The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story

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Commercially Released: November 16, 2010
Label: Columbia
Produced by Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau
Recorded by Jimmy Iovine and Toby Scott, assisted by Rob Lebret and Thom Panunzio at The Record Plant and Thrill Hill Recording
Mixed by Chuck Plotkin, Bob Clearmountain, assisted by Brandon Duncan at Mix This!
Mastered by Mike Reese, Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering
Archive Research, Retrieval & Restoration by Donna Kloepfer, Matt Kelly, Sean Brennan, Tim Sturgis, Toby Scott

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Table of Contents

Overview

Released

Additional Information

Overview

The Promise is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released November 16, 2010 on Columbia Records. The album is a collection of previously unreleased songs which were recorded during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions in 1977–1978, with some vocals and additional instrumentation overdubs recorded in 2010. It was released in 2CD and 3LP formats. The album is also available as part of the box set The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story. It had been in production for many years and was originally scheduled to be released for the 30th anniversary in 2008. The album features one of the last appearances of Clarence Clemons before his death in June 2011. Clemons is featured on the song "Save My Love", which was the only song on the album completely re-recorded by Springsteen and the E Street Band for the project.

^{Source: Wikipedia}

Released

#	Song Title	Running Time	Release
1.1.	BADLANDS	4:01	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.2.	ADAM RAISED A CAIN	4:31	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.3.	SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT	5:08	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.4.	CANDY'S ROOM	2:43	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.5.	RACING IN THE STREET	6:51	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.6.	THE PROMISED LAND	4:25	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.7.	FACTORY	2:15	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.8.	STREETS OF FIRE	4:02	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.9.	PROVE IT ALL NIGHT	3:54	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS
1.10.	DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN	4:23	PROMISE: DELUXE / DARKNESS

#	Song Title	Running Time	Release
2.1.	RACING IN THE STREET ('78)	6:50	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.2.	GOTTA GET THAT FEELING	3:20	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.3.	OUTSIDE LOOKING IN	2:19	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.4.	SOMEDAY (WE'LL BE TOGETHER)	5:39	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.5.	ONE WAY STREET	4:21	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.6.	BECAUSE THE NIGHT	3:25	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.7.	WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET	3:37	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.8.	THE BROKENHEARTED	5:20	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.9.	RENDEZVOUS	2:40	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
2.10.	CANDY'S BOY	4:39	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE

#	Song Title	Running Time	Release
3.1.	SAVE MY LOVE	2:39	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.2.	AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU	4:03	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.3.	FIRE	4:10	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.4.	SPANISH EYES	3:51	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.5.	IT'S A SHAME	3:16	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.6.	COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT)	2:20	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.7.	TALK TO ME	4:22	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.8.	THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES)	3:19	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.9.	BREAKAWAY	5:33	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.10.	THE PROMISE	5:54	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.11.	CITY OF NIGHT	2:58	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE
3.12.	THE WAY ⁽¹⁾	3:47	PROMISE / PROMISE: DELUXE

^{Total Running Time: 2:11:49}

^{1: Hidden in the previous track.}

#	Song Title	Running Time	Release
The Promise: The Making Of Darkness On The Edge Of Town - BLU-RAY / DVD
4.1.1.	The Promise: The Making Of Darkness On The Edge Of Town	1:27:11	PROMISE: DELUXE
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Songs From 'The Promise' - BLU-RAY / DVD
4.2.1.	Intro	0:45	PROMISE: DELUXE
4.2.2.	RACING IN THE STREET ('78)	7:34	PROMISE: DELUXE
4.2.3.	GOTTA GET THAT FEELING	3:54	PROMISE: DELUXE
4.2.4.	AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU	4:44	PROMISE: DELUXE
4.2.5.	THE PROMISE	6:06	PROMISE: DELUXE
4.2.6.	BLUE CHRISTMAS	6:03	PROMISE: DELUXE
4.2.7.	Outro	1:08	PROMISE: DELUXE
Bruce Springsteen: A Conversation With His Fans - BLU-RAY / DVD
4.3.1.	Bruce Springsteen: A Conversation With His Fans	23:00	PROMISE: DELUXE

#	Song Title	Running Time	Release
Paramount Theater, Asbury Park 2009 - BLU-RAY / DVD
5.1.1.	Intro	2:16	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.2.	BADLANDS	4:36	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.3.	ADAM RAISED A CAIN	5:40	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.4.	SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT	4:30	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.5.	CANDY'S ROOM	3:03	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.6.	RACING IN THE STREET	9:45	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.7.	THE PROMISED LAND	5:08	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.8.	FACTORY	2:37	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.9.	STREETS OF FIRE	5:21	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.10.	PROVE IT ALL NIGHT	5:45	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.11.	DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN	4:38	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.1.11.	Outro	4:15	PROMISE: DELUXE
Thrill Hill Vault - 1976.1978 - BLU-RAY / DVD
5.2.1.	SAVE MY LOVE ^v1	3:25	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.2.	CANDY'S BOY ^v1	5:04	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.3.	SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT	3:40	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.4.	DON'T LOOK BACK ^v4b	3:25	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.5.	AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU ^v3b	1:50	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.6.	THE PROMISE ^v4	7:37	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.7.	CANDY'S ROOM DEMO ^v4	1:31	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.8.	BADLANDS	4:45	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.9.	THE PROMISED LAND	5:09	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.10.	PROVE IT ALL NIGHT	7:28	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.11.	BORN TO RUN	4:37	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.12.	ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)	9:35	PROMISE: DELUXE
5.2.13.	Credits	0:37	PROMISE: DELUXE

#	Song Title	Running Time	Release
Thrill Hill Vault - Houston '78 Bootleg: House Cut - BLU-RAY / DVD
6.1.1.	BADLANDS	4:43	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.2.	STREETS OF FIRE	5:37	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.3.	IT'S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY	4:43	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.4.	DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN	4:27	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.5.	SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT	7:01	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.6.	INDEPENDENCE DAY	6:17	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.7.	THE PROMISED LAND	5:19	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.8.	PROVE IT ALL NIGHT	11:48	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.9.	RACING IN THE STREET	8:57	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.10.	THUNDER ROAD	6:15	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.11.	JUNGLELAND	10:33	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.12.	THE TIES THAT BIND	3:54	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.13.	SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN	4:59	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.14.	THE FEVER	8:15	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.15.	FIRE	3:23	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.16.	CANDY'S ROOM	3:22	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.17.	BECAUSE THE NIGHT	8:24	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.18.	POINT BLANK	8:02	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.19.	SHE'S THE ONE	11:57	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.20.	BACKSTREETS	8:57	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.21.	ROSALITA (COME OUT TONIGHT)	11:43	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.22.	BORN TO RUN	4:47	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.23.	DETROIT MEDLEY	9:23	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.24.	TENTH AVENUE FREEZE-OUT	4:09	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.25.	YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN	3:12	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.26.	QUARTER TO THREE	4:18	PROMISE: DELUXE
6.1.27.	Credits	0:02	PROMISE: DELUXE

^{Visit our studio session-pages for recording information on the individual tracks.}

Additional Information

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Song Title	Running Time	Release

ADAM RAISED A CAIN - V1	4:12	LM-3 / UP / AM / LMEC1
ADAM RAISED A CAIN - V2	4:34	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: Only one outtake of "Adam Raised A Cain" circulates, and the 'Lost Masters III' liner notes say tracks 1–5 are all from August 1977, but this information is likely incorrect since Sony logs say track 5, "Prove It All Night" was first cut September 12, 1977, track 3, "Factory", was not even called "Factory" until 1978, and according to studios logs and a "Ruffs" tape label reproduced in The Promise facsimile book, "Adam Raised A Cain" was not recorded until November at the earliest.

The aforementioned tape label shows a single take dated November 11, 1977, with the engineer perhaps mishearing the lyrics and writing "Daddy Raised A Cane". Meanwhile, studios logs indicate that takes were recorded on November 9 and December 15, 1977 - V1 could date from either. The lyrics are very similar to the final version, with only the lines "She knows you didn't come back to join their little games" and "Now he haunts these empty rooms rattling these chains" altered. The final album take, V2, resulted from three consecutive days dubbing, mixing and editing on February 15, 16 and 17, 1978.

AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU - V1a	3:49	DROC2 / RRR
AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU - V1b	4:06	DDITV / MT1 / AM / DROC2
AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU - V2a	4:01	uncirculating
AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU - V2b	4:01	PROMISE
AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU - V2c	1:49	PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: V1a is a recording on 'The Definitive River Outtakes Collection Volume 2' under the title "What's The Matter Little Darling", which is how this song was known until 2010. It is not in fact a River outtake, but was most likely recorded July–August 1977. V1b first appeared in the 1990s on 'Deep Down In the Vaults', which was released by the same bootleg label as V1a, and may be the same recording, with the speed corrected. V2b was officially released on the second disc of The Promise as "Ain't Good Enough For You". This completed version was recorded on September 14, 1977 (V2a), and unknown overdubs were added in 2010. It is not currently known if this was also the date of the film clip on the accompanying Thrill Hill Vault DVD (V2c), where Bruce is shown trying to add a vocal overdub to the same backing track.

BADLANDS - V1	4:07	LM-2 / DDO / DDOC / DO-3 / AM / UP
BADLANDS - V2	3:47	LM-3 / DDO / DDOC / DO-2 / UP
BADLANDS - V3	3:40	LM-3 / UP / AM / LMEC1
BADLANDS - V4a	3:57	ODM / HOD / AM
BADLANDS - V4b	3:59	uncirculating
BADLANDS - V4c take 23	3:59	DARKNESS / GREATEST / ESSENTIAL / GREATEST: 2009 / PROMISE: DELUXE / CHAPTER / BESTOF

Note: Unfortunately, very few outtakes circulate of "Badlands", although given Springsteen's recording methods at the time far more likely exists in the vault. The title came from Terrence Malick's 1973 movie Badlands (though Bruce had not seen the movie). In late June, the music had been composed, and was first played by the E Street Band on June 27, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. The song's opening riff, Springsteen revealed years later, is a major-key twist on the minor-key intro to the Animals' 1965 hit "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". V1 is an instrumental backing track; Max Weinberg said his opening drum part was suggested by Steve Van Zandt, and inspired by Motown. Bruce had a routine with his engineers to create 'Ruffs' tapes for him, so he could take instrumental or early recordings home and write lyrics. V2 had to be recorded on June 27, 30, or on July 11 or 13 at Atlantic Studios. Springsteen was working at Atlantic Studios on July 13, 1977, when the twenty-five-hour-long New York City blackout began; soon after, the opening lyric "lights out tonight" came into being. New takes, with developing lyrics, were recorded on August 24 and 30, 1977, but contrary to Lost Masters liner notes and many other sources, no outtakes circulate from these sessions.

It wasn't until November 1977, that Badlands was re-written with new lines, including "I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got" borrowed from "Iceman", about which Bruce later recalled, "That whole record was a record where I felt like I was going to have to test myself, and that was what I wanted to know, so that line ended up in a few different songs" (Los Angeles Times interview, 1998). Next, from a song by Elvis Presley from the 1962 movie Kid Galahad, King Of The Whole Wide World: "A poor man wants to be a rich man, a rich man wants to be a king, but the man who can sing when he hasn't got a thing, he's the king of the whole wide world." Bruce translated this to these Verse 2 lines: "Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king, and a king ain't satisfied till he rules everything." Verse 3 was strengthened by "for the ones who once had a notion, it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" from "Breakout".

V3 was recorded, perhaps on December 12, 1977 at the Record Plant, with many new pieces in place. Bruce is still yelling at "the man on the TV," but "Badlands" has started to take shape. The vocals for V4, the album version, were dubbed in during a three-day mixing marathon on February 22, 24 and 25, 1978. V4b has less double-tracked vocals than V4c, a last moment dubbing of Clarence Clemons's sax solo on April 11, which was pressed to acetate on April 12, 1978. Springsteen's initial excuse for almost leaving it off was that he believed the instrument evoked the city, leaving it out of place on an album set in something more like "the heartland"; he later admitted that "that would have been a major error."

BECAUSE THE NIGHT (Belongs To Lovers) - V1	3:17	DO-3 / UP / AM
BECAUSE THE NIGHT - V2 - fade in	2:32	LM-3 / UP / AM
BECAUSE THE NIGHT - V3	3:19	DO-2 / DDO / DDOC / ESR / O711S
BECAUSE THE NIGHT - V4	3:22	PROMISE / 2010 single

Note: "Because The Night" first appeared on several Darkness-era sessions song lists, once as "The Night Belongs To Lovers". One or more of these song lists may pre-date the first recording session on June 1. The song was first recorded at Atlantic Studios, New York on the first night of sessions on June 1, 1977 as "Because The Night (Belongs To Lovers)" with some work-in-progress and bluffed lyrics. V1 above may be this June 1 recording, but that cannot be confirmed. The next known recording was on July 1, 1977 also at Atlantic Studios, and is less embryonic but still with some unfinished lyrics. This may be V2 above. The information we have indicates that Springsteen cut his last take on September 27, 1977 at the Record Plant in New York, possibly V3 above. While closer to the final revision the lyrics are still incomplete, with several bluffed lines in the verses.

In or around October 1977, Jimmy Iovine was engineering Darkness and producing Patti Smith's Easter at the Record Plant at the same time. This is confirmed by Assistant Engineer Thom Panunzio. According to Iovine, "Bruce was understanding and flexible [about working on two projects simultaneously], because he realized this was my first real break as a producer. Anyway, one night whilst we were lounging around the Hotel Navarro in New York, I told Bruce I desperately wanted a hit with Patti, that she deserved one. He agreed. As he had no immediate plans to put 'Because The Night' on an album, I said why not give it to Patti. Bruce replied, If she can do it, she can have it." At the time, Bruce did not feel there was space for "a[nother] love song" on Darkness. Iovine brought Smith the September 27 demo of the song, and Patti added her own lyrics, retelling it from a female perspective. She recorded it at the Record Plant for her album Easter, and scored her first and biggest hit single. On December 30, 1977 at CBGB Second Avenue Theatre in New York City, Patti Smith premiered her new song, with Bruce Springsteen on guitar and background vocals.

When Springsteen premiered "Because The Night" on May 30, 1978 in Boston on the sixth night of the Darkness Tour, he used a curious mix of his own and Smith's lyrics, most notably his use of "Desire and hunger is the fire I breathe" in the first verse and "Love is a ring, the telephone" in the second. The lyrics developed through the tour as he added his own parts while still keeping some of Smith's - such as "The vicious circle turns and burns without" in the final verse. "Because The Night" was a regular in live performances for many years, but Springsteen's choice of lyrics remained remarkably fluid, with little consistency until the latter stages of the River Tour. Bruce's use of her lyrics meant that Patti Smith was credited as a co-writer when a December 29, 1980 recording was included on the Live 1975/85 box-set in 1986.

Bruce did not officially release a studio take until 2010 on The Promise. This recording, V4, sees Springsteen singing Smith's lyrics over the June 1977 backing tracks. The new vocal take was recorded June 25, 2010 in the Record Plant Studio truck parked on his Colts Neck, NJ property. He sung Smith's lyrics live in their entirety for the first time in a promotional appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in November 2010.

BREAK AWAY - V1		uncirculating
BREAKAWAY - V2	5:26	PROMISE

Note: "Break Away" (how it was spelled) was recorded the first night of the Darkness sessions, June 1, 1977, but not worked on again. That is, until June 21, 2010, when a new vocal track was recorded over the vintage backing. A modern horn section and modern backing vocals were added for release on The Promise.

CANDY'S BOY - V1	5:03	PROMISE: DELUXE
CANDY'S BOY - V2	5:22	LM-2 / DO-2 / LMEC2 / DDOC / LES
CANDY'S BOY - V3	4:48	LM-3 / DO-3 / AM / ATEOD
CANDY'S BOY - V4	5:12	ESR
CANDY'S BOY - V5	4:31	PROMISE

Note: "(I Will Forever Be) Candy's Boy", or simply "Candy's Boy", was composed in 1976, though lyrics were not completed until 1977. V1 is a summer 1976 band rehearsal at Bruce's house in Holmdel, NJ (referred to as Telegraph Hill), and is included on the Thrill Hill Vault DVD/Blu-ray in The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set. V2 was recorded in June 1977 at Atlantic Studios, New York, and sounds complete in all respects; several alternate takes or mixes exist, with different vocal tracks and lyrics. V3 and V4 are also thought to be from June. The officially released V5 was recorded on September 2, 1977, and released in 2010 on the The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story, adding "my sweet love" to his vows. In October 1977, an album #4 sequence entitled 'Badlands' was delivered to Columbia Records, and artwork was drawn up. The project, which had included "Candy's Boy", was withdrawn by Springsteen, but it would not be unreasonable to think complete versions of "Candy's Boy", "Independence Day", "The Promised Land" and "Badlands" were ready at the time. In mid-September, a decision was made to re-organize "The Fast Song" into the "New Fast Song", which later became "Candy's Room", with the first verse of "Candy's Boy" incorporated, along with lines from "Frankie". Other elements were exported to "Prove It All Night" (the dynamo) and "Drive All Night" ("Well there's machines and there's fire waiting for us on the edge of town").

THE FAST SONG - V1	2:54	LM-2 / DO-3 / UP / AM / DDO / DDOC
THE FAST SONG - V2a	2:32	DO-3
THE FAST SONG - V2b	2:58	UP / GT / DO-2 / AM / SOTE
THE FAST SONG - V2c	3:01	UP / ODM / HOD / DO-2 / SOTE
THE FAST SONG - V2d	3:04	LM-3 / UP / AM / DDO / MT1 / LUTHER
NEW FAST SONG - V3		uncirculating
CANDY'S ROOM - Demo - V4	1:37	PROMISE: DELUXE
CANDY'S ROOM - V5a take 13	2:41	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
CANDY'S ROOM - V5b take 42	2:43	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: "The Fast Song", alternately named "God's Angels", was a fast-paced melody that eventually evolved into "Candy's Room". Shortly after sessions began at Atlantic Studios on June 1, 1977 a recording of "The Fast Song" was included on a "Atlantic Demo Tape" cassette (prepared by engineer Thom Panunzio for Bruce to take with him after sessions) with tracks from the first days at Atlantic. This recording was subtitled (Candy's Room) on the label, suggesting Springsteen had his title as early as June, despite "The Fast Song" remaining in use for months after.

V1 is a backing track that was recorded in early June, while V2a-d are different variances of lyrics and guitar tracks recorded over the original backing track. The distinctive hi-hat introduction was inspired by a number of Barry White records, according to Max Weinberg. A lyric in the first verse, "I wish God's angels would tear this town down and blow it into the sea," was first used in live performances of "Something In The Night" in February 1977, and then the "Backstreets" interlude in March 1977. The lyrics heard in V2a can only be found in very poor quality on 'Darkness Outtakes Volume 3 (The Promise)', but features an incredible searing guitar solo, strangely never to be heard again. "I wish God's angels would tear this town down, blow it into the sea, and that's okay with me" stayed with the song perhaps until the final takes and mixing of "Candy's Room" in March 1978, when it was removed. Work on "The Fast Song" was logged on June 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 20 and 24 (V1 and V2a-d are probably from these dates), and again on August 24 and September 1–2, 1977, with lyrics slightly changing throughout.

After September 2, 1977, the last time "The Fast Song" and "Candy's Boy" would appear on session logs, Bruce decided to re-organize them into "New Fast Song", which was recorded on September 27–28. A handwritten lyric sheet titled "New Fast Song (Candy)" illustrates this. He took the first verse of "Candy's Boy", the second verse from "The Fast Song", lines from "Frankie", and added new lyrics (i.e. "we kiss," instead of "I got caught," at the start of Max's drum roll). The third verse was mainly adapted from "The Fast Song". These lyrics contain several lines that did not survive to the album track V5, eventually titled "Candy's Room". "I get visions of avenging angels of Eden with their white horses and flaming swords can blow this whole town into the sea" is from "God's Angels-Fast Song", and "they cant touch Candy and me, our love they cannot destroy, I will forever be Candy's boy" is mostly from "Candy's Boy".

A film clip shot by Barry Rebo on September 30, 1977 appeared on the Thrill Hill Vault DVD/Blu-ray of The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set. It is a short segment from the Record Plant of Bruce playing "Candy's Room Demo" (V4) on the piano for Jon Landau. The lyrics are entirely different, and describe a magical house at the edge of town, with Candy waiting for him in the window. The next dates are October 27 and December 12, 1977 (the final vocal track was probably recorded on one of these two days), and then a marathon overdub/mixing session, from March 3 to March 5, 1978, which finally concluded with mix take 42 (V5b) selected for Darkness On The Edge Of Town. Chuck Plotkin struggled to find a good mix that balanced the vocal and backing perfectly, perhaps explaining why it took a minimum of 42 mixes before they were satisfied.

TAXI CAB aka TAXI CAB DRIVER - V1	3:04	DDO / DO-1 / AM / UP / LES / SYMKB
CITY OF NIGHT - V2	2:56	PROMISE

Note: On October 14, 1977 at the Record Plant, six takes of "Taxi Cab" were recorded, and transferred to reel 3. Then two additional takes of "Taxi Cab Driver" were completed and transferred to reel 4. A mixed version of one or more of these takes was released by bootleggers on 'Son You May Kiss The Bride'. V2, officially released on The Promise in 2010 and titled "City At Night", changes the intro to two repetitions instead of the original four, adds organ in the third verse, and turns up the sax at the fade-out (still vintage). Both of these versions were sourced from one or more of the 1977 takes.

COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V1		uncirculating
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V2	2:07	DO-3 / UP / SC / LUTHER
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V3	2:12	LM-3 / LMEC2 / AM / UP
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V4	2:09	DDO / DO-1 / UP / DDOC / LES
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V5		uncirculating
THE FACTORY SONG - V6a	2:15	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
FACTORY - V6b	2:15	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V7	2:16	PROMISE

Note: "Come On (Let’s Go Tonight)" was written in the Spring of 1977, and V1 was cut on June 1, 1977, complete with Vox [organ], at Atlantic Studios, on the first night of the Darkness sessions. V2 is the earliest take in circulation, a rough workout, probably from either July 2 or 13 at Atlantic Studios, but further progress was needed on the lyrics. At this point, Bruce had written, "Everybody wants heaven, but nobody wants to die, Come on, come on, let's go tonight." Two out of three verses had "death in their eyes." V3 represented a sudden shift as the song began its metamorphosis into "Factory"; though it retained its original name (Sony logs show all sessions to the end of 1977 under this name), the lyrics were radically rewritten to the story of Douglas Springsteen, Bruce's father, who worked at a machine factory under harsh conditions. An interview quoted Bruce: "I remember my old man was working in this plastics factory… and all I remember, when we used to go in that place, was him standing near 'em loud fucking machines." It is possible that Bruce worked with both ideas for a while, but after September, all energies went toward "The Factory Song", though it was not named this until January 2, 1978.

Sessions took place on August 23, 24 and 30, and September 8, 1977 at the Record Plant. Roy Bittan played his piano Floyd Cramer-style to give it a Chet Atkins-produced country feel, and an organ was not in the mix at this point. On September 8 a "ruff mixs" cassette was dubbed that included two takes of "Come On Come On", the first marked "1 violin", the second "2 violins". These takes are likely the result of a violin overdub by David Lindley. Further work was undertaken on November 2, 7, and 8, and December 9, 27, 1977. V7, released on the The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010, is the finished take of "Come On (Let's Go Tonight)". The vocal is vintage, but the recording date has not been determined. V6 was the result of overdub/mixing sessions on March 10 and 14, 1978, all at the Record Plant. The 1978 sessions were under the name "The Factory Song". Danny recorded new organ tracks, which featured prominently in the final album V6b. Bruce recorded new vocals over the "Come On (Let's Go Tonight) backing track and changed "Factory takes his hearing, but he understands" to "Factory takes his hearing, factory gives him life." V6c is mix take 28 from April 3, 1978, and it was pressed to metal acetate with the title "Factory Song" on April 12, 1978. By the time the album was released however, the title was simply "Factory".

What ever happened to "Come On (Let's Go Tonight)"? In March 1981, Bruce wrote new music and recorded a demo at his home in Colts Neck, NJ with the original name. However, he decided to rearrange it once more, combining several lines with new verses, and the first two lines from Chuck Berry's "Bye Bye Johnny", to create "Johnny Bye-Bye".

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V1a	4:26	DO-3 / DDO / UP / DDOC
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V1b	4:43	RTT
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V2a	4:23	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN - V2b	4:23	DARKNESS / ESSENTIAL: 2003 / GREATEST: 2009 / PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: Bruce began writing "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" right after Born To Run, according to a 1978 interview. Indeed, the title can be found in two lists of songs that were penned some time in 1976, supporting his recollection. It is rumored that band rehearsals during 1976 at Bruce's home at Holmdel, NJ included versions of "Darkness On The Edge Of Town". With music and some lyrics written by February 1976, the song was subtitled "The Racer" for a time.

Though it is listed on the 'Star Wars' demo tape of June 1, 1977, pictured below, V1a was not cut until June 6. V1b is the full length, speed-corrected version. Sony logs show takes recorded on June 8, 9, 20 and 23, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. Work on the lyrics was needed. Bruce then put "Darkness On The Edge Of Town" aside for the rest of the year. It was not included on the 'Badlands' album sequence from October, nor the January 16, 1978 sequence. On March 8, he suddenly called his forces together, and over three days, they re-recorded from scratch and completed what would become the title track of the album. The March takes were cut in a studio with bare concrete walls, after the room was gutted prior to renovation. V2a and V2b are the album track recording, with a slight difference. V2a can be identified by the addition of the word "ready" to the line "I'll be there on time ready to pay the cost." V2b is mix take #28 from March 30, 1978, and was pressed to metal acetate on April 12.

COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V1		uncirculating
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V2	2:07	DO-3 / UP / SC / LUTHER
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V3	2:12	LM-3 / LMEC2 / AM / UP
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V4	2:09	DDO / DO-1 / UP / DDOC / LES
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V5		uncirculating
THE FACTORY SONG - V6a	2:15	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
FACTORY - V6b	2:15	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE
COME ON (LET'S GO TONIGHT) - V7	2:16	PROMISE

FIRE - V1	5:14	LM-2 / DDO / DO-2 / MT1 / AM
FIRE - V2	4:05	PROMISE
FIRE - V3	2:39	GUEST: FISH

Note: Written in May 1977, a few days after Bruce and Steve attended an Elvis Presley concert in Philadelphia. V1 (which is not a final take) comes from June 17, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. Introducing the song on November 20, 1978 in Champaign, IL, Bruce said "This is a song I wrote, oh, we jammed it up in the studio one night in twenty minutes." Allegedly (and this may be myth) a finished demo take was sent to Elvis Presley in July or August 1977, shortly before his death, with the hope that Elvis might cover it. Bruce ended up donating the song to Robert Gordon, who recorded his cover (V3, with Bruce on piano) in early December 1977 (released June 1978). The Pointer Sisters then quickly covered Gordon's released version and had a major international hit in early 1979. The officially released V2 was partly recorded in 1977, and partly recorded in 2010.

GOTTA GET THAT FEELING - V1	3:21	DDITV / AM / UP
GOTTA GET THAT FEELING - V2	3:07	LM-2 / DDO / DO-2 / MT1 / AM / UP
GOTTA GET THAT FEELING - V3	3:15	PROMISE

Note: Studio documentation indicate takes were recorded at Atlantic Studios or Record Plant studios on August 9, 11, and 12, 1977. A recording from August 9 was transferred to a cassette, and a reproduction of the tape inlay can be found in the facsimile book included with The Promise box set. In V1 Bruce is teaching the song to the band, probably on the first day, and V2 was recorded on August 12. Logs show another date, August 30, 1977, which was either a final session, or transfer of the master to comp. reel. V1 has a "baby just come dry your eyes" theme, which is gone by V2. The officially released V3 contains a modern vocal take and horns, recorded on July 12, 2010, along with elements of the V2 recording. First two versions were bootlegged for years under the title "Get That Feeling".

JON'S JAM - V1		uncirculating
IT'S A SHAME - V2	3:12	PROMISE

Note: An unknown composition until it was officially released as "It's A Shame" on The Promise in 2010. V1, titled "Jon's Jam", was recorded June 14, 1977 at Atlantic Studios, featuring Jon Landau on drums, and Bob Chirmside (Bruce's road manager between '75 and '81) on bass. V2 overdubs a modern horn section of Barry Danielian (trumpet), Stan Harrison (tenor sax), Dan Levine (trombone), Ed Manion (baritone sax) and Curt Ramm (trumpet) and new lead and backing vocals. Music later adapted for "Prove It All Night", according to Bruce.

ONE WAY STREET - V1	5:46	LM-2 / LMEC2 / AM / UP
ONE WAY STREET - V2	4:16	PROMISE

Note: "One Way Street" was recorded at Atlantic Studios on June 17, 1977. V2 was officially released on The Promise in 2010, with modern vocals and horns over a 1977 base track. Original alternative title may have been "Dead End".

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN - V1	2:25	DDO / DO-1 / LES / MT1 / AM / EC
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN - V2	2:16	PROMISE

Note: V1 was recorded at Atlantic Studios on June 1, 1977, a year before the Buddy Holly Story came out. This is a very rough early take with an uneven mix, but the scheme of Springsteen singing a line, then muttering under his breath, is unique. V2 was recorded on September 27, 1977 at the Record Plant, with revised lyrics. It did not circulate until it was released (said to be untouched) on The Promise in 2010. An early Tracks six-CD sample set from June 1998 indicates that "Outside Looking In" was considered for Tracks, but ultimately rejected.

PROVE IT ALL NIGHT - V1	3:28	LM-3 / UP / AM / LMEC2
PROVE IT ALL NIGHT - V2a	4:00	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
PROVE IT ALL NIGHT - V2b	3:54	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
PROVE IT ALL NIGHT - V2c	3:54	DARKNESS / ESSENTIAL / PROMISE: DELUXE / BESTOF / 1978 single

Note: Springsteen has said that "Prove It All Night" was adapted from "It's A Shame", a.k.a. "Jon's Jam", which was written, recorded, and set aside in June, 1977. He later said (live as an introduction to the song) that he got the idea from a cabbie in New York City while he was making the album. The cabbie was "raving about how all day long you gotta prove it to your boss driving around in a cab and all night you gotta go home and prove it to your wife, on the weekends you gotta prove it to your kids." The earliest circulating take from 'Lost Masters III' has an overdubbed sax solo and double tracked vocals, but the lyrics are a fusion of both "Prove It All Night" and "Something In The Night". Studio logs show takes were recorded on September 12, and over three straight days from September 14–16. It's likely that V1 is from one of those dates, but could potentially be earlier.

"Prove It All Night" never failed to be included on tentative album sequences, from October 1977 through May 1978. The song was completed with V2 (take 49), mixed in spring 1978 by Toby Scott, Chuck Plotkin's chief engineer. V2a is an alternate mix that runs to a hard stop ending, with Max's energetic performance and Danny's organ dominating. V2b features the vocal track above the organ and drums and runs shorter. while the final mix, V2c, was also released as the first single ahead of the album, on May 23, 1978 in the United States.

RACING IN THE STREET - V1	5:48	DO-3 / LM-3 / UP / AM
RACING IN THE STREET - V2a	6:42	LM-3 / UP
RACING IN THE STREET - V2b	6:44	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
RACING IN THE STREET - V2c	6:51	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE
RACING IN THE STREET ('78) - V3a	6:22	LM-2 / DDO / DO-2 / DDOC / O711S
RACING IN THE STREET ('78) - V3b	6:47	PROMISE

Note: Composition of "Racing In The Street" possibly began as early as 1976, with working titles including "'32 Ford" (found in a document titled "New Songs" that was reproduced in The Promise facsimile book) and "Dying In The Street", according to author Clinton Heylin. The latter phrase appears twice in the earliest known circulating recording (V1), a slow solo piano arrangement from July 2, 1977 at Atlantic Studios, verified in Sony's studio logs. This take uses an incomplete version of the alternate "Got a '32 Ford, she's a 318…" lyrics, and is also missing verse three, perhaps not yet written, alongside the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album melody. Note that the Lost Masters source fades out early, and the alternative source found on Scorpio's Darkness Outtakes Vol. 3 is of lower quality. At least two takes (one with no guitars) were recorded on July 29, and dubbed to a single reel. Efforts resumed on August 1, with four consecutive days working on the song. Which arrangements were worked in this period is unclear. V2a was likely from one of these sessions, as indicated in the 'Lost Masters III' liner notes, and this take would eventually be utilized for Darkness On The Edge Of Town (V2c), with a vocal overdub in the second verse. Heylin recounts its "transfer to a 'comp.' reel at August's end," which, according to studio logs, was August 30, 1977.

V3, sometimes known as the 'rock' or 'alternative' version of "Racing In The Street", with wailing harmonica and tremendous vocal, was recorded on August 10, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. Bruce has also referred to this as "the rock version." This arrangement still features the '32 Ford, and perhaps originated before Springsteen refined the lyrics and settled on the Darkness album arrangement by month's end. There was more work undertaken on August 12. The officially released V3b, titled "Racing In The Street ('78)" on The Promise, uses the same 1977 vocal take from V3a, apart from a small overdub, replacing a slurred line in the third verse (that ends "…just to make it alright") with a modern vocal. David Lindley plays violin; there is a reference in Sony's documentation to January 2, 1978 for "Racing In The Street" and "The Factory Song" and is possibly the day Lindley recorded his violin tracks for both songs, but that is not yet confirmed.

There is little doubt that more work was done on this song than any other during the sessions, except perhaps "The Promise". From the evidence we have, it appears that Springsteen was working on both arrangements simultaneously, and therefore it would perhaps be inaccurate to claim that either arrangement preceded the other. Assistant engineer Thom Panunzio kept a detailed record of the tape reels, the various mixes and takes, with alternate lyrics, with or without the band, or certain instruments. Eight days were spent during August, until completed masters were transferred to a reel on August 30. Springsteen returned to "Racing In The Street" several months later; on November 28, 29, 30 and December 6 and 9, 1977. As of December 9, two more completed masters were transferred to a stereo rough mix reel; one is a mix of take 16 of reel 5 that was recorded on November 29, 1977, the other is a mix of take 12 of reel 5 recorded the following day, November 30. It is unknown which arrangements are on this reel. Mixing and overdub sessions were held, with Chuck Plotkin, on March 21–23, 1978, and mix take 46 went on Darkness On The Edge Of Town. Bruce adapted the lines "summer's here and the time is right / for goin' racing in the street" from Martha and the Vandellas' 1964 hit "Dancing In The Street", as well as The Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man". He has also acknowledged the Beach Boys' 1964 "Don't Worry Baby", and it has been said the instrumental break is a tribute to that song.

RACING IN THE STREET - V1	5:48	DO-3 / LM-3 / UP / AM
RACING IN THE STREET - V2a	6:42	LM-3 / UP
RACING IN THE STREET - V2b	6:44	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
RACING IN THE STREET - V2c	6:51	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE
RACING IN THE STREET ('78) - V3a	6:22	LM-2 / DDO / DO-2 / DDOC / O711S
RACING IN THE STREET ('78) - V3b	6:47	PROMISE

RENDEZVOUS - V1	2:47	DDO / DO-3 / LES / MT1 / AM / SYMKB
RENDEZVOUS - V2	2:36	PROMISE

Note: The same night in 1976 when Springsteen premiered "Something In The Night" at the Monmouth County Arts Center, Red Bank, NJ, he also played "Rendezvous" for the first time. The song remained a regular in the setlist throughout the remainder of the 1976–77 tour. When the Darkness sessions began on June 1, it was one of the ten songs recorded that evening, and additional takes were logged on June 2, 3, 8, and 17, 1977, all at Atlantic Studios. One of these was V1, an otherwise good take, but the audio is marred by a vocal drop-out during the first verse. According to Sony, V2 was recorded on September 29, 1977 at the Record Plant, and officially released on The Promise in 2010. This version has several apparently unique and curious lyric alterations to the first verse, including changing 'I had a dream, tonight my dream comes true' to 'I had a dream last night, she had a dream too' and 'We'll be riders, girl, on the night' to 'If I'm down then she'll make me feel right'. To our knowledge, these lyrics were never sung live prior to the release of The Promise, and never since. There are clearly some modern overdubs in the recording, and the altered lyrics raise questions about the lead vocal as well. A live version recorded December 31, 1980, at Nassau Coliseum, was used for Tracks, which may indicate Bruce wasn't satisfied with the available studio versions at the time (1998).

In a 1978 interview, Springsteen said the song was kept off Darkness On The Edge Of Town because it didn't fit thematically. Bruce personally taught the song to The Knack's drummer Bruce Gary in October, 1978, but it would be Greg Kihn who first recorded a cover (released in April, 1979). A few years later, Springsteen donated "Rendezvous" to Gary U.S. Bonds for his album On The Line. The E Street Band and an uncredited Springsteen recorded the backing track for Bonds, presumably at The Hit Factory in January or February 1982. Bonds's version was issued in June 1982.

SAVE MY LOVE - V1	3:19	PROMISE: DELUXE
SAVE MY LOVE - V2	2:39	PROMISE / 2010 single

Note: V1 is a summer 1976 band rehearsal filmed by Barry Rebo in Holmdel, NJ and is included on the Thrill Hill Vault DVD/Blu-ray on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set. V2 is a completely modern take of the song, recorded July 22, 2010 at Colts Neck, and included on The Promise. It appears it was never previously recorded in the studio.

SOMEDAY (TONIGHT) - V1	4:43	LM-3 / AM / UP
SOMEDAY (WE'LL BE TOGETHER) - V2	5:32	PROMISE

Note: V1 is an instrumental backing track that was bootlegged under the title "Someday, Tonight". Since there are no vocals, it has been assumed that the creators of the 'Lost Masters' CDs took the title from a cassette tape label, and maybe they did, but it appears on the studio logs as "Someday (Tonight)". According to the logs, Springsteen worked on the song over three days at the Record Plant on September 26 and 29–30, 1977. This backing track circulated for fifteen years until V2 was released on The Promise box set in 2010 as "Someday (We'll Be Together)". The backing tracks from September 29 were used, with a modern vocal take alongside backing vocals by the Alliance Singers (Tiffeny Andrews, Corinda Carford, Michelle Moore, and Antoinette Savage), who contributed choir vocals on The Rising, in addition to Patti Scialfa and Soozie Tyrell.

SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT - V1a	5:06	DDOC / UP / DDO / LUTHER
SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT - V1b	5:05	DO-3 / UP / AM
SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT - V1c	5:05	ODM / HOD / UP / AM
SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT - V1d	5:11	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE
SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT - V2	4:38	DO-2 / GT / LUTHER / LM-2 / SOTE

Note: "Something In The Night" was written in 1976, rehearsed in the barn at Bruce's new rental in Holmdel, New Jersey, and premiered live on August 1, 1976. It was played extensively during the Lawsuit Tour 1976–1977, which gave Springsteen opportunities to revise lyrics and modify arrangements. The tour featured a full-time horn section, the Miami Horns, and they were also used in several arrangements. When the Darkness sessions began on June 1, 1977, several cuts of "Something In The Night" were recorded that evening, and the album take was chosen from these. According to Sony logs, there were two subsequent recording sessions on June 14 and 16, and that was it, until mixing sessions began in 1978. There are five circulating versions, four of which which are based on the June 1 take, and one, that could have been recorded on any of the June dates. Godfatherecords release G.R. BOX 01, 'The Unbroken Promise: Lighting Up The Darkness Sessions', a 6 CD compilation of outtakes from the Darkness sessions, describes in its extensive liner notes that "Something In The Night" appears in three versions, with one version recorded in June–July 1977 at Atlantic Studios and two during September–October 1977. Unfortunately, the Sony logs specify only three days in 1977 when sessions were held. The final notation is mix take #42 (V2d), from February 27, 1978, was pressed to metal acetate on April 12, 1978, and became track three on Darkness On The Edge of Town.

SPANISH EYES - V1	3:42	LM-3 / DO-2 / MT1 / AM
NEW SPANISH - V2	6:14	DDO /DO-3 / AM / DDOC
SPANISH EYES - V3	3:47	PROMISE

Note: "Spanish Eyes" V1 was recorded on June 30, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. V2, under the name "New Spanish", was recorded on July 13, 1977. The officially released V3 has a modern vocal, and potentially some modern band elements, recorded 2010 at Stone Hill Studio, Colts Neck, New Jersey. Shares several lyrics with "I'm On Fire".

STREETS OF FIRE - V1a	3:44	LM-2 / UP / DO-3 / AM / SOTE / ATEOD
STREETS OF FIRE - V1b	3:50	LM-3 / DDO / DO-1 / UP / DDOC / AM
STREETS OF FIRE - V1c	3:51	ODM / HOD / LUTHER / ATEOD
STREETS OF FIRE - V2	4:02	DARKNESS / PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: According to Jimmy Iovine and Jon Landau, "Streets Of Fire" was nailed early in the sessions in a live performance on June 24, 1977, with only minor overdubs added later. Springsteen says it was recorded "mostly live." The logs show that the song was also worked on at either Atlantic or Record Plant on August 24 and 30. It was sequenced as track two on side one for the aborted 'Badlands' release in October. There are no alternate versions, but the guitar solo and the vocals for the final verse and outro were overdubbed on December 6, 12 and 29, 1977 at the Record Plant, with work completed in 28 takes. Mixing was completed on April 5, 1978 by Chuck Plotkin. Of the ten final tracks, only "Something In The Night" (June 1) and "Prove It All Night" (September 16) were completed before "Streets Of Fire". "The Promised Land" gave up its spot when Bruce had Steve Van Zandt add his guitar solo in May 1978. Mixes without the December overdubs make up version 1. Note that V1b from 'Lost Masters Vol. III' and 'The Unbroken Promise' were both clocked at 3:36, because both faded in 14 seconds into the track, while V1c, 'Original Darkness Mixes' and it's clone, 'Heart Of Darkness' both had a seven second double count-in deducted, while 'Luther' only had one second of it included.

TALK TO ME - V1a	3:59	LM-2 / DO-1 / ATEOD / AM
TALK TO ME - V1b	4:05	DDO / DDOC / UP
TALK TO ME - V2		uncirculating
TALK TO ME - V3	4:17	PROMISE
TALK TO ME - V4		uncirculating

Note: V1a and V1b of "Talk To Me" were recorded on July 8 or 13, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. Both are basic backing tracks without vocals or horns, which were not added, along with the lyrics, until August. On August 5, one take (V2) was labeled as "Bruce's original master." Additional sessions at either Atlantic Studios or The Record Plant (details unknown) occurred on August 9, 24, 26, and 30.

After a final session on October 14, 1977, engineer Thom Panunzio dubbed "Hearts Of Stone" and "Talk To Me" to cassette for Steve Van Zandt, producer of Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' third album. A note written by Panunzio is reproduced in 2010's The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story. During 1978 sessions at Secret Sound Studios, Van Zandt combined the base rhythm track from the tape with Southside's vocals, brass by the Miami Horns, and his own lead guitar.

Hearts Of Stone by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (Epic JE 35488), released October 13, 1978, ranks on several polls, including Rolling Stone's, as one of the best albums of the 1970s. According to Max Weinberg, who played on both Darkness On The Edge Of Town and Hearts Of Stone, the E Street Band backing tracks included on Steve's tape were utilized for Southside Johnny's album.

V2 provided the base track for Springsteen's official release of the song on The Promise in 2010, with horns added, featuring original Jukes/Miami Horns members Rick Gazda on trumpet, Stan Harrison on tenor sax, Ed Manion on baritone sax, Bob Muckin on trumpet, and Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg on trombone (V3). Unlike the other horn parts on The Promise, which were recorded in 2010, this overdub was lifted directly from Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' version of the song, as recorded at Secret Sound Studios in New York City in 1978.

THE BROKENHEARTED - V1		uncirculating
THE BROKENHEARTED - V2	5:16	PROMISE

Note: "The Brokenhearted" was originally recorded at the Record Plant on November 29, 1977, and officially released on The Promise 2010. Contains a vintage vocal take with some modern parts, plus a modern horn section, recorded July 16, 2010 at Stone Hill Studio, and overdubbed later that month. The horn section consists of Barry Danielian (trumpet), Stan Harrison (tenor sax), Dan Levine (trombone), Ed Manion (baritone sax) and Curt Ramm (trumpet). Originally known from circulating audio of a Darkness tour rehearsal in May 1978.

THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES) - V1		uncirculating
THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES) - V2		uncirculating
THE LITTLE THINGS (MY BABY DOES) - V3	3:15	PROMISE

Note: V1 of "The Little Things (My Baby Does)" was recorded at Atlantic Studios or the Record Plant, in six takes, on August 15, 1977. It was dubbed to a Ruffs compilation tape by engineer Thom Panunzio, joining other tracks successfully recorded that month, for Bruce to listen to on his trip to Utah and Nevada (where Eric Meola shot what would become the cover of The Promise). The V2 master was completed and transferred to comp. reel on September 15, 1977. Thematically incompatible with the Darkness concept, it remained in the vaults until 2010, when it was selected for inclusion on The Promise. Modern band elements and vocals were recorded in July 2010 at Stone Hill Studio, Colts Neck, New Jersey, and overdubbed to the V2 master, then mixed by Bob Clearmountain in August.

THE PROMISE - V1	5:32	DO-2 / UP / SOTE / LUTHER
THE PROMISE - V2	5:27	LM-2 / DDO / DO-3 / AM / SC / O711S
THE PROMISE - V3	7:11	DDITV / AM / UP / MT1
THE PROMISE - V4	7:24	PROMISE: DELUXE
THE PROMISE (strings-full harmony) - V5		uncirculating
THE PROMISE (solo) - V6		uncirculating
THE PROMISE - V7		uncirculating
THE PROMISE - V8		uncirculating
THE PROMISE - V9	4:41	TRACKS: 18
THE PROMISE - V10	5:49	PROMISE

Note: Debuted live on August 3, 1976 at the Monmouth Performing Arts Center in Red Bank, New Jersey, featuring Bruce solo on the piano, and deeply personal lyrics. Later live versions would continue to feature Bruce on piano, with Roy or Danny accompanying him on glockenspiel. The song was played regularly during the 1976–1977 Lawsuit Tour, but according to studio documentation it was not recorded in the studio until late June 1977. V1 was most likely recorded during sessions on June 30, 1977, though further work was done on July 1, 7, 8 and 13. The June take master was transfered to comp. reel and ruffs tape, and was used in V10, mixed in 2010. Unlike his live versions, all of the Darkness studio recordings in circulation include the E Street Band, though solo takes were also attempted. After a break that included a trip with Steve to Utah and Nevada, Bruce came back to the studio with slightly revised lyrics, and recorded V2 on August 24 or 30, 1977, which was on the tracklist for the aborted 'Badlands' release (see artwork). However, Bruce was back on September 28 and 30, 1977, recording V3 at the Record Plant, which some collectors and hardcore fans consider the definitive version. Over 7 minutes long, and sporting an arrangement for the full E Street Band, it was first released unofficially on 'Deep Down In the Vaults' in the mid-1990s. This version was barely in the can when a Rolling Stone reporter suggested that the song was about his now-settled lawsuit with Mike Appel, which Bruce sternly denied, and has denied ever since (he wrote the music and the first set of lyrics before the lawsuit was filed in 1976). Nevertheless, Springsteen soon re-wrote the first two lines of verse 3, with "Well, my daddy taught me how to walk quiet and how to make my peace with the past, I learned real good to tighten up inside and I don’t say nothing unless I’m asked" replacing "I won big once and I hit the coast, oh but somehow I paid the big cost." Landau agreed with solidifying the narrative, and when recording concluded in January, and a ten-song track sequence for Album #4 was prepared, "The Promise" was the last song on side two.

On January 12, 1978, V4, with revised lyrics, was recorded with the band, and also filmed live in-the-studio by Barry Rebo, later released with the The Promise:The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story. It is confirmed that strings were recorded and dubbed to the January 12 master (Landau confirmed this, and a mix tape exists with three versions; V3 "old verse", V4 "new verse", and V5 "strings and full harmony" (see illustration). But on January 24, 1978, without the E Street Band, Springsteen sat down at the piano and recorded V6 by himself, just as he did for 22 shows while locked out of the recording studio. A total of ten sessions were held from January 17 to March 7 (a seven-week period). Meanwhile, he finished "Candy's Room", "The Factory Song" and "Darkness On the Edge of Town" in early March, and decided to not include "The Promise". He has said he could not get a recording he was happy with, and that he "felt too close to it." In 2010, Springsteen noted that "It was a song about defeat, and it was self-referential, which made me uncomfortable. I didn't want it to overtake the album, which in the end, was not my personal story. I wanted Darkness to be completely independent of that, so I left it off. But I remember saying to myself, this is something I can sing later; the distance helps it now."

During a Darkness Tour rehearsal in Asbury Park on May 19, 1978, a full band version (including the "Daddy taught me how to walk quiet" lyric) was rehearsed, and full band version was performed on the tour's opening night in Buffalo. The next night, Bruce reverted to the solo piano version, which was played regularly during the early part of the tour. When Tracks was released in 1998, both "The Fever" and "The Promise" were absent from the 66-song tracklist. Both were later included on 18 Tracks, in part due to fan demand. Instead of releasing the existing V3 or V5 versions, Springsteen re-recorded "The Promise" from scratch (V9) on February 9 and 12, 1999 at Boxwood Studios, Colts Neck, New Jersey, in a solo piano version that many felt paled in comparison to the 1976–78 versions. In an interview with Charlie Rose, Springsteen stated, "Basically, I went back and I listened to it and we never really got a good recording of it in my opinion. It's been a favorite song of a lot of people … It sort of was the sequel to "Thunder Road" in some fashion, it referred back to those characters. But I went back and we sort of had a very plodding, heavy-handed version of it. I couldn't quite live with it, so maybe another time."

V1 and V3 were used as the base tracks for V10, the version on The Promise outtake album, with overdubbed strings, guitars, glockenspiel, and double tracked vocals. Two lines of verse three were removed ("I followed that dream through the southwestern tracks, the dead ends and the two-bit bars / When the promise was broken I was far away from home, sleeping in the backseat of a borrowed car") and a modern string arrangement by Ken Ascher was recorded in July 2010.

THE PROMISED LAND - V1		uncirculating
THE PROMISED LAND - V2		uncirculating
THE PROMISED LAND - V3a	4:14	ODM / HOD / UP
THE PROMISED LAND - V3b	4:25	DARKNESS / ESSENTIAL / PROMISE: DELUXE

Note: One of the last songs written and recorded for the album, "The Promised Land" had its genesis in a short trip taken by Bruce, Steve Van Zandt, and photographer Eric Meola on August 17, 1977, two days after breaking from recording for a week. Their plan was to fly into Salt Lake City, Utah, rent a vintage American car, and drive to Reno, Nevada, by way of the Utah and Nevada wilderness. The fruits of their journey were "Rattlesnake speedway in the Utah desert," "the dogs on Main Street howl because they understand" (based on real dogs howling on a Main Street), and Eric's photographs, which appeared throughout The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set. Upon returning, Bruce composed "The Promised Land", and introduced it to the band on September 30, 1977, with three takes attempted (including V1). Recording resumed on October 27 at the Record Plant with twenty takes (including V2, take 19, marked "long ending"). V3 (take 5) was completed on December 1 or 27, 1977, and pressed to metal acetate on April 12, 1978. V3a was the final version without the guitar solo. On or about May 10, Bruce decided a guitar intro was needed before Clarence Clemons's powerful sax solo. After Steve Van Zandt recorded it in New York, Side 2 was mastered for a second time, at The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, which briefly delayed the album release to June 2.

THE WAY - V1a	3:47	URT-1 / AM / RN / ROU
THE WAY - V1b take 49	3:53	URT-1 / DO-2 / DDO / AM / UP / GT
THE WAY - V1c	3:41	PROMISE

Note: According to studio documentation, "The Way" was first recorded on August 5, 1977 at Atlantic Studios. On August 15, six takes were recorded. Additional takes were recorded at Record Plant Studios on September 12 and 14, 1977, the latter marked "complete." As of January 16, 1978, "The Way" was sequenced on album #4 as track three on side two, between "Adam Raised A Cain" and "Prove It All Night". Vocal overdubs and mixing took place over three days, February 10–12, 1978, culminating in some 66 mix takes. It was not officially eliminated from Darkness until April 18, 1978. After being passed up for Tracks and The Essential, V4c was included as a hidden track on The Promise in 2010.

ENGLISH SONG - V1	3:52	DDO / DO-2 / LES / MT1 / AM / SYMKB
WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET - V2	3:31	PROMISE

Note: V1 was recorded at the Record Plant on October 14, 1977 under the working title "English Song" (the tape label was misread by bootleggers as "English Sons"). According to studio documentation, another working title was "First New Song". Of the three takes tried, at least one fully finished performance survived, but the circulating audio, first released on 'Son You May Kiss The Bride', where it was named "Endless Night", has the vocal buried in the mix. The officially released V2 was titled "Wrong Side Of The Street", and features a July 2010 vocal track dubbed over the backing tracks from 1977.

^{Studio Sessions: Darkness On The Edge Of Town / The Promise}

Media	Song Title	Recording Date	Location
D5/1.	ALL	December 13, 2009	Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, New Jersey
D5/2.3	Something In The Night	August 3, 1976	Monmouth County Arts Center, Red Bank, New Jersey
D5/2.8-12	ALL	July 8, 1978	Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona
D6.	ALL	December 8, 1978	The Summit, Houston, Texas

16 2010 boxset info live november r_prms retail studio t

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Racing In The Street ('78)	7
Gotta Get That Feeling	4
Outside Looking In	2
Someday (We'll Be Together)	0
One Way Street	4
Because The Night	619
Wrong Side Of The Street	0
The Brokenhearted	2
Rendezvous	102
Candy's Boy	0
Save My Love	26
Ain't Good Enough For You	5
Fire	266
Spanish Eyes	1
It's A Shame	0
Come On (Let's Go Tonight)	2
Talk To Me	30
The Little Things (My Baby Does)	0
Breakaway	0
The Promise	73
City Of Night	0
The Way (Bonus Track)	0