Bruce Springsteen – Chapter and Verse (Columbia Records, 2016)
Bruce Springsteen’s Chapter and Verse is the companion album to the rock star’s newly released memoir, Born to Run. The album features five unreleased gems from Springsteen’s early days — two of which were recorded in 1966 and 1967 with his teenage garage band, The Castiles. The rugged nature of the recordings makes his voice hard to recognize at first, but as we dive into “The Ballad of Jesse James,” with The Bruce Springsteen Band, his impeccable storytelling skills bubble to the surface. Springsteen also handpicked several classics, like “Born to Run” and “Born in the U.S.A.,” which highlight pivotal moments in his music career. Chapter and Verse is not to be mistaken for a greatest hits compilation album—rather, each song tells a part of Springsteen’s life story, showcasing his development as a musician and songwriter from 1966 up until 2012, with “Wrecking Ball.” He is aurally telling you the story of his life.
Trial Track: “The Ballad of Jesse James”
8/10
