The Boss is back. Bruce Springsteen has announced his follow-up to 2020's Letter to You — Only the Strong Survive will arrive on November 11 via Columbia Records.
A collection of soul covers, the record finds Springsteen reworking the music of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, the Commodores, the Walker Brothers, Jackie Shane, Jimmy Ruffin and, of course, Jerry Buttler, whose 1968 song "Only the Strong Survive" lends its title to the album.
Springsteen said of the project in a statement:
I wanted to make an album where I just sang. And what better music to work with than the great American songbook of the '60s and '70s? 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. 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.
Watch an additional video announcement below.
A collection of soul covers, the record finds Springsteen reworking the music of Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, the Commodores, the Walker Brothers, Jackie Shane, Jimmy Ruffin and, of course, Jerry Buttler, whose 1968 song "Only the Strong Survive" lends its title to the album.
Springsteen said of the project in a statement:
I wanted to make an album where I just sang. And what better music to work with than the great American songbook of the '60s and '70s? 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. 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.
Watch an additional video announcement below.
Today, he shares a cover of Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" alongside a video by Thom Zimny. You can watch the video for that below, where you'll also find the album's tracklisting.
Only the Strong Survive:
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