Devils & Dust
Encyclopedia
Devils & Dust is the 13th studio album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen
, and his third folk album (after Nebraska
and The Ghost of Tom Joad
). It was released on April 25, 2005 in Europe and on April 26 in the US. It debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200
album chart.
Springsteen wrote the song "All The Way Home" for Southside Johnny
to use in his album Better Days
which was released in 1991. The songs "Long Time Comin'" and "The Hitter" were written and performed during Springsteen's solo Ghost of Tom Joad Tour
in 1996. "Devils & Dust
" is also known to have been written previously, and was featured in soundcheck
s during The Rising Tour
beginning in the summer of 2003 and the following year during the Vote for Change
Tour in late 2004. (Springsteen had "Devils & Dust" on his set list
for at least one Vote for Change show, but at the last moment decided to perform a 12 string guitar rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner", which he would later release for free through his official website).
one who had participated in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
or the subsequent occupation. It could also relate to a Western setting in some way. Most of the songs are about souls in turmoil. Much of the imagery is taken from the American West as Springsteen had previously done in his The Ghost of Tom Joad
album, as well as Nebraska
. This album also deals with the relationship between mothers and children, which marked a departure for Springsteen, who'd previously written frequently about his relationship with his father, but little about his mother.
The songs "Reno" and "Long Time Comin'" came as a surprise to many listeners. "Reno" describes in graphic detail a sexual encounter
with a prostitute, while "Long Time Comin'" has the word "fuck" in the lyrics. Springsteen explained the two songs by revealing that "Reno" was about a man so in love with his lost wife that his desperation could not be vanquished even by a prostitute ("It wasn't the best I ever had / not even close") and that the expletive in "Long Time Comin'" was not negative but, in fact, a positive affirmation ("I ain't gonna fuck it up this time," referring to raising his new child).
The closing song, "Matamoros Banks", is told in backwards time and explores the thoughts of a dying immigrant crossing the border from Mexico
. It seems to continue a story first told in "Across the Border" in The Ghost of Tom Joad.
. The next day it was released for purchase on the iTunes
music store.
The disc was also released in the DualDisc
format. This puts the regular album on one side of the disc, and special content, like 5.1 surround sound
and videos on the other side of the disc in DVD
format. The DVD side of the disk features Springsteen performing and commenting on the writing/creation of "Devils and Dust", "Long Time Comin'", "Reno", "All I'm Thinkin' About", and "Matamoros Banks". Lyrics to the songs accompany the playing of the Surround Sound portion in a karaoke style.
In Japan this album was released as separate compact disc and DVD video.
The album was also released as a double vinyl record, which omitted the video materials.
The marketing was successful. It granted Springsteen his seventh #1—and fourth #1 debut—on the Billboard album chart
, his second for an album containing only previously unreleased content and his first ever without the E Street Band
. After the initial release period, however, sales quieted down; as of February 2006 it had attained gold but not platinum status in the US, where it has sold 650,000 copies as of November 2008.
Starbucks
had been considered a possible retail outlet for the album, as it had accounted for about a quarter of all sales for the recently successful Ray Charles
's Genius Loves Company
. Starbucks, however, declined to sell copies of Springsteen's new album, sparking some headlines. Starbucks rejected the album not only because of the song "Reno", but because of stances that Springsteen had taken on corporate politics and Springsteen not granting approval for a cobranded disc and promotional deal that prominently featured the Starbucks name. Springsteen's label, Columbia Records, balked when the idea was floated, citing the blue-collar champion's well-known opposition to merchandising his music.
"There were a number of factors involved...[Lyrics] was one of the factors, but not the only reason," Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, told Reuters
.
Springsteen's solo Devils & Dust Tour
commenced with the release of the album.
nominations for this work, three for the song "Devils & Dust", Song of the Year
, Best Rock Song
, and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
, and two for the album as a whole, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video. His sole award
came for Best Solo Rock Vocal, an award he garnered in previous years for "Code of Silence" and "The Rising".
During the February 8, 2006 Grammy telecast, Springsteen gave an impassioned live solo performance of "Devils & Dust", adding on "Bring 'em home" at the finish, then immediately turned and left the stage without staying to receive his partial standing ovation
. His Grammy appearance was somewhat reminiscent of his performance of "My City of Ruins
" during the post-September 11, 2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes
telethon.
The songs are all copyrighted in 2005, except "All the Way Home" the copyright of which dates to 1991.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
, and his third folk album (after Nebraska
Nebraska (album)
-Themes:The album begins with "Nebraska", a first-person narrative based on the true story of 19-year-old spree killer Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, and ends with "Reason to Believe", a complex narrative that renders its title phrase into contemptuous sarcasm...
and The Ghost of Tom Joad
The Ghost of Tom Joad
The Ghost of Tom Joad is the eleventh studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released in 1995 . The album was recorded and mixed at Thrill Hill during the spring and summer of 1995. Musically and lyrically reminiscent of Springsteen's 1982 critically acclaimed album Nebraska, The Ghost of Tom Joad...
). It was released on April 25, 2005 in Europe and on April 26 in the US. It debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart.
Background
Springsteen was very open about the fact that many of the songs from Devils & Dust dated back a decade (or more).Springsteen wrote the song "All The Way Home" for Southside Johnny
Southside Johnny
Southside Johnny is an American singer-songwriter, who usually fronts his band Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes.-Early days:...
to use in his album Better Days
Better Days (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes album)
Better Days is an album by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, released in 1991. It yielded minor hits "It's Been a Long Time" and "I've Been Workin' Too Hard". The song "It's Been a Long Time" features shared lead vocals by Southside Johnny, Steve Van Zandt, and Bruce Springsteen and is a...
which was released in 1991. The songs "Long Time Comin'" and "The Hitter" were written and performed during Springsteen's solo Ghost of Tom Joad Tour
Ghost of Tom Joad Tour
The Ghost of Tom Joad Tour was a lengthy, worldwide concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen performing alone on stage in small halls and theatres, that ran off and on from late 1995 through the middle of 1997. It followed the release of his 1995 album The Ghost of Tom Joad.-Itinerary:The tour...
in 1996. "Devils & Dust
Devils & Dust (song)
"Devils & Dust" is the title track on Bruce Springsteen's thirteenth studio album Devils & Dust, and was released as a single in 2005. Concerning the Iraq War, the song gained critical praise, a Grammy Award for Song of the Year nomination.-History:...
" is also known to have been written previously, and was featured in soundcheck
Soundcheck
A soundcheck is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House" and stage monitor sound...
s during The Rising Tour
The Rising Tour
The Rising Tour was a lengthy, worldwide, top-grossing concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place in arenas and stadiums over 2002 and 2003...
beginning in the summer of 2003 and the following year during the Vote for Change
Vote for Change
The Vote for Change tour was a politically-motivated American popular music concert tour that took place in October 2004. The tour was presented by MoveOn.org to benefit America Coming Together. The tour was held in swing states and was designed to encourage people to register and vote...
Tour in late 2004. (Springsteen had "Devils & Dust" on his set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
for at least one Vote for Change show, but at the last moment decided to perform a 12 string guitar rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner", which he would later release for free through his official website).
Album themes
The title track is about a soldier in a war, assumed to be an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
one who had participated in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
or the subsequent occupation. It could also relate to a Western setting in some way. Most of the songs are about souls in turmoil. Much of the imagery is taken from the American West as Springsteen had previously done in his The Ghost of Tom Joad
The Ghost of Tom Joad
The Ghost of Tom Joad is the eleventh studio album by Bruce Springsteen, released in 1995 . The album was recorded and mixed at Thrill Hill during the spring and summer of 1995. Musically and lyrically reminiscent of Springsteen's 1982 critically acclaimed album Nebraska, The Ghost of Tom Joad...
album, as well as Nebraska
Nebraska (album)
-Themes:The album begins with "Nebraska", a first-person narrative based on the true story of 19-year-old spree killer Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, and ends with "Reason to Believe", a complex narrative that renders its title phrase into contemptuous sarcasm...
. This album also deals with the relationship between mothers and children, which marked a departure for Springsteen, who'd previously written frequently about his relationship with his father, but little about his mother.
The songs "Reno" and "Long Time Comin'" came as a surprise to many listeners. "Reno" describes in graphic detail a sexual encounter
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
with a prostitute, while "Long Time Comin'" has the word "fuck" in the lyrics. Springsteen explained the two songs by revealing that "Reno" was about a man so in love with his lost wife that his desperation could not be vanquished even by a prostitute ("It wasn't the best I ever had / not even close") and that the expletive in "Long Time Comin'" was not negative but, in fact, a positive affirmation ("I ain't gonna fuck it up this time," referring to raising his new child).
The closing song, "Matamoros Banks", is told in backwards time and explores the thoughts of a dying immigrant crossing the border from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It seems to continue a story first told in "Across the Border" in The Ghost of Tom Joad.
Marketing
On March 28, 2005, the title track was featured as an exclusive "first listen" on AOLmusic.comAOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
. The next day it was released for purchase on the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
music store.
The disc was also released in the DualDisc
DualDisc
DualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America...
format. This puts the regular album on one side of the disc, and special content, like 5.1 surround sound
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
and videos on the other side of the disc in DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
format. The DVD side of the disk features Springsteen performing and commenting on the writing/creation of "Devils and Dust", "Long Time Comin'", "Reno", "All I'm Thinkin' About", and "Matamoros Banks". Lyrics to the songs accompany the playing of the Surround Sound portion in a karaoke style.
In Japan this album was released as separate compact disc and DVD video.
The album was also released as a double vinyl record, which omitted the video materials.
The marketing was successful. It granted Springsteen his seventh #1—and fourth #1 debut—on the Billboard album chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, his second for an album containing only previously unreleased content and his first ever without the E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
. After the initial release period, however, sales quieted down; as of February 2006 it had attained gold but not platinum status in the US, where it has sold 650,000 copies as of November 2008.
Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
had been considered a possible retail outlet for the album, as it had accounted for about a quarter of all sales for the recently successful Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
's Genius Loves Company
Genius Loves Company
Genius Loves Company is the final studio album by rhythm and blues and soul musician Ray Charles, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004...
. Starbucks, however, declined to sell copies of Springsteen's new album, sparking some headlines. Starbucks rejected the album not only because of the song "Reno", but because of stances that Springsteen had taken on corporate politics and Springsteen not granting approval for a cobranded disc and promotional deal that prominently featured the Starbucks name. Springsteen's label, Columbia Records, balked when the idea was floated, citing the blue-collar champion's well-known opposition to merchandising his music.
"There were a number of factors involved...[Lyrics] was one of the factors, but not the only reason," Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, told Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
.
Springsteen's solo Devils & Dust Tour
Devils & Dust Tour
The Devils & Dust Tour was a 2005 concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen performing alone on stage on a variety of instruments. It followed the release of his 2005 album Devils & Dust.-Approach:...
commenced with the release of the album.
Awards
Springsteen received five Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations for this work, three for the song "Devils & Dust", Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is one of the four most prestigious awards in the Grammy Awards ceremony, if not in all of the American music industry. It has been awarded since 1959 and unlike the Record of the Year award, which goes to the performer and production team of a single song, Song of the Year...
, Best Rock Song
Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre...
, and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo
The Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre...
, and two for the album as a whole, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video. His sole award
came for Best Solo Rock Vocal, an award he garnered in previous years for "Code of Silence" and "The Rising".
During the February 8, 2006 Grammy telecast, Springsteen gave an impassioned live solo performance of "Devils & Dust", adding on "Bring 'em home" at the finish, then immediately turned and left the stage without staying to receive his partial standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
. His Grammy appearance was somewhat reminiscent of his performance of "My City of Ruins
My City of Ruins
"My City of Ruins" is a 2000 song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, and included on his 2002 album The Rising.-History:The song was written in November 2000, for an Asbury Park, New Jersey Christmas show benefit to help promote the revitalization of the city...
" during the post-September 11, 2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes
America: A Tribute to Heroes
America: A Tribute to Heroes was a benefit concert created by the heads of the four broadcast networks. Joel Gallen was selected by them to produce and run the show Joel Gallen. Actor George Clooney wrangled the celebrities to performed and to man the telephone bank . The marketing and public...
telethon.
Track listing
All songs are written by Bruce Springsteen.- "Devils & DustDevils & Dust (song)"Devils & Dust" is the title track on Bruce Springsteen's thirteenth studio album Devils & Dust, and was released as a single in 2005. Concerning the Iraq War, the song gained critical praise, a Grammy Award for Song of the Year nomination.-History:...
" – 4:58 - "All the Way Home" – 3:38
- "Reno" – 4:08
- "Long Time Comin'" – 4:17
- "Black Cowboys" – 4:08
- "Maria's Bed" – 5:35
- "Silver Palomino" – 3:22
- "Jesus Was an Only Son" – 2:55
- "Leah" – 3:32
- "The Hitter" – 5:53
- "All I'm Thinkin' About" – 4:22
- "Matamoros Banks" – 4:00
The songs are all copyrighted in 2005, except "All the Way Home" the copyright of which dates to 1991.
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | US Billboard 200 | 1 | 650,000 |
Personnel
- Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
– vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, harmonica, tambourine, percussion - Marty Rifkin – steel guitar
- Brendan O'BrienBrendan O'Brien (music producer)Brendan O’Brien is a record producer, mixer, engineer, and musician.At age 14, O'Brien played guitar for the Atlanta-based cover band Pranks. In the late 1970s, he moved on to writing, performing and recording with the Samurai Catfish band...
– hurdy-gurdy, sarangi, sitar, bass guitar, tambora - Soozie TyrellSoozie TyrellSoozie Tyrell, , formerly known as Soozie Kirschner, is an American violinist and vocalist, most known for her work with Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band.-Biography:...
– violin, backing vocals - Nashville String MachineNashville String MachineNashville String Machine is a musical collective comprising session musicians and has been credited on recordings as far back as 1974. The Nashville String Machine's composition varies from project to project. It has appeared as large as an orchestra, or as small as a duo.-Notable members:Being a...
– strings - Brice Andrus, Susan Welty, Thomas Witte, Donald Strand – horns
- Chuck PlotkinChuck PlotkinChuck Plotkin is a recording engineer and producer, best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.-Recording engineer:Plotkin has recorded, engineered, mastered and produced albums by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and many other artists, starting with The Floating House Band in 1972...
– piano - Danny FedericiDanny FedericiDaniel Paul "Danny" Federici was an American musician, best known as the longtime organ, glockenspiel, and accordion player for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.- Career :...
– keyboards - Steve JordanSteve Jordan (musician)Steve Jordan is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical director and Grammy Award-winning artist, who has made a name for himself as a producer from the Bronx in New York City. A graduate of the Fiorello H...
– drums - Patti ScialfaPatti ScialfaVivienne Patricia "Patti" Scialfa is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She is married to Bruce Springsteen and they have three children.- Early life :...
, Lisa Lowell – backing vocals - Mark PenderMark PenderMark "The Loveman" Pender is a trumpet player and vocalist who has played with Southside Johnny, Little Steven and Bruce Springsteen. Since 1993 he has performed on Late Night With Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien as a member of The Max Weinberg 7 and The Tonight Show Band...
– trumpet - Danny ClinchDanny ClinchDanny Clinch is a photographer and film director who was born in Toms River, New Jersey in 1964. He graduated from Toms River High School East in 1982 and after attending Ocean County College, he attended the New England School of Photography, a two-year institution located in Boston, MA.Clinch...
– cover art