Product Description:
Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar); Stevie Van Zandt (guitar); Marty Rifkin (pedal steel guitar, dobro); Soozie Tyrell (violin); Danny Federici (accordion, keyboards, organ, glockenspiel); Mario Cruz, Jerry Vivino (tenor saxophone); Ed Manion (baritone saxophone); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, percussion, background vocals); Mike Spengler, Mark Pender (trumpet); Richie Rosenberg (trombone); David Sancious (piano, organ. keyboards); Roy Bittan (piano, keyboards); Randy Jackson, Gary Tallent (bass); Omar Hakim, Jeff Porcaro, Max Weinberg, Gary Mallaber, Vini Lopez (drums); Michael Fisher (percussion); Nils Lofgren (background vocals).
Producers include: John Hammond, Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau.
Engineers include: Phil Giambalvo, Louis Lehav, Toby Scott.
Includes liner notes by Bruce Springsteen.
All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology.
"The Promise" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Best Rock Song.
This single-disc sampler was put together in deference to Springsteen fans unprepared to shell out the cash for the TRACKS box set. It features many of the key tracks from the box, illuminating the Boss's career beyond the official album cuts. From the infectious, good-humored "Part Man, Part Monkey" to the rock & roll anthem "Where the Bands Are" and the chilling acoustic version of "Born in the U.S.A," 18 TRACKS is Springsteen at his best. The prolific songwriter has always come up with way too much material for whatever album he was working on, and the cuts left over are never less than top-notch. Thus, 18 TRACKS (not to mention its parent box set) is no collection of cast-offs. Rather, it's an alternate, equally compelling history of the quintessential American rock & roller. As an added inducement, there are bonus tracks here that don't appear on the box, included the beloved "The Promise" and "The Fever."
Entertainment Reviews:
Q - 10/01, p.152
3 stars out of 5 - "...Evidence that Springsteen simply didn't always know his own strengths..."
Melody Maker - 4/24/99, p.38
4 stars out of 5 - "...the acoustic stuff here looks fondly on Damien Jurado and Elliott Smith and knows its work is done. Be unafraid."
