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Commercially Released: January 27, 2009
Label: Columbia
Produced by Brendan O'Brien
Recorded by Nick Didia and Rick Kwan, assisted by Darren Tablan, Tom Tapley, Toby Scott, Tom Syrowski, Billy Bowers,
Derek Karlquist, Kevin Mills, Paul Lamalfa and Tim Mitchell at Southern Tracks Studios, Avatar Studios, Clinton Recording Studios,
Henson Recording Studios and Thrill Hill Recording (Summer 2007 - Fall 2008)
Mixed by Brendan O'Brien, assisted by Darren Tablan and Tom Tapley at Southern Tracks Studios
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering and Bernie Grundman Mastering
Design by Chris Austopchuck, Dave Bett, Michelle Holme
Photography by Danny Clinch and Jennifer Tzar
Overview
Springsteen finished recording 2007's Magic in May of that year. While mixing the album he recorded "What Love Can Do", a song that (in his words) "felt more like a first song of new record rather than something that would fit on Magic." Producer Brendan O'Brien was keen to record another album straight away. In the following week he wrote and demo'd another five songs ("This Life", "My Lucky Day", "Life Itself", "Good Eye" and "Tomorrow Never Knows"), and Working On A Dream was born. Bruce felt it was so important he issued a press release on December 23, 2008 through his PR company.
The album was largely recorded during gaps in the 2007–8 Magic tour, in a very similar manner to Springsteen's previous album. Most tracks utilized a core group of rhythm musicians (Springsteen-Weinberg-Tallent-Bittan) and other musicians recorded their parts subsequently at various recording studios around the country. Many songs were recorded in only a few takes.
The album consists of 12 tracks, with "The Wrestler" (from the film of the same name) included as a bonus track. Early press also reported that a second bonus track would be included, the Halloween themed "Night Of The Jersey Devil", the video of which was streamed on brucespringsteen.net in October 2008. Subsequent press omitted mention of the song, and it was not included on the final CD, although it was included as a bonus track on the iTunes digital release. On April 18, 2009, it was also released as the b-side to the Record Store Day single "What Love Can Do", the final single from the album.
Released
# | Song Title | Running Time | Release |
---|---|---|---|
1. | OUTLAW PETE | 8:00 | DREAM |
2. | MY LUCKY DAY | 4:01 | DREAM |
3. | WORKING ON A DREAM | 3:30 | DREAM |
4. | QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET | 4:40 | DREAM |
5. | WHAT LOVE CAN DO | 2:57 | DREAM |
6. | THIS LIFE | 4:30 | DREAM |
7. | GOOD EYE | 3:01 | DREAM |
8. | TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS | 2:14 | DREAM |
9. | LIFE ITSELF | 4:00 | DREAM |
10. | KINGDOM OF DAYS | 4:02 | DREAM |
11. | SURPRISE, SURPRISE | 3:24 | DREAM |
12. | THE LAST CARNIVAL | 3:11 | DREAM |
13. | THE WRESTLER | 3:50 | DREAM |
Additional Recordings
Song Title | Running Time | Release |
---|---|---|
A NIGHT WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL | 3:23 | DREAM: DELUXE / 2009 b-side |
Details
Song Title | Running Time | Release |
---|
A NIGHT WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL | 3:23 | DREAM: DELUXE / 2009 b-side |
Note: Recorded during the Working On A Dream sessions, but not released on the album. Video was streamed on brucespringsteen.net in October 2008, and was included on the bonus DVD of the Deluxe version of the Album. The audio was finally released as a limited edition 7-inch b-side to "What Love Can Do" on April 18, 2009.
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.
GOOD EYE - V1 | uncirculating | |
GOOD EYE - V2 | 3:01 | DREAM |
Note: Written June 2007 during the mixing stages of Magic and demoed before sessions completed, completed 2008.
HEY BLUE EYES - V1 | uncirculating | |
HEY BLUE EYES - V2 | uncirculating | |
HEY BLUE EYES - V3 | uncirculating | |
HEY BLUE EYES - V4 | 4:34 | BEAUTY |
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.
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.
KINGDOM OF DAYS | 4:02 | DREAM |
Note: Eddie Horst contributes a string and horn arrangement.
LIFE ITSELF - V1 | uncirculating | |
LIFE ITSELF - V2 | 4:00 | DREAM |
Note: Written June 2007 during the mixing stages of Magic, and demoed before sessions completed.
MARY MARY - V1 | uncirculating | |
MARY MARY - V2 | uncirculating | |
MARY MARY - V3 | 2:51 | BEAUTY |
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.
MY LUCKY DAY - V1 | uncirculating | |
MY LUCKY DAY - V2 | uncirculating | |
MY LUCKY DAY - V3 | 4:01 | DREAM / ESSENTIAL: 2015 |
Note: Written in June, 2007 during the mixing stages of Magic, and demoed before sessions completed. Album version completed in summer 2008, and single released November 28, 2008. One of two songs, along with "Born To Run", that was made available as downloadable content for the video game Guitar Hero World Tour on January 29, 2009.
OUTLAW PETE | 8:00 | DREAM |
Note: Features Soozie Tyrell on violin, Patrick Warren on organ, and strings and horns arranged by Eddie Horst. The song was adapted into a book by Springsteen and illustrator Frank Caruso and published on November 4, 2014.
QUEEN OF THE SUPERMARKET | 4:40 | DREAM |
SURPRISE, SURPRISE | 3:24 | DREAM |
Note: Eddie Horst contributes a string and horn arrangement.
THE LAST CARNIVAL | 3:11 | DREAM |
Note: Jason Federici (Danny's son) contributes accordion.
THE WRESTLER - V1a | 3:50 | OST: WRESTLER / DREAM / ESSENTIAL: 2015 / BESTOF / 2008 single |
THE WRESTLER - V1b | 5:20 | promo CD |
Note: Written at the request of Mickey Rourke for his film The Wrestler, debuted August 2008 at the Venice International Film Festival. Features Springsteen on all instruments. V1a is the version included on the Working On A Dream album, released as a single December 16, 2008. V1b is on a US-only 1-track promotional CDR in slimline jewel case without artwork, issued exclusively to Academy Award voters by film distributors "Fox Searchlight Pictures" for consideration in the "Best Original Song" category. This rare disc exclusively contains the full, unedited 5:20 version with longer intro and intact piano coda, which was omitted for the song's widespread release as a "bonus track" on the album. Some copies feature a misprint of "For Your Consiceration".
THIS LIFE - V1 | uncirculating | |
THIS LIFE - V2 | 4:30 | DREAM |
Note: Written June 2007 during the mixing stages of Magic and demoed before sessions completed. Features Patrick Warren on piano.
TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS - V1 | uncirculating | |
TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS - V2 | 2:14 | DREAM |
Note: Written June 2007 during the mixing stages of Magic and demoed before sessions completed. Features Patrick Warren on keyboards, as well as a string and horn arrangement by Eddie Horst.
WHAT LOVE CAN DO - V1 | uncirculating | |
WHAT LOVE CAN DO - V2 | 2:57 | DREAM |
Note: The first song written for Working On A Dream, in June 2007 during the mixing stages of Magic. A demo was recorded before the Magic sessions were over, and the song was completed in summer 2008. Released as a single April 18, 2009 to commemorate the 2009 "Record Store Day" (an annual campaign supporting independent record dealers), limited to 2,500 copies.
WORKING ON A DREAM | 3:30 | DREAM / ESSENTIAL: 2015 |
Note: Premiered November 2, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio at a Barack Obama election rally, and released November 21 as Working On A Dream's first single. Winner of the 2010 Grammy Award for "Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance".
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