18 Tracks
When Bruce Springsteen delved into the vaults to compileTracks, his 1998 four-CD set of outtakes, B-sides, and rarities, it was a watershed for the Boss's longtime fans. There were a couple of notable omissions, though, including "The Fever" (covered most famously bySouthside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes) and "The Promise," a longtime fan favorite that's never been included on any official Springsteen release. Those cuts appear at last on this single-disc distillation of the box set that's satisfying for casual fans not willing to shell out for the whole thing but essential for hardcore Springsteen followers needing those cuts to complete their collection. One caveat: "The Promise" is a newly recorded acoustic version, not the oft-bootlegged take fans had hoped for. There's a nice selection of cuts from the box, though, and yet another bonus track, "Trouble River," a hard-hitting outtake from theHuman Touchsessions.--Daniel Durchholz