PRNewsFoto/Columbia RecordsBruce Springsteen‘s Chapter and Verse album, the “audio companion” to the rock legend’s soon-to-be-published memoir, Born to Run, was released today, coinciding with the Boss’ 67th birthday. The career-spanning, 18-track collection features a mix of classic tunes and lesser-known songs, each reflecting the themes and sections of the book.
Chapter and Verse begins with five previously unreleased tracks from Springsteen’s early career, including 1966’s “Baby I,” the first song he ever recorded with his band The Castiles.
In a new promo video posted on Springsteen’s official YouTube channel, Bruce shares his recollections of recording “Baby I.”
“First recording session was, you know, things were very, very primitive,” he recalls. “The only thing I remember was…the engineer — who was the owner of the studio at that time…he had a little room…and we pulled all our amps and drums in there. And he had a hard time handling any volume whatsoever, so the amps were faced towards the wall to muffle them.”
Springsteen also talks about the excitement he felt when he heard the tape played back of his band’s recording, and got to listen to the acetate of the song.
“When the guy sent you the acetate, it looked like a record,” Bruce points out. “It spun round and round and round, and you put a needle on it and music came off, which…we thought was incredible at the time.”
Chapter and Verse is available as a single CD, double LP and digital download. It’s also packaged with a deluxe edition of the Born to Run book. The memoir hits stores this Tuesday.
Here’s the Chapter and Verse track list:
“Baby I” — The Castiles (recorded May 2, 1966, at Mr. Music, Bricktown, NJ; written by Bruce Springsteen and George Theiss)*
“You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover” — The Castiles (recorded Sept. 16, 1967, at The Left Foot, Freehold, NJ; written by Willie Dixon)*
“He’s Guilty (The Judge Song)” — Steel Mill (recorded Feb. 22, 1970, at Pacific Recording Studio, San Mateo, CA)*
“Ballad of Jesse James” — The Bruce Springsteen Band (recorded March 14, 1972, at Challenger Eastern Surfboards, Highland, NJ)*
“Henry Boy” (recorded June 1972, at Mediasound Studios, New York, NY)*
“Growin’ Up” (recorded May 3, 1972, at Columbia Records Recordings Studios, New York, NY; previously appeared on Tracks)
“4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” (1973, The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle)
“Born to Run” (1975, Born to Run)
“Badlands” (1977, Darkness on the Edge of Town)
“The River” (1980, The River)
“My Father’s House” (1982, Nebraska)
“Born in the U.S.A.” (1984, Born in the U.S.A.)
“Brilliant Disguise” (1987, Tunnel of Love)
“Living Proof” (1992, Lucky Town)
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” (1995, The Ghost of Tom Joad)
“The Rising” (2002, The Rising)
“Long Time Comin'” (2005, Devils & Dust)
“Wrecking Ball” (2012, Wrecking Ball)
* = previously unreleased.
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