ON THE TRACKS 4.0 - 1993 SOLO

1993 SOLO “WORK-IN-PROGRESS” HOME CASSETTE RECORDINGS

The following song creation recordings, not in collector circulation, were recorded by Springsteen at home on acoustic guitar in early 1993 during an extended break in the Human Touch – Lucky Town Tour. A comment heard on the tape regarding a well-documented news event enables it to be determined that most, very likely all, of this audio was recorded on February 25, 1993. These recordings are similar in sound quality and recording style to Bruce’s 1979 and 1981 home cassette recordings (see On The Tracks listings).

It should be noted that these are not professional studio recordings. Springsteen utilizes a cassette recorder that he manually stops and starts, as needed. None of these recordings exhibit a finished songwriting product. These are unfinished compositions, both musically and lyrically, and are in varying stages of completeness. However most of these songs show enough musical and lyrical development that it’s probable Springsteen finished them sometime during 1993-1995 and they exist as fully realized demo or studio recordings in Bruce’s archive vault.

1) Recorded at Springsteen’s home, Beverly Hills, CA on Feb 25, 1993.

2) Recording details

Note: All three utilize the same lyrics but V1 and V2 utilize different music than V3. The lyrics include the first three lines of Springsteen’s 1995 recorded song “Back In Your Arms”, although there are no other similarities with that song. This is a standout composition in the making. The recorder is stopped and re-started once during the V3 performance.

Note: This up-tempo song does not share any common melody or lyrics with either Springsteen’s 1995 released song “Missing” (from the film The Crossing Guard) or his 2002 released song “You’re Missing” (from the Rising LP). The recorder is stopped and re-started once during this performance.

Note: Although neither V1 nor V2 are finished this clearly exhibits the makings of a major work. A recording of the song was filed with the US Copyright Office in early 1995, although the song remains unreleased. The recorder is stopped and re-started once during the V1 performance. V2 is more fully realized.

Note: this up tempo but embryonic work is a Springsteen original, not a cover of the Robert Johnson blues classic.

Note: one of the strongest songs from this session.

Note: a lament about a female mud wrestler at the Tropicana Hotel.

Note: The same song that would eventually make its debut on the GOTJ album in late 1995. V1 and V2 utilize the same music but they are sung in different keys – this music however is totally different than what ended up being used on the official, released version. The lyrics are about a 70% match to the released version.

Note: the recorder is stopped and re-started once during this performance.

Note: Bruce working with unfinished lyrics and marrying them to different melodies or arrangements sung in different keys. This song contains the same opening three lines as Springsteen’s Jan 1995 recorded song “Back In Your Arms” (issued on TRACKS) – but none of these above-noted versions utilize that song’s melody or any of its other lyrics.

Note: A wonderful, haunting song in the making. There is no relation whatsoever to “The Ghost of Tom Joad”. The recorder is stopped and re-started twice during this performance.

Note: quiet, introspective relationship song.

Note: A lighthearted ditty about a young working class couple that one can easily envision with a rock backing. The recorder is stopped and re-started once during this performance.

Note: bears some musical (though not lyrical) similarity to the version of “Dry Lightning” from this session.

Note: Another introspective relationship song in an early development stage. The recorder is stopped and re-started three times during this performance.

Page updated February 25, 2007