18 Tracks

Performer: Bruce Springsteen
Artist: Steve Van Zandt; Nils Lofgren; Clarence Clemons; Omar Hakim; Jeff Porcaro; David Sancious
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar); Stevie Van Zandt (guitar); Marty Rifkin (pedal steel guitar, dobro); Soozie Tyrell (violin); Danny Federici (accordion, keyboards, organ, glockenspiel); Mario Cruz, Jerry Vivino (tenor saxophone); Ed Manion (baritone saxophone); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, percussion, background vocals); Mike Spengler, Mark Pender (trumpet); Richie Rosenberg (trombone); David Sancious (piano, organ. keyboards); Roy Bittan (piano, keyboards); Randy Jackson, Gary Tallent (bass); Omar Hakim, Jeff Porcaro, Max Weinberg, Gary Mallaber, Vini Lopez (drums); Michael Fisher (percussion); Nils Lofgren (background vocals). Producers include: John Hammond, Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau. Engineers include: Phil Giambalvo, Louis Lehav, Toby Scott. Includes liner notes by Bruce Springsteen. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. "The Promise" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song. Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar); Clarence Clemons (vocals, saxophone, percussion); Nils Lofgren (vocals); Steven Van Zandt (guitar); Marty Rifkin (dobro); Soozie Tyrell (violin); Danny Federici (accordion, organ, keyboards, glockenspiel); Mario Cruz, Jerry Vivino (tenor saxophone); Edward Manion (baritone saxophone); Mark Pender (trumpet); David Sancious (piano, organ, keyboards); Roy Bittan (piano); Gary Mallaber, Vini Lopez, Jeff Porcaro, Max Weinberg, Omar Hakim (drums); Michael Fisher (percussion). Audio Mixers: Ed Thacker; Thom Panunzio; Toby Scott; Bob Clearmountain. Liner Note Author: Bruce Springsteen. Recording information: 914 Sound Recording (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); CBS Studios, New York, NY (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); CBS Studios, NY (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); HIt Factory (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); Power Station (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); Record Plant (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); Soundworks West, Los Angeles, CA (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); The Hit Factory, New York, NY (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); The Power Station, New York, NY (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA (05/03/1972-02/12/1999); Thrill Hill Recording (05/03/1972-02/12/1999). Photographers: Herb Ritts; Jim Marchese; David Gahr; Phil A. Ceccola; Fred Lombardi; Neal Preston; Annie Leibovitz; David Rose; Joel Bernstein. This single-disc sampler was put together in deference to Springsteen fans unprepared to shell out the cash for the TRACKS box set. It features many of the key tracks from the box, illuminating the Boss's career beyond the official album cuts. From the infectious, good-humored "Part Man, Part Monkey" to the rock & roll anthem "Where the Bands Are" and the chilling acoustic version of "Born in the U.S.A," 18 TRACKS is Springsteen at his best. The prolific songwriter has always come up with way too much material for whatever album he was working on, and the cuts left over are never less than top-notch. Thus, 18 TRACKS (not to mention its parent box set) is no collection of cast-offs. Rather, it's an alternate, equally compelling history of the quintessential American rock & roller. As an added inducement, there are bonus tracks here that don't appear on the box, included the beloved "The Promise" and "The Fever."

Q (10/01, p.152) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Evidence that Springsteen simply didn't always know his own strengths..." Melody Maker (4/24/99, p.38) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...the acoustic stuff here looks fondly on Damien Jurado and Elliott Smith and knows its work is done. Be unafraid."

Bruce Springsteen came out of New Jersey in the early 1970s sounding like a cross between Bob Dylan and early Tom Waits, backed by the rambunctious E Street Band. After toughening up his sound, Springsteen created his 1975 masterpiece, BORN TO RUN, which garnered critical acclaim for its blend of Spectorian grandeur and street poetry. Nine years later, BORN IN THE U.S.A. made him a worldwide superstar with its beefed-up stadium-rock sound. Along the way, he's produced such low-key acoustic-based milestones as NEBRASKA and THE GHOST OF TOM JOAD, never losing the blue-collar ethos that is central to his vision. His 2002 album, THE RISING, is considered one of the finest artistic responses to the 9/11tragedy produced in the event's immediate aftermath.

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