The Essential Bruce Springsteen | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | November 11, 2003 | |||
Recorded | 1972–2002 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:21:01 (2003) 2:36:22 (2015) | |||
Label | Columbia/Legacy | |||
Bruce Springsteen chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band chronology | ||||
|
The Essential Bruce Springsteen is a compilation album by Bruce Springsteen, released on November 11, 2003. The collection is part of a series of Essential sets released by Sony BMG (previously Sony Music Entertainment). It includes songs from various Springsteen albums and concerts up to the year 2003. A limited-edition third disc includes previously unreleased cuts, B-sides, contributions to soundtracks and benefit albums, covers, and an alternate, "country-blues" acoustic version of "Countin' on a Miracle" from The Rising .
The album debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart on November 29, 2003, at No. 14, with sales of 90,000 copies. The album was awarded gold and platinum records on December 16, 2003, by the RIAA. As of August 2013, the album has sold over 1,079,000 copies in the United States. [2] It reached No. 15 on the UK Albums Chart in 2013. The album was re-released with an updated track listing in October 2015.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | A− [3] |
Pitchfork | 8.6/10 [4] |
PopMatters | (positive) [5] |
The album received general acclaim from music critics, who appreciated its inclusion of Springsteen's most recognizable hits throughout his career. [4] AllMusic calls it a better compilation album than 1995's "misguided, haphazardly selected" Greatest Hits . [1]
2003 Track order | Title | Original album | Length | 2015 Track order |
---|---|---|---|---|
— | "Growin' Up" | Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ , 1973 | 3:05 | disc 1, track 01 |
disc 1, track 01 | "Blinded by the Light" | Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ | 5:04 | — |
disc 1, track 02 | "For You" | Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ | 4:40 | — |
disc 1, track 03 | "Spirit in the Night" | Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ | 5:00 | — |
disc 1, track 04 | "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" | The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle , 1973 | 5:37 | disc 1, track 03 |
disc 1, track 05 | "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" | The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle | 7:04 | disc 1, track 02 |
disc 1, track 06 | "Thunder Road" | Born to Run , 1975 | 4:51 | disc 1, track 04 |
disc 1, track 07 | "Born to Run" | Born to Run | 4:33 | disc 1, track 05 |
disc 1, track 08 | "Jungleland" | Born to Run | 9:36 | — |
— | "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" | Born to Run | 3:11 | disc 1, track 06 |
disc 1, track 09 | "Badlands" | Darkness on the Edge of Town , 1978 | 4:05 | disc 1, track 07 |
disc 1, track 10 | "Darkness on the Edge of Town" | Darkness on the Edge of Town | 4:31 | — |
disc 1, track 11 | "The Promised Land" | Darkness on the Edge of Town | 4:31 | disc 1, track 08 |
— | "Prove It All Night" | Darkness on the Edge of Town | 3:56 | disc 1, track 09 |
disc 1, track 12 | "The River" | The River , 1980 | 5:01 | disc 1, track 10 |
disc 1, track 13 | "Hungry Heart" | The River | 3:21 | disc 1, track 11 |
— | "The Ties That Bind" | The River | 3:34 | disc 1, track 12 |
— | "Out in the Street" | The River | 4:20 | disc 1, track 13 |
disc 1, track 14 | "Nebraska" | Nebraska , 1982 | 4:30 | — |
disc 1, track 15 | "Atlantic City" | Nebraska | 3:57 | disc 1, track 14 |
— | "Johnny 99" | Nebraska | 3:44 | disc 1, track 15 |
disc 2, track 01 | "Born in the U.S.A." | Born in the U.S.A. , 1984 | 4:42 | disc 1, track 17 |
disc 2, track 02 | "Glory Days" | Born in the U.S.A. | 4:17 | disc 1, track 16 |
disc 2, track 03 | "Dancing in the Dark" | Born in the U.S.A. | 4:04 | disc 1, track 18 |
disc 2, track 04 | "Tunnel of Love" | Tunnel of Love , 1987 | 5:13 | — |
— | "Tougher Than the Rest" | Tunnel of Love | 4:37 | disc 2, track 01 |
disc 2, track 05 | "Brilliant Disguise" | Tunnel of Love | 4:16 | disc 2, track 02 |
— | "One Step Up" | Tunnel of Love | 4:22 | disc 2, track 03 |
disc 2, track 06 | "Human Touch" (Edit: 5:11) | Human Touch , 1992 | 6:31 | disc 2, track 04 |
disc 2, track 07 | "Living Proof" | Lucky Town , 1992 | 4:48 | — |
disc 2, track 08 | "Lucky Town" | Lucky Town | 3:29 | — |
— | "Better Days" | Lucky Town | 3:48 | disc 2, track 05 |
— | "If I Should Fall Behind" | Lucky Town | 2:58 | disc 2, track 06 |
disc 2, track 09 | "Streets of Philadelphia" | Philadelphia soundtrack and Greatest Hits , 1994/1995 | 3:18 | disc 2, track 07 |
— | "Murder Incorporated" | Greatest Hits | 3:59 | disc 2, track 08 |
disc 2, track 10 | "The Ghost of Tom Joad" | The Ghost of Tom Joad , 1995 | 4:24 | disc 2, track 09 |
disc 2, track 11 | "The Rising" | The Rising , 2002 | 4:48 | disc 2, track 10 |
disc 2, track 12 | "Mary's Place" | The Rising | 6:01 | — |
disc 2, track 13 | "Lonesome Day" | The Rising | 4:08 | disc 2, track 11 |
disc 2, track 14 | "American Skin (41 Shots)" | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live in New York City , 2001 | 7:53 | — |
disc 2, track 15 | "Land of Hope and Dreams" | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live in New York City | 9:22 | — |
No. | Title | Notes | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" | The River outtake | 2:42 |
2. | "The Big Payback" | Nebraska outtake; B-side to "Open All Night" single | 1:59 |
3. | "Held Up Without a Gun" (Live at Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, December 31, 1980) | Live version of song which was the B-side of "Hungry Heart" | 1:21 |
4. | "Trapped" (Live at Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey, August 6, 1984) | We Are the World , 1985 | 5:10 |
5. | "None But the Brave" | Born in the U.S.A. outtake | 5:35 |
6. | "Missing" | The Crossing Guard soundtrack, 1995 | 5:04 |
7. | "Lift Me Up" | Limbo soundtrack, 1999 | 5:16 |
8. | "Viva Las Vegas" | Honeymoon in Vegas soundtrack, 1992 | 3:10 |
9. | "County Fair" | Born in the U.S.A. outtake | 4:51 |
10. | "Code of Silence" (Live at Madison Square Garden, New York City, Manhattan, New York, June 29, 2000) | Recorded live during the Reunion Tour | 4:33 |
11. | "Dead Man Walkin'" | Dead Man Walking soundtrack, 1996 | 2:44 |
12. | "Countin' on a Miracle" (Acoustic version) | Originally from The Rising | 5:01 |
Total length: | 47:26 |
1-1 "Growin' Up" 3:08
1-2 "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" 7:03
1-3 "4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" 5:37
1-4 "Thunder Road" 4:49
1-5 "Born To Run" 4:31
1-6 "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" 3:12
1-7 "Badlands" 4:03
1-8 "The Promised Land" 4:30
1-9 "Prove It All Night" 4:00
1-10 "The River" 5:01
1-11 "Hungry Heart" 3:21
1-12 "The Ties That Bind" 3:34
1-13 "Out In The Street" 4:21
1-14 "Atlantic City" 4:00
1-15 "Johnny 99" 3:41
1-16 "Glory Days" 4:16
1-17 "Born In The U.S.A." 4:40
1-18 "Dancing In The Dark" 4:03
2-1 "Tougher Than The Rest" 4:38
2-2 "Brilliant Disguise" 4:17
2-3 "One Step Up" 4:23
2-4 "Human Touch" (Single Edit) 5:12
2-5 "Better Days" 3:47
2-6 "If I Should Fall Behind" 2:58
2-7 "Streets Of Philadelphia" 3:17
2-8 "Murder Incorporated" 4:00
2-9 "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" 4:23
2-10 "The Rising" 4:48
2-11 "Lonesome Day" 4:08
2-12 "Devils & Dust" 5:03
2-13 "Long Time Comin'" 4:17
2-14 "Radio Nowhere" 3:21
2-15 "Working On A Dream" 3:30
2-16 "My Lucky Day" 4:02
2-17 "The Wrestler" 3:51
2-18 "We Take Care Of Our Own" 3:57
2-19 "Hunter Of Invisible Game" 4:42
Chart (2003) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Top 50 Albums [6] | 43 |
Austrian Top 75 Albums [7] | 12 |
Belgium (Flanders) 100 Albums [8] | 19 |
Finnish Top 50 Albums [9] | 14 |
French Compilations [10] | 21 |
Irish Top 75 Albums [11] | 5 |
Italian Albums [12] | 8 |
Netherlands Top 100 Albums [13] | 22 |
Norwegian Top 40 Albums [14] | 4 |
Portuguese Top 30 Albums [15] | 13 |
Swedish Top 60 Albums [16] | 2 |
Swiss Top 100 Albums [17] | 35 |
UK Albums Chart [18] | 28 |
US Billboard 200 [19] | 14 |
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Wallonia) 100 Albums [20] | 84 |
Danish Top 40 Albums [21] | 17 |
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
Spanish Top 100 Albums [22] | 77 |
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Catalog Albums [19] | 13 |
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart [23] | 15 |
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [6] | 41 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [24] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [25] | Gold | 15,736 [25] |
Italy (FIMI) [26] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [27] | Platinum | 40,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [28] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [29] | Gold | 30,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [30] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [31] | 2× Platinum | 1,079,000 [2] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Human Touch is the ninth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The album was released on March 31, 1992, the same day as Lucky Town. It was the more popular of the two, peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200, with "Human Touch" peaking at number one on the Mainstream Rock chart and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Human Touch" has since sold more than one million copies in the United States, and was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance at the 1993 Grammy Awards.
The River is the fifth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on October 17, 1980, by Columbia Records. Springsteen's only double album, The River was produced by Jon Landau, Springsteen, and bandmate Steven Van Zandt. The album was Springsteen's first to reach number one on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and spent four weeks at the top of the charts. It received critical acclaim and the title track was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance at the 1982 Grammy Awards.
Tunnel of Love is the eighth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on October 2, 1987. Although members of the E Street Band occasionally performed on the album, Springsteen recorded most of the parts himself, often with drum machines and synthesizers. Tunnel of Love is not officially regarded as an E Street Band album, as The Rising (2002) was marketed as his first studio album with the E Street Band since Born in the U.S.A. (1984).
The Rising is the twelfth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on July 30, 2002, on Columbia Records. An immediate critical and commercial success, it was Springsteen's first to top the US Billboard 200 since Tunnel of Love (1987). Hailed as a triumphant return to form for Springsteen, the album won two Grammy awards and marked the start of a successful collaboration with producer Brendan O'Brien. The Rising came seven years after The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995), the longest interlude between studio albums for the artist, and was his first in almost two decades with the E Street Band, with whom he had recently completed a highly successful reunion tour. The album is based in large part on Springsteen's reflections in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Greatest Hits III is a compilation album by British rock band Queen. It is a compilation of latter-day songs, the band members' solo hits and the band's collaborations with other artists. It was released on 8 November 1999. The first two tracks on the album were new previously unreleased versions of classic Queen songs.
Greatest Hits II is a compilation album by the British rock band Queen, released on 28 October 1991. The album consisted of Queen's biggest hits between 1981 and 1991, from the UK chart-topper "Under Pressure" to "The Show Must Go On".
Enrique is the debut English album and fourth studio album by Enrique Iglesias recorded in English and released on 23 November 1999. The album launched two number one US Billboard Hot 100 hits, "Bailamos" and "Be with You".
Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon is the third official compilation album of John Lennon's solo career, coming after 1975's Shaved Fish and 1982's The John Lennon Collection. Because neither collection spanned Lennon's releases up to and including 1984's Milk and Honey, Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon – considered the definitive Lennon retrospective – was compiled. It was released in the UK in 1997 through Parlophone and early 1998 in the US by EMI Records.
Devils & Dust is the thirteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, and his third acoustic album. It was released on April 25, 2005, in Europe and the following day in the United States, where it debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.
Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released February 27, 1995, on Columbia Records. It is a collection of some of Springsteen's hit singles and popular album tracks through the years along with four new songs at the end, mostly recorded with the E Street Band in 1995. The latter constituted Springsteen's first release with his backing band since the late 1980s. Some of the songs are shorter versions of the original album releases.
The Essential Bob Dylan is a compilation by Bob Dylan, released in 2000 as the inaugural entry in Sony Music's "The Essential" double-disc compilation series. The Essential Bob Dylan spans from 1963's "Blowin' in the Wind" to 2000's "Things Have Changed".
The Essential Michael Jackson is a greatest hits compilation album by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released on July 19, 2005, by Sony Music's catalog division Legacy Recordings as part of The Essential series. The two-disc compilation features thirty-eight hit songs by Michael Jackson, from his days at Motown Records with The Jackson 5 in the late 1960s and early 1970s to his 2001 hit "You Rock My World".
The Essential Ozzy Osbourne is a compilation album by British heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released in 2003. It reached No. 81 on US charts and No. 21 in the UK. Tracks featured here from the first two albums are the re-recorded versions from recent reissues as well as the remixed Bark at the Moon tracks. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on 5 February 2005 with an excess of 500,000 copies sold, then certified Platinum by the RIAA on 3 March 2016. This compilation was re-released in 2009 as a Limited Edition 3.0 package with an additional disc of bonus songs that were not on the original release.
The Essential Simon & Garfunkel is the second 2-CD compilation album of greatest hits by Simon & Garfunkel, released by Columbia Records on October 14, 2003.
The Essential Barbra Streisand is the fifth greatest hits album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released on January 29, 2002, by Columbia Records. The compilation features 38 songs from Streisand's catalog, in addition to two previously unreleased tracks. It includes material from 26 of the singer's albums and was described as a collection of, mainly, her pop songs. A reissued version of the compilation was distributed by Columbia and Legacy Recordings in 2008 and includes a bonus disc featuring nine additional songs from Streisand's discography.
The Very Best of the Eagles is the fifth compilation album by the Eagles. It was originally released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand on July 11, 1994, by Elektra Records.
The Essential Leonard Cohen is a career-spanning collection of Leonard Cohen songs released in 2002. It is part of Sony's The Essential series.
Magic is the fifteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released by Columbia Records on LP on September 25, 2007, and on CD on October 2. It was his first with the E Street Band since The Rising in 2002, and topped the charts in six countries, including the US and UK, going triple platinum in Ireland. Two songs from the album – "Radio Nowhere" and "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – won a total of three Grammys, making Magic the second of only two Springsteen albums with three wins, after The Rising. It ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.
Working on a Dream is the sixteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on January 27, 2009, through Columbia Records. It topped the charts in nine countries, including the US, where it was Springsteen's ninth No. 1. "The Wrestler", which appeared as a bonus track, won a Golden Globe award. E Street Band guitarist Steve Van Zandt said that Working on a Dream completed a trilogy which started with The Rising (2002) and continued with Magic (2007), all of which were produced by Brendan O'Brien.
The Promise is a compilation album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released November 16, 2010, on Columbia Records. The album is a collection of previously unreleased songs which were recorded during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions in 1977–1978, with some vocals and additional instrumentation overdubs recorded in 2010. It was released in 2CD and 3LP formats. The album is also available as part of the box set The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story. The two-CD version of the release entered the UK Albums Chart at number 7. It had been in production for many years and was originally scheduled to be released for the 30th anniversary in 2008. The Promise debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200, while the box set, The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story, debuted at number 27.