Devils And Dust

Commercially Released: April 25, 2005

Produced* and Mixed**  by Brendan O’Brien

Recorded 1996 thru 2004 at THRILL HILL EAST (Bruce’s NJ home studio) and THRILL HILL WEST (Bruce’s Los Angeles home studio).

Horns and some instrument overdubbing recorded at SOUTHERN TRACKS Studios (Atlanta) in 2004. Strings recorded at MASTERPHONICS Studios (Nashville) in 2004. All Horn and String arrangements by Eddie Horst.

Recording Engineers: Toby Scott (Thrill Hill East, Thrill Hill West and Southern Tracks) and Nick Didia (Southern Tracks and Masterphonics)

*   “All The Way Home” and “Long Time Coming” produced by Springsteen-Plotkin-O’Brien.

**  “Metamoras Banks”, “Leah”, “Black Cowboys” and “Jesus Was An Only Son” mixed by Toby Scott

PART 1 – DEVILS AND DUST SESSIONS OVERVIEW

Springsteen completed The Rising Tour in late October 2003. He then took a few months break, performing only a handful of guest appearances during this period. Sessions for the Devils & Dust album were very low-key and spanned about a 6-month period, from March thru August, 2004. Indications are that all recording was completed (except for mixing and string/horn overdubs) prior to Springsteen undertaking the “Vote For Change” min-Tour (Sept-Nov 2004). However the final mixes for D&D material weren’t completed until Jan 2005.

Three of the compositions on the album were known to fans for many years beforehand because they had been performed at concerts. However shortly before D&D was released Springsteen mentioned to Jon Parales of the New York Times that nearly all the songs on album were recorded by him sometime during the 1995 to1997 era (exact dates are not known). Bruce has more vaguely stated the same several times since. Springsteen has noted that he didn’t want to see these songs “fall through the cracks”. He hasn’t given an itemized background of each composition on the album, although this info may come to light with time. One composition (“All The Way Home”) dates from as far back as 1990. The only composition on the album that has been positively confirmed as having been written after The Rising Sessions (early 2002) is the title track, “Devils and Dust”. Bruce has described the D& D album as a thematic sequel to the GOTJ album. Others have noted that these songs could potentially have constituted part of a 5th disc in the TRACKS box set.

These are not 100% re-recordings of older Springsteen compositions made from scratch in 2004. Rather it appears that producer Brendan O’Brien was called into service to enhance, embellish and/or otherwise spice up and flavor whatever core recordings Springsteen had already made. The album’s liner notes do not delve into the kind of exacting session detail that’s needed to unravel some of the timeline and overdubbing mysteries. There is, however, enough telltale tidbits in the liner notes and in comments by those involved in the sessions to deduce that parts of nearly of these recordings had been in the vaults, in varying stages of completion, for 7 or 8 years.

NOTE: The bonus audio/video live versions of 5 of these studio recordings tracks that come with the package – these were filmed live by director David Clinch in Feb 2005 in New Jersey.

PART 2 – DEVILS AND DUST SESSIONS DETAILS

Note: Written in 1996 while on the GOTJ Tour. This recording is a hybrid of two sessions quite some years apart. The basic track (Bruce, Danny Federici, Marty Rifkin, Soozie Tyrell and Patti Scialfa) emanates from 1997 or 1998 - recorded by Toby Scott and produced by Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin. The bass guitar (Brendan O’Brien) and drums (Steve Jordan) were added to the mix in 2004, which is the likely reason why this released version is credited as a “Springsteen-Plotkin-O’Brien” production.

Note: Written by Bruce in 1990 (song donated to and covered by Southside Johnny in 1991). Springsteen’s own recording seems to be a hybrid of two sessions quite some years apart. The basic track heard here (Bruce, Marty Rifkin and Chuck Plokin) was recorded in 1997 or 1998 by Toby Scott and was produced by Springsteen and Chuck Plotkin. However the bass guitar and sitar (courtesy of Brendan O’Brien) and drums (Steve Jordan) were added the mix in 2004, which is probably why this released version is credited as a “Springsteen-Plotkin-O’Brien” production.

Note: Springsteen solo, on multi instruments. The strings (the Nashville String Machine) were recorded in Nashville in 2004 then added onto the core recording.

Note: Springsteen solo, on multi instruments. The background harmonies (Scialfa-Tyrell-Lowell) were added to the recording later.

Note: Springsteen solo, on multi instruments. The trumpet overdub is courtesy of Mark Pender.

Note: This appears to have originally been a Springsteen solo recording, with Bruce handling vocals, guitar, keyboards and percussion. Further percussion has been added (Steve Jordan), as well as bass (Brendan O’Brien) and strings (Nashville String Machine).Horns (Brice Andrus, Donald Strand, Susan Welty and Thomas Witte) added in Atlanta.

Note: The core recording is Springsteen solo, on all instruments (vocals, guitar, keyboards and percussion). The strings (Nashville String Machine) were recorded in Nashville in 2004 and added to the core recording in Atlanta.

Note: The core recording (which may date from 1997-98) is Springsteen solo, on all instruments (vocals, guitar, keyboards and tambourine). The strings (Nashville String Machine) and horns (Brice Andrus, Donald Strand, Susan Welty and Thomas Witte) were recorded and added in 2004.

Note: Song written and performed live in 1996. The core recording (which may date from 1997-98) is Springsteen solo, on all instruments (vocals, guitar, keyboards and percussion). The strings (Nashville String Machine) and horns (Brice Andrus, Donald Strand, Susan Welty and Thomas Witte) were recorded and added in 2004.

Note: Song written in 1997. The core recording (which may date from 1997-98) is Springsteen solo, on all instruments (vocals, guitar, keyboards and drums). Background harmonies (Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell and Lisa Lowell) may also date from the original sessions. The bass (Brendan O’Brien) was added in 2004.

Note: It is unknown if the composition dates from the 1990’s or from 2003-4.. Springsteen handles vocals, guitar and keyboards. Brendan O’Brien on bass. Steve Jordan on drums. Soozie Tyrell on violin. Background vocals are Scialfa-Tyrell.

Note: Song written in mid 2003 – the only song on the album positively verified to have been composed after 2001. Springsteen handles vocals, guitar and keyboards. Brendan O’Brien on bass. Steve Jordan on drums. The strings (Nashville String Machine) and horns (Susan Welty and Thomas Witte) were added later.

Note: Song written in 1995 and recorded for GOTJ - but not used. Bruce performed it live on the GOTJ Tour. The song was revamped for D&D and was almost issued on the album as the 13th track. At this point this is the only known outtake from the 2004 sessions, although it is likely others exis