Bruce Springsteen/Unreleased Album 1979

Originally, the album “THE RIVER” was scheduled to be released in 1979 in a completely different form. The album had actually been completed, and it was named “THE TIES THAT BIND” and the master tape had been completed. The master of an album that was shelved 20 years ago has been leaked, and since an item with perfect sound quality at the official level has appeared, it has become a hot topic among enthusiasts, even being called the “Lost Masterpiece”. It’s a thing. Because the fantastic album was recorded in perfect sound quality, many copies were produced, but for some reason there have been no new releases since the beginning of the 21st century, and such rare sound sources have remained unused. The situation continued to be dire. However, regarding this phantom album, JEMS discovered an album master in even better condition a few years ago. This is the title of this CD version. What’s surprising is that not only is the atmosphere completely different from “THE RIVER,” but the mixes of the songs that overlap with it are all different, so it can be said that it is very satisfying to listen to. I would like to introduce the differences between each song on this album, which was completed once in 1979. 1. The Ties That Bind The fact that this song is the opening track is similar to “THE RIVER”. Springsteen must have decided that this song was the right one to open the album. However, even though their positions on the album are the same, the mixes are completely different. Above all, Springsteen’s vocals are a different take. In “THE RIVER”, it was so intense that it felt like they were singing at full throttle, but this one has a calmer tone, so it’s easy to tell the difference. It may be said that the atmosphere is closer to the Darkness period. I also think this mix is ​​interesting because not only the vocals but also the backing chorus stands out everywhere. 2. Cindy Isn’t this an unreleased song familiar to enthusiasts as an outtake from “THE RIVER”? In other titles, versions of the song were heard with various vocal mixes, but this was the final version. In addition, it has a pop and lovely atmosphere that is not suitable for the later “THE RIVER”, which can be said to be unique to this album. . 3. ungry Heart The hit single was also included in this album, but the mix was different. The biggest difference is the pitch height, both mixes have a higher pitch compared to the original performance, but in this one Springsteen’s voice is not as high-pitched as in “THE RIVER”, and the pitch is higher. There is also a slight sense of high rise that is noticeable by raising the height. In fact, since the pitch is closer to normal, the performance here sounds more natural. 4. Stolen Car This is a different take that has been included in various items for a long time, as the piano-centered arrangement is completely different from the version recorded on “THE RIVER”. It later saw the light of day in the outtake collection “TRACKS”, but the mix was completely different. Moreover, there is a gap of nearly 20 years between the sophisticated mix of “TRACKS” made in the 1990s, so below you can see the naturalness of this analog-flavored mix, and also the familiarity of the “TRACKS” mix. For some users, the difference in sound quality itself may be surprising. 5. Be True It is popular as a hidden masterpiece that was released only by coupling with the single “Fade Away”, but at this point the mix is ​​different depending on the treatment of the songs on the album. Moreover, Springsteen’s own multi-recorded backing chorus is the most noticeable when compared to that single and the “TRACKS” version, which is a different mix. And that was it for side A of the album. 6. The River It’s an interesting composition that the B-side of the album starts with this song. Of course, the mix is ​​different, and Springsteen’s vocals are once again a different take. As expected, this song has a more subdued singing style, which may give it a darker tone. Moreover, unlike the version of “THE RIVER”, there is no backing chorus at all, so this simplicity is surprisingly attractive. 7. You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch) A classic rockabilly version. I think it could have been included in “THE RIVER” as is, but Springsteen apparently preferred to re-record it and transform it into a more upper-class rock tune. 8. The Price You Pay Even among the best songs in “THE RIVER”, the mix is ​​different at this point. Roy Bittan’s piano was prominent on the same album, but here the 12-string guitar played by Springsteen has a strong presence in the mix. Moreover, not only that, but it is a complete version including the third part, which was later cut. Therefore, this version has a longer performance time, but it is well known that the lyrics that were deliberately cut here were later revived and sung again in live performances. In that case, I shouldn’t have cut it (lol). 9. I Wanna Mary You It’s a completely different mix from “THE RIVER”, and overall it’s a simpler and more natural mix. Furthermore, it’s interesting that the tremolo echo guitar that Springsteen played sounds like a “poro loan” and stands out very much. 10. Loose Ends Of course, this is a completely different mix from “TRACKS”. In terms of performance, that one is more impressive and overwhelmingly sophisticated, but the mix here, where the 12-string guitar stands out, isn’t bad either. By the way, this is the only song where Springsteen’s count remains at the beginning. Perhaps the mix was still one step away from completion. Why did the album, which was completed with so much effort, end up being shelved? Regarding that, Springsteen said, “It lacked a personal atmosphere.” It’s true that this album includes songs like “Cindy” and “Be True,” and it’s a one-of-a-kind album, so I think it has a very pop and friendly impression. It’s clear that Springsteen probably reconsidered this pop finish and expanded it into a two-disc set to give it a more serious feel. However, isn’t it hard to believe that such a familiar album with so many famous songs was shelved? I think any average artist would feel proud just by completing an album like this. The sound quality of the items released 20 years ago was excellent, but the upgraded version discovered by JEMS has such a wonderful sound quality that it almost feels like a normal album…The improvement in freshness is clear. So, with previous items, I was concerned about the sound being muffled when fading out, but such unnaturalness has been eliminated and the stunning clarity will make the previous items completely unnecessary. The phantom album released in 1979, which can be said to be the original version of the masterpiece “THE RIVER”, has been released for the first time in a while, and the perfect sound quality CD makes it a must-see even if you are not a fan! Recorded at The Power Station, New York City from June to September 1979 STEREO SBD　(39:02) 1. The Ties That Bind 2. Cindy 3. Hungry Heart 4. Stolen Car 5. (To) Be True 6. The River 7 (You Can Look) But You Better Not Touch 8. The Price You Pay 9. I Wanna Mary You 10. Loose Ends