There is a new Springsteen box set out, Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition, which includes a long-rumoured Electric Nebraska set, from sessions when Springsteen tried to capture the songs with members of the E Street Band. It is very revealing, because as thrilling as it is to hear these rockabilly-style recordings, the joyous energy between the musicians forsakes the mood of emotional stress that makes Nebraska so compelling. It is further proof that Springsteen made the right decision sticking with what were, by professional standards, some very flawed demos when he released the original album.
Listening to him talk at an intimate event in London this week, I was also powerfully reminded that the reason his work has risen to the status it has, and lasted so long, is that Springsteen’s oeuvre covers very wide ground indeed. He was talking about his legendary shows being “a combination of a circus, dance party, political rally, go-to-church-Sunday-morning spiritual revival”.
It really resonated with me when Springsteen said: “It’s not a fantasy world. It’s a credible world. And in it are all of the wonderful things and many of the very terrible parts of life, you know. But at the end of the day, it’s a world where you learn to sustain yourself and to survive in. And hopefully there’s also an element of transcendence that my audience leaves the concert hall with, and hopefully it stays with them for as long as they need it, you know. And that’s really my job.”
Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition is out October 17 via Sony Music. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is in cinemas from Friday
