Track Listing

1. Growin' Up
2. Seaside Bar Song
3. Rendezvous
4. Hearts Of Stone
5. Where The Bands Are
6. Loose Ends
7. I Wanna Be With You
8. Born In The USA
9. My Love Will Not Let You Down
10. Lion's Den
11. Pink Cadillac
12. Janey Don't You Lose Heart
13. Sad Eyes
14. Part Man Part Monkey
15. Trouble River
16. Brothers Under The Bridge
17. Fever
18. Promise

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24195 in Music
• Released on: 2001-08-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
When Bruce Springsteen delved into the vaults to compile Tracks, his 1998 four-CD set of outtakes, B-sides, and rarities, it was a watershed for the Boss's long-time fans. There were a couple of notable omissions, though, including "The Fever" (covered most famously by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes) and "The Promise", a long-time fan favourite 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 the Human Touch sessions. --Daniel Durchholz

CD Description
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".

Customer Reviews

A quality rarities album!
Most "rarity" albums seem to be made up of songs not good enough to make proper albums. Not so this one. The quality is extremely high as might be expected from Springsteen. There are many stand out tracks - Sad Eyes and Brothers Under The Bridge in particular. Most interesting of all is a 1982 version of Born In The USA which better reflects the songs grim lyrics of post Vietnam USA than the more familiar version. This album will not convert anyone who is not already a Springsteen fan but there is plenty to keep the followers happy.

18 Tracks
It is rare for an artists outtakes and demos to rival their recorded work, but in 18 Tracks you have exactly that. This is a great selection of some of the tracks from the main boxset and is fairly representative of what you are likely to expect. It is good album in it's own right and perfect for when you haven't got time for the whole boxset. The last three tracks do not feature on the original set so there is some incentive for die-hard fans to buy this as well, and 'The Promise' is one of my all time Springsteen favourites. Any of these tracks could of featured on an album. There are acoustic demos, full band rave ups and up to date outtakes. Bruce could always write a brilliant song, but these hidden tracks demonstrate just how prolific and constant his ability is. Worth every penny.

Back Tracking
I avoided this album for a long time because I thought it was merely b-sides and cast offs from the main albums but I recently found it at a bargain price and had to indulge. Wow was I wrong! This is so much more than just leftovers, cold turkey. It's more like an alternative greatest hits with songs I never knew but love more than the bigger hits. This album has got a bit of everything - rockers "I wanna be where the bands are", ballads "sad eyes", groovers "the fever", acoustic "born in the usa", 80's keyboard wonders "janey don't you lose heart", sadness "brothers under the bridge", love gone wrong "loose ends", live action "rendezvous", early youthful gem "growin' up". In short it's full of unknown wonders that must be heard!