Bruce Springsteen has debuted a lyric video for his recently released song “Rain in the River,” the first advance track made available from the Boss’ forthcoming archival box set, Tracks II: The Lost Albums. As previously reported, the expansive collection, which features seven previously unheard full-length albums, will be released on June 27.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Rain in the River” appears on Perfect World, the seventh and final album featured on Tracks II. According to a post on Bruce’s social media pages, the song is the “biggest rocker on Perfect World, [and] dates from the waning days of 1994 when Bruce was still working on Streets of Philadelphia Sessions.” Streets of Philadelphia Sessions, incidentally, is another album featured in the box set.
“Rain in the River” is an epic-sounding mid-tempo rock tune that incorporates elements of modern rock, Americana, and even traditional Irish music. The social-media message includes a quote about the tune from Springsteen: “I was looking for someplace else to go musically.”
“Rain in the River” is basically a murder ballad. It features ominous lyrics sung from the perspective of a man who apparently kills his lover after she tells him she doesn’t share his feelings for her.
The cinematic, black-and-white video combines bird’s-eye footage of a car driving down a desert road, with dreamy scenes of an ethereal woman and close-up shots of a pensive-looking Springsteen. You can check out the clip on YouTube.
More About the Tracks II Box Set
Tracks II: The Lost Albums features recordings spanning from 1983 through 2018.
The box set, which can be pre-ordered now, is available as a limited-edition nine-LP set, a seven-CD collection, and via digital formats. Each of the seven albums will feature its own distinct packaging. The physical versions of the box set also will include a 100-page cloth-bound, hardcover book. The book includes rare photos, liner notes on each album by essayist Erik Flannigan, and an introduction penned by Springsteen.
Tracks II features more than 80 songs in all, 74 of which have never been heard before.
The seven albums are titled LA Garage Sessions ’83, Streets of Philadelphia Sessions, Faithless, Somewhere North of Nashville, Inyo, Twilight Hours, and Perfect World.
“The Lost Albums were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released,” Springsteen said in a statement. “I’ve played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I’m glad you’ll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them.”
A companion album to the box set, titled Lost and Found: Selections from The Lost Albums, also will be released June 27. The 20-song collection will be available on CD and as a two-LP set.
For more information about Tracks II, visit LostAlbums.net.
Springsteen’s Upcoming Tour Plans
Meanwhile, as previously reported, Springsteen will be touring in 2025 with the E Street Band.
Bruce and company’s confirmed 2025 itinerary features 16 shows in Europe. The trek kicks off May 14 in Manchester, U.K., and is mapped out through a July 3 show in Milan, Italy.
The tour includes makeup dates for several concerts that were postponed in 2024, when Bruce was experiencing some vocal trouble. Multiple shows are scheduled in Manchester; Milan; Lille, France; Liverpool, U.K.; and San Sebastian, Spain.
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