The Promise (Bruce Springsteen album) explained

The Promise
Type:compilation
Artist:Bruce Springsteen
Cover:Bruce Springsteen - The Promise.jpg
Border:yes
Recorded:1977–1978, 2010
Genre:
Length:88:05
Label:Columbia
Producer:Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau
Prev Title:Working on a Dream
Prev Year:2009
Next Title:Wrecking Ball
Next Year:2012

The Promise is a compilation album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released November 16, 2010, on Columbia Records.[1] The album is a collection of previously unreleased songs which were recorded during the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions in 1977–1978, with some vocals and additional instrumentation overdubs recorded in 2010. It was released in 2CD and 3LP formats. The album is also available as part of the box set .[2] [3] The two-CD version of the release entered the UK Albums Chart at number 7.[4] It had been in production for many years and was originally scheduled to be released for the 30th anniversary in 2008. The Promise debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200, while the box set, The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story, debuted at number 27.[5]

The album features one of the last appearances of Clarence Clemons before his death in June 2011. Clemons is featured on the song "Save My Love", which was the only song on the album completely re-recorded by Springsteen and the E Street Band for the project.

Promotion

On November 16, 2010, Springsteen performed "Because the Night" and "Save My Love" with Steven Van Zandt, Roy Bittan and the Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (along with a cover of Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" with Fallon posing as Neil Young).[6] Songs from the album were performed during Springsteen's Wrecking Ball Tour in 2012–2013.

Critical reception

Upon its release, The Promise received acclaim from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 94, based on 17 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".

Allmusic gave it four and a half stars; they stated that, "The Promise stands on its own as a great Bruce Springsteen record; it feels finished, focused, and, above all, offers more proof that Springsteen is one of the greatest rock and pop songwriters" although stating that "The Promise" was the only track that might have added something to the original Darkness on the Edge of Town album. BBC Music had a favorable review and stated "The Promise is as compelling an advert for the Boss’s beautiful, blue-collar soul as you’re likely to find outside of the hits; an indispensable portrait of an artist at the top of his game."

Commercial performance

The Promise debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200. While not selling as well as his previous studio albums on the American charts, the set did well on the European charts (with first week worldwide sales of over 187,000 units), opening at No. 1 in Germany, Spain, and Norway. It also charted at No. 4 in The Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland, No. 5 in Austria, No. 7 in the United Kingdom and No. 9 in Switzerland.[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Bruce Springsteen, except where noted.

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes:

Technical

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2010–2011)! scope="col"
Peak
position
European Albums (Billboard)[8] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2010)! scope="col"
Position
French Albums (SNEP)[9] 137
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] 46
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[11] 39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 7
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 106
Chart (2011)! scope="col"
Position
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 50
US Billboard 200[15] 200
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[16] 38

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Promise [Doppel-CD] ]. Amazon.de. November 12, 2010 . de. November 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101120050727/http://www.amazon.de/Promise-Bruce-Springsteen/dp/B0040JHWKS. live.
  2. Web site: Columbia Records to release Bruce Springsteen's 'The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story' Nov. 16 . www.brucespringsteen.net . September 7, 2010 . dead . https://archive.today/20121205061313/http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2002/0417/Front_page/003.html . December 5, 2012.
  3. Springsteen Announces Massive 'Darkness' Set . https://web.archive.org/web/20100828131213/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/195179. dead. August 28, 2010 . Rolling Stone. September 7, 2010 . August 26, 2010.
  4. Web site: Official UK Albums Top 100 . Official Charts Company. November 21, 2010 . November 21, 2010. February 22, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120222024723/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/albums-chart/. live.
  5. Web site: 'The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story' Is Fastest Selling Box Set Of 2010. December 5, 2010. December 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111202021257/http://shorefire.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=4476. live.
  6. Bruce Springsteen Rocks 'Fallon' with 'Promise' Tracks, 'Whip My Hair' . Billboard. March 25, 2013. October 16, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016061139/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/950759/bruce-springsteen-rocks-fallon-with-promise-tracks-whip-my-hair. live.
  7. Rihanna Scores Euro Albums, Singles Chart Double . Billboard.com . September 14, 2009 . June 2, 2012 . January 31, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131190311/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/950271/rihanna-scores-euro-albums-singles-chart-double . live.
  8. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-albums?tag=relcharts
  9. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2010 . SNEP . fr. September 19, 2021. October 6, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006091929/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-albums-annee/?annee=2010. live.
  10. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts . de . . offiziellecharts.de. September 19, 2021. March 13, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313074837/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-2010. live.
  11. Web site: Top 50 Albumes 2010 . Promusicae.es . July 7, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110703120956/http://promusicae.es/files/listasanuales/albumes/Top%2050%20ALBUMES%202010%20%28PUBLICAR%29.pdf . July 3, 2011.
  12. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2010 . Sverigetopplistan . sv. September 19, 2021. October 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201016195344/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/83?dspy=2010&dspp=1. live.
  13. Web site: End of Year 2010 . UKChartsPlus. September 19, 2021. October 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004202030/http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/UKChartsPlusEOY2010.pdf. live.
  14. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2011 . Sverigetopplistan . sv. September 19, 2021. April 13, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130413131857/http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=83&dfom=20110001&navi=no. live.
  15. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011 . Billboard. September 19, 2021. February 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201161647/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-billboard-200-albums. live.
  16. Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2011 . Billboard. September 19, 2021. November 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191112211236/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-rock-albums. live.

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