This is a wonderful time to be a Bruce Springsteen fan. Previously unheard material and enhanced re-releases abound, giving a remarkable insight into his writing and recording process, as well as a glimpse into an alternate musical life Springsteen might have lived. The latest album to be given special treatment is “Nebraska”, one of Springsteen’s most critically acclaimed and enduring works. The original release was a triumph of narrative, character-driven songwriting, the musical equivalent of the Great American Novel, getting to the heart of the United States and its everyday folk. Now, to celebrate this landmark album, “Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition” will be released by Sony Music on 17th October 2025. Alongside a disc of outtakes and an all-new electric version, the “Expanded Edition” will also feature the first-ever live performance of the album in its entirety. The performance, recorded live at Count Basie Theatre in New Jersey, comes both as an audio soundtrack and as a Blu-ray film, captured by long-time Springsteen collaborator Thom Zimny. With no audience present and no commentary, dialogue or explanation, the characters and the songs they inhabit are allowed to breathe and speak for themselves.
Springsteen reflects on the live recording: “The one thing that we didn’t do on the ‘Nebraska’ album was we didn’t play it live, so my first thought when we were talking about celebrating the record was there’s got to be a performance, singing these songs from top to bottom. What I was concerned about was getting some of the spooky quality the record had. We’re lucky we got the great Larry Campbell and Charlie Giordano to assist in the very minimal instrumentation on the record, and Rob Lebret did a really nice job of mixing and maintaining the record’s integrity on that level.”
Zimny adds: “As a filmmaker, you want to enhance the performance without it being noticeable — to step into that music and really try to be an invisible partner in it, and carry along this presentation. There’s no introduction or explanation. Things just unfold. And that’s the beauty of Bruce as a storyteller, of his writing and of this album.”
Our first taste of the performance is here: a fine rendition of ‘Open All Night’. Springsteen’s rhythmic strum and the subtle accompaniment from Giordano and Campbell are all we need to be fully immersed in his rolling, fluent narrative. Watching Springsteen, exposed and alone on stage, delivering that flowing stream of words, it’s clear that this is a demanding physical feat as well as a display of lyrical poetry and classic songcraft. Those words just tumble out relentlessly, endlessly: “Radio’s jammed up with gospel stations lost souls callin’ long distance salvation // Hey, mister deejay, woncha hear my last prayer hey, ho, rock’n’roll, deliver me from nowhere.” Halfway through, after a brief vocal pause, Springsteen unleashes a fabulously gravel-throated growl before his detailed narrative spills forth, once again.
In the same way that Bruce chuckles to himself at the end, I can’t help smiling and feeling the joy in this compelling performance of a great song. Look out for the “Expanded Edition” later this month – what a way to pay tribute to a classic album, genuinely enhancing and elevating it and making something new. Enjoy.
