Bruce Springsteen made a surprise return on Thursday morning (Sept. 10) with the heartbreaking rocker “Letter To You,” the title track to his upcoming 12-song album with the E Street Band. The rock icon’s 20th studio album is due out on Oct. 23 on Columbia Records and is described as a “rock album fueled by the band’s heart-stopping, house-rocking signature sound” in a statement.
“I love the emotional nature of Letter To You,” Springsteen said in a statement about the album recorded at his home studio in New Jersey. “And I love the sound of the E Street Band playing completely live in the studio, in a way we’ve never done before, and with no overdubs. We made the album in only five days, and it turned out to be one of the greatest recording experiences I’ve ever had.”
The album includes nine songs recently written by Springsteen, and three new versions of previously unreleased tracks from the 1970s: “Janey Needs a Shooter,” “If I Was the Priest” and “Song for Orphans.” The collection — produced by Ron Aniello with Springsteen, mixed by Bob Clearmountain and mastered by Bob Ludwig — is The Boss’ first time performing with the E Street Band since their 2016 The River tour.
The title track is classic E Street Band energy, with poignant piano, layers of guitars and Springsteen’s weatherbeaten vocals floating above it all as he works out some existential angst about an all-encompassing love. “Dug deep in my soul/ And signed my name true/ And sent it in my letter to you,” he sings in the stark black and white video that features images of Bruce writing the lyrics in a notebook, sharing tender moments with wife/bandmate Patti Scialfa and working the track out with his trusty sidekick guitarist “Little” Steven Van Zandt.
God this makes me miss the Big Man more than ever. Great track, but it’s missing the sax riff that made this the amazing band it is. Still great, just missing a tone I’ve loved forever.
I’m fascinated that Springsteen produced this in five days, since he describes in his autobiography spending MONTHS agonizing over how to mix every song on his early albums.
- Dutch - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 10:36 am:
This makes me happy!
- Northsider - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 10:37 am:
From my keyboard to God’s inbox, this will be the second-best thing to happen this year.
- A Guy - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 10:48 am:
God this makes me miss the Big Man more than ever. Great track, but it’s missing the sax riff that made this the amazing band it is. Still great, just missing a tone I’ve loved forever.
- Frank talks - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 11:45 am:
Awesome
- Sayitaintso - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 11:55 am:
Syl in background…”every time I try to quit, he pulls me back in….”
- LoyalVirus - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 12:13 pm:
Hopeful this will be a balm for my soul the way The Rising was…
- Gladhander - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 12:22 pm:
It is comforting to know that, even in these dark times, Bruce is still jamming and sharing awesome music with us.
- Mr K - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 1:19 pm:
Can’t listen to Springsteen without thinking of Clarence. Miss the Big Man.
Yeah — this is great. Not a fan of Bruce’s recent stuff — especially post-’The Rising’ in 2002 — but this one sounds good.
- Froganon - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 2:08 pm:
Sweet, sweet sounds. Thank God for The Boss. Thanks for this bright time in my day.
- Ben Tre - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 3:25 pm:
I’m fascinated that Springsteen produced this in five days, since he describes in his autobiography spending MONTHS agonizing over how to mix every song on his early albums.
- Stateandlake - Thursday, Sep 10, 20 @ 3:46 pm:
Best news in quit a while! Thanks to Bruce and the Band.