(Columbia)

Some songwriters struggle to fill a CD, while prolific artists like Bob Dylan or Elvis Costello usually face the dilemma of what to leave out. Likewise Bruce Springsteen.

Back in 1978, after three years of litigation in the wake of his breakthrough album ‘Born To Run’, he had already recorded about 40 songs but just 10 appeared on ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’.

Of the rest, 20 remastered originals are included on this two-CD version of ‘The Promise’ (plus an alternate of ‘Racing In The Street’).

To listen to previews of tracks from this album, press the play button

But Springsteen maintains that, “rather than being a record of outtakes’’ this new release should be regarded as “a separate double album that stands on its own as a piece of work”.

Among the “shelved’’ songs, ‘Because The Night’, was a hit for its co-writer Patti Smith, the Pointer Sisters’ cover of ‘Fire’ had even greater success and both compositions became Springsteen concert staples.

If ‘The Promise’ occasionally echoes the mood of ‘Darkness’, it’s predominantly a celebration of rock greats such as Roy Orbison, Phil Spector’s production and the doo-wop era.

Standouts include ‘Rendezvous’ and ‘Someday (We’ll Be Together)’.

Perhaps not quite a classic Springsteen album, but pretty damn good by anyone else’s standards.

– Mike Daly