The Promise - The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story (Digipak)

Bruce Springsteen's 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' was his first bold step away from commercialism after the massive success of 'Born to Run' and showed him more concerned with artistic integrity than shifting units. This double album consists of songs which were recorded during the 'Darkness' sessions and which were slated for release on a follow-up album that in the end never saw the light of day - until now. On it, Springsteen's dark lyricism is in full flow; these songs sound like a fully realized album, and not just a collection of outtakes.

"'Darkness' was my 'samurai' record," Springsteen writes, "stripped to the frame and ready to rumble. But the music that got left behind was substantial." For the first time, fans have access to two discs containing a total of 21 previously-unreleased songs from the 'Darkness' recording sessions, songs that, as Springsteen writes, "perhaps could have/should have been released after 'Born To Run' and before the collection of songs that 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' became."

Highlights include the extraordinary rock version of "Racing in the Street," the never-before-released original recordings of "Because the Night," "Fire," and "Rendezvous," the supreme pop opus "Someday (We'll Be Together)," the hilarious "Ain't Good Enough for You," the superb soul-based vocal performance on "The Brokenhearted," the haunting "Breakaway," and the fully orchestrated masterpiece and title song "The Promise."

All 21 songs have been mixed by Springsteen's long-time collaborator Bob Clearmountain.