It never fails.... As soon as a tour ends, rumors of a new studio album begin to circulate. This time a usually reliable source reports that the band has booked studio time just after the Holidays to record about 25 new songs. Of course, don't hold your breath. Even if it's true, it doesn't necessarily mean that a new album will be released anytime soon, let alone the first half of next year. We can only wait and see. We'll keep you posted. Read more

   

The legendary night club in New York City, the Bottom Line, recently announced that it was about to turn the key due to trouble with the economy. A campaign to save it has been going on for a while with lots of people from all over the world signing a petition that hopefully will result in the landlord, New York University, finding a solution that will allow the club to remain open. Most recently none other than Bruce Springsteen supported the petition with the following message to the campaign organizers:

"Over the last 20 years, the Bottom Line has made itself a central part of New York City culture. When I think of the most memorable nights in my own career, few match the week of shows we did there in 1975. As a musician, as a citizen, and as one who loves New York City, I truly hope that a solution can be found that allows the Bottom Line and Allan and Stanley to continue their important, valuable work for many years to come. Bruce Springsteen, 10/20/03".

The shows Bruce refers to are his famous stand in August, 1975, that played a central role in breaking his name in the US. You can support this cause by checking out www.savethebottomline.com Read more

   

Sony Music has finally officially announced the release of Live in Barcelona and The Essential Bruce Springsteen. The official release dates will be November 18 for the Barcelona DVD and November 11 for the Essential set. The track list for both releases is as expected, including the bonus disc that will come with The Essential Bruce Springsteen. You can read the complete press release and see the complete track lists here Read more

   

After the final show of the Rising Tour there have been numerous accounts about fans who were ejected from the show for no apparent reason. People were allegedly ejected for asking simple questions to security or not responding to their (unreasonable) requests within seconds. Even Springsteen's own brother-in-law was ejected and couldn't get back in until he got in contact with someone from Bruce's management. It's apparent to us that this scandalous way of running a show shouldn't be ignored by the fans who paid good money for their tickets. The accounts are too many to be just a few complainers blaming others their own bad behavior. Now one of the victims is taking action. He calls on everybody who was wrongfully ejected to contact him in order to file a common report and demand your money back. Read his open letter and see how to contact him. Read more

   

Fans of Patti Scialfa can start to look forward. According to Sony Music's Austrian website her new album is slated for release on February 2, 2004. No news on what the albums will be titled or what songs it will include, let alone if there will be any Springsteen fingerprints. Read more

   

We now not only have the track list for the Essential Bruce Springsteen bonus disc. The sleevenotes that Bruce wrote himself have leaked out and can be read here. Note that "Trapped" is a live recording from The River Tour, which means it's a different version than the one that was released on USA For Africa. Also, "Countin' on a Miracle" is the same version that was played on the video screens after the Rising Tour shows. Read more

   

This time we think it's for real although changes could still happen. An online Swedish CD store, Skivhugget now lists all the songs of the Essential Bruce Springsteen set, and this looks much more realistic than the Japanese rumors mentioned earlier. According to Skivhugget the third disc looks as follows:

1. From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)
2. Big Payback
3. Held Up Without A Gun (Live)
4. Trapped (Live)
5. None But The Brave
6. Missing
7. Lift Me Up
8. Viva Las Vegas
9. County Fair
10. Code Of Silence (Live)
11. Dead Man Walkin'
12. Countin' On a Miracle (Acoustic)

"From Small Things", "None But the Brave", "County Fair", and "Code of Silence" are hitherto unreleased songs while "Held Up Without a Gun" and "Countin' on a Miracle" have been previously released in different versions. Read more

   

The last note of the Rising Tour has hardly died out when the first rumors of holiday shows at the Convention Hall in Asbury Park start to circulate. Actually, this looks like more than just rumors. According to several Internet message boards the shows will take on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th of December. Tickets will supposedly go on sale on November 22 by phone only and with a limit of 2 per person at $100 per ticket. Of course, even if this information is true as of now, it can still be subject of change so if you're planning to fly in for the shows, don't book your flight quite yet. Read more

   

A fan in the UK is compiling a book of stories from Bruce fans. She's looking for anything from your personal encounters with the man and the band to anything else you may have experienced during your time as a Bruce fan that could be interesting to other people. You can send your contributions, or write for more information, to j.owenmoylan@zoom.co.uk. Read more

   

Backstreets has published a list of songs that allegedly make up the contents of disc 1 and 2 of the upcoming Essential Bruce Springsteen set. There are few surprises (which is a sign they did a pretty good job), but fans will still not find "Backstreets" or "Incident on 57th Street". This could however change as the song list could still be subject of adjustments. Here is what Backstreets found out:

Disc One	Disc Two
Blinded By the Light Spirit in the Night For You 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) Thunder Road Born to Run Jungleland Badlands Darkness on the Edge of Town The Promised Land The River Hungry Heart Nebraska Atlantic City	Born in the U.S.A. Glory Days Dancing in the Dark Tunnel of Love Brilliant Disguise Human Touch Living Proof Lucky Town Streets of Philadelphia The Ghost of Tom Joad The Rising Mary's Place Lonesome Day American Skin (41 Shots) (live) Land of Hope and Dreams (live)

Read more