The Promise (compilation album) by Bruce Springsteen

The promise, could be called, lightness on the edge of town. Consisting of tracks recorded at the sessions for, darkness on the edge of town, you can see why these tracks didn't make it on to the final album, they're too light, throwaway even. Some tracks though, are superb. I find the version of, racing in the street, superior to the one on, darkness, although I do concede that the one that did end up on that LP, is the correct decision, the version here wouldn't have felt right. Elsewhere there are finally studio version's of, because the night, and, fire. There are a lot of songs that are earlier incarnations of later tracks, featuring lyrics that were later to be found on other songs. There are some fun songs in, I gotta get that feeling, and, rendezvous. Some people on this website seem to think that these songs are 'rejects', they are not 'rejects', they are songs that weren't right for, darkness, Springsteen wanted to make a moody album, so most of these songs wouldn't have felt or sounded right, that's why they were left off, they are certainly not 'rejects'. Having said that at least one of those tracks should have replaced the weak, factory, which is the one song that lets, darkness, down. Either way, all in all, the promise, is another piece of the, darkness, puzzle, but it's also an album in it's own right.

I'm not a fan of late-'70s Springsteen, but I like some of this better than what landed on the albums of that era.

From jhuik 12/22/2012 03:27

Considering that these are by and large rejects you have to say (as so often), wow, what an artist.

It is a strong album but a few songs should not hev been sung by Bruce. Even if he wants to sing like Roy Orbison he can´t sing Someday. A pity that my favourite cut of the song The Promise isn´t here.

This album should be much higher on the Bruce Springsteen list!!! Much Much Much higher! This album is pretty good especially for a B-sides album.

Very good album, especially when you consider these were the scraps that did not get their own album in the 70s.

Not the best thing in the world on first listen but I have a strong feeling this album will take a lot of time. It is probably full of gems that need more than one listen. Have my copy ready for further listen.