Today, Bruce Springsteen announced he’ll be releasing a covers album comprised of soul music titled Only The Strong Survive, which will release on Nov. 11 via Columbia Records. The collection of 15 tracks sees Springsteen handle lead vocals on the catalogs of Motown, Stax, Gamble and Huff and more.
Only The Strong Survive marks Springsteen’s 21st studio album and will feature contributions from The E Street Horns, guest vocals by Sam Moore and string arrangements by Rob Mathes, along with backing vocals by Soozie Tyrell, Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore, Curtis King Jr., Dennis Collins and Fonzi Thornton. The project was tracked at Thrill Hill Recording in New Jersey, produced by Ron Aniello, engineered by Rob Lebret and executive produced by Jon Landau. It’s notable that Only The Strong Survive will mark Springsteen’s first studio album since 2020’s Letter To You (Columbia Records), which debuted at number one in 11 countries.
“I wanted to make an album where I just sang. And what better music to work with than the great American songbook of the Sixties and Seventies? I’ve taken my inspiration from Levi Stubbs, David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin, the Iceman Jerry Butler, Diana Ross, Dobie Gray, and Scott Walker, among many others,” Springsteen explained in a press release. “I’ve tried to do justice to them all—and to the fabulous writers of this glorious music. My goal is for the modern audience to experience its beauty and joy, just as I have since I first heard it. I hope you love listening to it as much as I loved making it.”
In celebration of the announcement of the project, The Boss released his take on “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do),” which was originally written and performed by Frank Wilson. The song was shared with an accompanying video by Thom Zimny.
Springsteen and the legendary E Street Band are set to kick off an international tour in February of 2023 and have already sold 1.6 million tickets across the United States and Europe.
Watch a message from Springsteen announcing the project and the video for “Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) below.
1. Only the Strong Survive
2. Soul Days feat. Sam Moore
3. Nightshift
4. Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
5. The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore
6. Turn Back the Hands of Time
7. When She Was My Girl
8. Hey, Western Union Man
9. I Wish It Would Rain
10. Don’t Play That Song
11. Any Other Way
12. I Forgot to Be Your Lover feat. Sam Moore
13. 7 Rooms of Gloom
14. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
15. Someday We’ll Be Together