Bruce Springsteen is offering fans a rare glimpse into a long-shelved chapter of his career with the release of “Blind Spot,” the first track from his never-before-heard ‘Streets of Philadelphia Sessions.' The full album will be released as part of ‘Tracks II: The Lost Albums' a new collection featuring seven complete albums that have never seen the light of day. The compilation arrives June 27 via Sony Music. Pre-orders right here.
Recorded in the wake of his Oscar-winning hit Streets of Philadelphia, the sessions found Springsteen diving into the sounds of mid-1990s contemporary music and drawing inspiration from West Coast hip-hop. Working with engineer Toby Scott, he created drum loops at his Los Angeles home, layering them with keyboards and synthesisers. The result is a bold departure from Springsteen’s traditional sound, with the artist himself handling most of the instrumentation. Contributions from Patti Scialfa, Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell, and members of his 1992–1993 touring band also appear throughout the record.
At the emotional core of ‘Streets of Philadelphia Sessions' is ‘Blind Spot,' a track that grapples with themes of betrayal and doubt in relationships. “That was just the theme that I locked in on at that moment,” Springsteen said. “I don’t really know why. Patti and I, we were having a great time in California. But sometimes if you lock into one song you like, then you follow that thread.” That thread became the foundation for the rest of the album.
Though the album was fully completed and mixed for a planned spring 1995 release, Springsteen ultimately shelved it in favor of reuniting with the E Street Band for the first time in seven years. “I always really liked Streets of Philadelphia Sessions,” he shared. “During the Broadway show, I thought of putting it out. I always put them away, but I don’t throw them away.” Fans in the UK will also have the chance to see Springsteen live this May and June during his upcoming tour dates.
