The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story box set
A box set reissue, entitled The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story, was released on November 16, 2010. The six-disc set includes three CDs and three DVD or Blu-ray discs. This contains a remastered version of the Darkness on the Edge of Town album, a new two-CD album, The Promise containing 21 previously unreleased outtakes from the Darkness sessions, a documentary titled The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town and 2 DVDs of live performances. The deluxe box set contains an 80 page spiral-bound reproduction of Springsteen’s original notebooks documenting the recording sessions for the album, containing alternate lyrics, song ideas, recording details and personal notes.
The box set was in production for several years, and was originally expected to be released for the 30th anniversary in 2008. On August 4, 2010 it was announced[by whom?] that Springsteen was putting the finishing touches to the box set. The documentary received its première on September 14, 2010 at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Promise album is also available separately.
The box set was nominated for, and won, a 2012 Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.
Darkness on the Edge of Town is the fourth album by Bruce Springsteen, released in the late spring of 1978. The album marked the end of a three-year gap between albums brought on by contractual obligations and legal battling with former manager Mike APPel. Although the album did not produce high charting singles it nevertheless remained on the charts for 97 weeks. A steady seller in Springsteen’s catalogue, it has been certified triple-platinum by the RIAA.
Although slightly less enthusiastic than for Springsteen’s previous album Born to Run, reviews for Darkness on the Edge of Town were unanimously positive. Critics notably praised the maturity of the album’s themes and lyrics. It remains one of Springsteen’s most highly regarded records by both fans and critics and several of its songs have become staples of the singer’s live performances.
In September 2010 a documentary film chronicling the making of Darkness was first shown at the Toronto International Film Festival. Quoting Springsteen as saying “More than rich, more than famous, more than happy – I wanted to be great”, reviewer Stephen Whitty of the Newark Star-Ledger commented: “For many fans, that long journey pulled onto the Turnpike here.” Rolling Stone Magazine ranked it at 150 on their list of the greatest albums of all time.
Track listing:
BLU-RAY 1 – The Promise: The Making of “Darkness on the Edge of Town”
A documentary directed by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny. The ninety-minute film combines never-before-seen footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band shot between 1976 and 1978—including home rehearsals and studio sessions—with new interviews with Springsteen, E Street Band members, manager Jon Landau, former-manager Mike Appel, and others closely involved in the making of the record. An edited version of the documentary was broadcast by the BBC.
BLU-RAY 2 – “Darkness on the Edge of Town”: Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park & Thrill Hill Vault: 1976–1978
An intimate and complete album performance of “Darkness on the Edge of Town” at Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, New Jersey, shot in 2009. Never-before seen archival footage from the Thrill Hill Vault including complete song performances taken from private band rehearsals, studio sessions, and live concerts during the “Darkness” era.
01.Badlands
02.Adam Raised a Cain
03.Something in the Night
04.Candy’s Room
05.Racing in the Street
06.The Promised Land
07.Factory
08.Streets of Fire
09.Prove It All Night
10.Darkness on the Edge of Town
Thrill Hill Vault (1976–1978)
01.Save My Love (Holmdel, NJ – ’76)
02.Candy’s Boy (Holmdel, NJ – ’76)
03.Something in the Night (Red Bank, NJ – ’76)
04.Don’t Look Back (NYC – ’78)
05.Ain’t Good Enough for You (NYC – ’78)
06.The Promise (NYC – ’78)
07.Candy’s Room Demo (NYC – ’78)
08.Badlands (Phoenix – ’78)
09.The Promised Land (Phoenix – ’78)
10.Prove It All Night (Phoenix – ’78)
11.Born to Run (Phoenix – ’78)
12.Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) (Phoenix – ’78)
BLU-RAY 3 – Houston ’78 Bootleg: House Cut
Previously unreleased complete concert performance from the Darkness on the Edge of Town Tour.
01.Badlands
02.Streets of Fire
03.It’s Hard to Be a Saint in the City
04.Darkness on the Edge of Town
05.Spirit in the Night
06.Independence Day
07.The Promised Land
08.Prove It All Night
09.Racing in the Street
10.Thunder Road
11.Jungleland
12.The Ties That Bind
13.Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
14.The Fever
15.Fire
16.Candy’s Room
17.Because the Night
18.Point Blank
19.She’s the One
20.Backstreets
21.Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
22.Born to Run
23.Detroit Medley
24.Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
25.You Can’t Sit Down
26.Quarter to Three
Personnel
The E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen – lead vocals, lead guitar, harmonica
Roy Bittan – piano, vocals
Clarence Clemons – saxophone, vocals
Danny Federici – organ, glockenspiel
Garry Tallent – bass guitar
Steve Van Zandt – rhythm guitar, vocals
Max Weinberg – drums
Production
Produced by Jon Landau & Bruce Springsteen
Steve Van Zandt – production assistance
Jimmy Iovine – engineer, mixing
Thom Panunzio – assistant engineer
Chuck Plotkin – mixing
Mike Reese – mastering
Frank Stefanko – photography