LETTER TO YOU – THE NEW STUDIO ALBUM
It becomes particularly thrilling for all rock fans when the Boss releases a new album after having a long break from publishing. Shortly before his 70th birthday, he ended his five-year break in June 2019 with the worldwide number one album “Western Stars.” Now “Letter To You” brings the Boss back on stage: Bruce Springsteen.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ROCKS IN HIS HOME STUDIO IN NEW JERSEY
Many thousands of people around the world were tied to their home office this year. Bruce Springsteen also recorded the new album in his home studio in his hometown New Jersey. The down-to-earth superstar stayed loyal to this small state on the east coast all his life. The twelve-song long-player is the 20th studio album of his career. Bruce Springsteen was again supported by the E Street Band, of which he has been the bandleader for almost 50 years.
“Letter to You” is Springsteen’s first performance together with the E Street Band since the “The River” tour in 2016, which was named a “Top Global Tour” by Billboard and Pollstar. The musicians included Roy Bittan, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa, Garry Tallent, Stevie Van Zandt, Max Weinberg, Charlie Giordano, and Jake Clemons.
“I love the emotionality of ‘Letter To You’. And I love the sound of the E Street Band playing completely live in the studio, as we’ve never done before, without overdubs. We recorded the album in just five days. Thereby, it turned out to be one of the greatest recording experiences I’ve ever had.”
LETTER TO YOU CONSISTS UNRELEASED BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN SONGS
“Letter To You” contains nine new Springsteen songs, plus new recordings of three legendary but previously unreleased compositions from the 1970s: “Janey Needs A Shooter”, “If I Was The Priest” and “Song For Orphans”.
The album was produced by Ron Aniello together with Bruce Springsteen and mixed by Bob Clearmountain, the mastering was done by Bob Ludwig.
A CHERRY ON THE CAKE OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S CAREER
Bruce Springsteen’s career as a recording artist spans nearly 50 years. It began with the 1973 album “Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ”.
Springsteen has received twenty Grammys, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. He was also inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. Bruce Springsteen received an award from the Kennedy Center and was named “Person of the Year” by MusiCares in 2013.
Springsteen’s memoir “Born To Run” (Simon & Schuster, in Germany by Heyne/Random House) and his companion album “Chapter And Verse” were published in September 2016. In November of the same year, the Boss was awarded the “Presidential Medal of Freedom”.
His historic series of 236 “Springsteen On Broadway” shows at the Walter Kerr Theater between October 2017 and December 2018 resulted in an accompanying soundtrack album and a Netflix special.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’ LETTER TO YOU DOCUMENTARY ON APPLE TV+
Now, in connection with “Letter To You”, Bruce Springsteen fans around the world can get a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic artist’s creative process. The documentary feature film, “Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You,” from Apple Original Films, is exclusively available on Apple TV+.
The feature-length verité documentary features full performances from The E Street Band, in-studio footage, and never-before-seen archival material. Furthermore, it provides a deeper look into “Letter To You” from Springsteen himself.
Throughout the documentary, Springsteen shares his thoughts and feelings behind Letter To You and puts the new music into the context of his entire body of work.
In that way, it’s the next piece in the autobiographical series that began with the memoir Born To Run, continued with “Springsteen on Broadway”. His film “Western Stars advanced it.”
Written by Bruce Springsteen and again directed by his frequent collaborator Thom Zimny (“Western Stars,” “The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash,” “Springsteen on Broadway”), the film is a tribute to the E Street Band, to rock music itself and to the role it has played in Springsteen’s life.
Apple Original Films’ “Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You” is produced by Jon Landau and Zimny and co-produced by Barbara Carr, with Springsteen serving as executive producer.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ANNOUNCES JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS AS “PERSON OF THE YEAR”
In addition to his musical work, Bruce Springsteen is also very politically active. Just recently, on December 10th, 2020, he announced the winners of this year’s “Person of the Year” election on behalf of the well-known TIME Magazine.
Of course, this year’s winners are Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.
Finally, at the end of this memorable year, which has certainly also changed the lives of many people long term, we have to say thank you, Bruce Springsteen. Thank you for the music you gave us. Thank you for the experiences and feelings associated with it. And thank you for a special concert that has had a decisive impact on the world.
Springsteen had already supported both during the election campaign. Now, they have a great responsibility. People all over the world look at these two personalities. They all share the hope that Biden and Harris will manage to change the USA and the world for the better.
Pictures: © Sony Music
Text: Marco Kokkot
