Springsteen releases compilation on birthday

Bruce Springsteen celebrated his 67th birthday Friday with the release of “Chapter and Verse”, the companion album preceding his forthcoming memoir, “Born to Run”.

As an artiste, Springsteen always let his songs do the talking, but in this 18-track, career-spanning compilation, fans will get to hear his musical evolution from a scruffy teen to a major-label recording artiste, Grammy Award winner, Oscar winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

The songs -- each selected by Springsteen -- begin to tell the story, returning to Springsteen's earliest-known recording with his Freehold-based group, The Castiles, and spanning through his illustrious career.

The record concludes with “Long Time Coming” off Devils and Dust and the humorous “Wrecking Ball,” written as a humorous goodbye to the old Giants Stadium, but perhaps chosen as a suggestion that the ghosts of the past will pave way to a new future. After all, Springsteen said his next album -- a solo one -- will be released in the future.

“Chapter and Verse” is available as a single CD and a double LP, with bonus lyrics and rare photos.