Listen To Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Repo Man’ From Box Set

Bruce Springsteen is once again making waves in the music world with the release of “Repo Man,” a never-before-heard track from his 1995 country album Somewhere North of Nashville. This song is part of the eagerly anticipated Tracks II: The Lost Albums, a collection set to unveil on June 27, 2025. This anthology contains seven previously unreleased albums, showcasing different phases and styles of Springsteen’s illustrious career. Somewhere North of Nashville, a product of the mid-’90s, was recorded simultaneously with The Ghost of Tom Joad, yet it remains distinct in its genre. While The Ghost of Tom Joad delves into socially conscious themes with a largely acoustic sound, Somewhere North of Nashville demonstrates Springsteen’s flair for uptempo country and rockabilly, a style shift that Springsteen enthusiasts eagerly await.

“Repo Man” stands out with its raw energy and honky-tonk influence, a departure from Springsteen’s typical rock roots. The song features contributions from his trusted band members—Danny Federici on organ, Garry Tallent on bass, and Gary Mallaber on drums, with Marty Rifkin on pedal steel and Soozie Tyrell on fiddle. Recorded live in the studio, this track revisits Springsteen’s spontaneity and love for unfiltered sound, reminiscent of the sessions he held with the E Street Band for Born in the USA. The creation of Somewhere North of Nashville happened alongside The Ghost of Tom Joad during a prolific period for Springsteen. Both albums were seeded during overlapping sessions that fused social narratives with an underlying country streak yet explored vastly different sonic terrains.

Interest in Tracks II has been further fueled by Springsteen’s comments on the collection, emphasizing the complete nature of these recordings. Many tracks in this collection, including “Stand On It” and “Janey Don’t You Lose Heart,” date back to previously celebrated projects like Born in the USA, making them sought-after by fans eager to delve deeper into Springsteen’s creative process. According to Springsteen, these lost albums were held close, shared only among friends, showcasing the personal nature of these tracks. They illustrate Springsteen’s broad musical scope and the unending journeys his music has traversed over the decades.

Aside from Somewhere North of Nashville, Tracks II: The Lost Albums promises a diverse array of music from different eras of Springsteen’s career. It includes the L.A. Garage Sessions from 1983, the Streets of Philadelphia Sessions, and Inyo, a body of work documented during his Ghost of Tom Joad promotional tours in the mid-’90s. Furthermore, the box set offers a glimpse into Springsteen’s narrative depth in compilations like Perfect World, a collaboration with Joe Grushecky, and Faithless, a score from an unmade film. Not one to rest on historical laurels, Springsteen also includes more recent works in Twilight Hours, a companion to his 2018 Western Stars album.

Springsteen’s release comes as he is set to tour once more with the E Street Band across Europe, beginning in Manchester, England. This tour dovetails with Tracks II’s release, offering both new and returning fans an opportunity to experience Springsteen’s breadth of work live. As audiences settle into another summer filled with the timeless echoes of “The Boss,” tracks like “Repo Man” affirm the vast, untapped reservoir of Springsteen’s musical endeavors, promising a summer soundtrack infused with vintage flair and unreleased vibrancy. This release adds to the legacy of Springsteen’s adaptability and ever-evolving artistry, showing that even decades-old creations carry the timeless vigor and spirit that define his music.