Seven of the 10 titles on ‘The River: Single Album’ eventually appeared on ‘The River,’ some with alternate lyrics and arrangements, with outtakes like “Cindy” and a rockabilly version of “You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)” never released. So we went back in the studio,” he wrote in the lyrics/photo book “Songs.” The early sessions marked the beginning of a prolific 18-month long journey of writing and recording. “The songs lacked the kind of unity and conceptual intensity I liked my music to have. ‘The River: Single Album’ is the 10-track album that Springsteen recorded in 1979 as a follow up to 1978’s ‘Darkness On The Edge Of Town’ but never released. In his notes, Gilmore calls ‘The River’ Springsteen’s “pivotal album- hinge between the ambitious commotions that had preceded it and the more succinct musical riots, and sometimes terrifying storytelling, that followed.” ‘The River,’ Springsteen’s fifth album, was released on Octoas a double album and reached #1 on the U.S. It is comprised of the original ‘The River’ double album the first official release of ‘The River: Single Album ’ a CD of 1979/80 studio outtakes a two-DVD film of never-released, newly edited multi-camera footage from Springsteen’s famed 1980 show in Tempe, AZ, long rumored but never-before-seen rare tour rehearsal footage a brand new documentary “The Ties That Bind” about ‘The River ’ and a coffee table book of 200 rare or previously unseen photos and memorabilia with a new essay by Mikal Gilmore. A comprehensive look at ‘The River’ era, the set contains 52 tracks on 4 CDs with a wealth of unreleased material, and 4 hours of never-before-seen video on 3 DVDs. Columbia Records will release Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Ties That Bind: The River Collection’ on December 4th.