note: The first song recorded, and the first song in the final running order, for Nebraska. Listed as "Starkweather" in an early song line-up, the song is about the Charles Starkweather murder spree in the 1950s. 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 during the Portastudio sessions December 17, 1981–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. "Nebraska" was later recorded over three days at Power Station on April 27, 28 and 30, 1982; at least some of these recordings feature E Street Band accompaniment. V7 was recorded with the band on April 27, 1982 and officially released on Electric Nebraska.
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. These takes are all likely with the band, and one result is officially released on Electric Nebraska in October 2025.
| 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 |
circulating |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V4 |
0:50 |
circulating |
| REASON TO BELIEVE - V5 |
3:38 |
NEBRASKA82: ELECTRIC |
Note: Springsteen recorded two complete recordings at his home in Colts Neck between December 17, 1981 and January 2, 1982, but only one has surfaced, which is take #1. This take circulates in three different mixes, and 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 a new electric arrangement recorded on April 15, 1982. This performance is a work-in-progress, with some lyrical variation including an extra third verse. This may be the same verse used in V2. The first verse is sung by Springsteen alone accompanied by electric guitar, before drum and bass join in for the rest of the song. Max Weinberg's driving beat features throughout. V4 is a short take of just the second verse. These two rehearsal takes entered circulation in October 2025. V5 is multiple studio takes from April 27–28, 1982 at Power Station, likely with the E Street Band. The result is officially released in October 2025 on Electric Nebraska, recorded on April 27 in a similar arrangement to the April 15 rehearsal.
| STATE TROOPER - V1 |
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uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V2 |
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uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V3 |
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uncirculating |
| STATE TROOPER - V4 |
|
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| 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 a solo recording cut during a session at the Power Station on April 30, 1982. Just one single take was recorded, but it was not selected for use on the Nebraska Outtakes album.
