This is the best Springsteen compilation available at present and the best starting point for anyone looking to get into the American legend's four-decade body of work.
Compared with the original Essential collection released in 2003, this set is bang up to date as of 2015, containing material from his 1973 debut album Greeting from Asbury Park right through to 2014's High Hopes. Disc 1, I think the first six track choices are spot on. I feel like the original collection filled up too much space with tracks from Asbury Park - 'Growin' Up' is all you need to include and is a perfect start to the career journey. Dropping 'Jungleland' was a good move because, while undeniably a classic, again it took up too much space on a set which needs to cover over 40 years of music in just two discs. The rest of the disc contains strong selections with The River particularly being represented much better thanks to the cutting back on earlier material.
Disc 2 and the first half of this disc, which covers Springsteen's non-E Street Band period from the late 80s and 90s, really compliments and showcases some of Springsteen's best work from this underrated period - particularly his more reflective and soulful ballads. 'Tougher than the Rest' was a song I always wished they'd included on the original collection and now here it is as the opening track. 'Human Touch' is still here, albeit the cut-down version used in 1995's Greatest Hits. Lucky Town is much better represented with 'Better Days' and one of my favourite Springsteen ballads 'If I Should Fall Behind.' The only track that lets this section down for me is 'Murder Incorporated'. A fine track, recorded in 1982 with the E-Street Band and mixed and released on Greatest Hits, however it is very much cut from the same rock as much of the material on Disc 1. I would have preferred 'Blood Brothers', not only because I prefer it, but also because the more reflective tone of the song speaks a lot more of where Springsteen and his band were at the time, which is what a chronological career-spanning overview like this should be about. Magic and Wrecking Ball are under-represented and I think they should have included more from each instead of 'Long Time Comin'' and 'My Lucky Day.'
But, niggles aside, at 37 tracks instead of the mere 30 on the original collection, this is a comprehensive and worthwhile investment for both fan and newcomer alike.
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