Thursday, April 25, 2019

Hello Sunshine from Bruce Springsteen's Western Stars

by Gregg Chadwick

“This record is a return to my solo recordings featuring character driven songs and sweeping, cinematic orchestral arrangements. It's a jewel box of a record."
- Bruce Springsteen 

Gregg Chadwick
Las Piedras del Cielo
16"x20" oil on linen 2010
Under blue skies on a California Spring day, I am listening to Bruce Springsteen's new song Hello Sunshine from his forthcoming album Western Stars. It is a country tinged song reminiscent of Harry Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin' from the movie, Midnight Cowboy.  

Over the years I have driven thousands of miles under wide open skies across the American west. Scanning the radio dial as I drove, I was searching for the sound of the western road. Today I found that cinematic sound in Springsteen's new work.  A rhythmic wash like a distant train running in the distance underlies the song. Pedal steel brings us into the west and the strings add a wide open sonic vista. Bruce's vocals are world weary but not defeated. 



"Hello Sunshine" and an accompanying video will be released just after midnight ET tonight - April 25, 2019.
You can listen to the song now on E Street Radio - Link here.





Hello Sunshine
Had enough of heartbreak and pain
I had a little sweet spot for the rain
For the rain and skies of gray
Hello sunshine, won't you stay

You know I always liked my walking shoes
But you can get a little too fond of the blues
You walk too far, you walk away
Hello sunshine, won't you stay

You know I always loved a lonely town
Those empty streets, no one around
You fall in love with lonely, you end up that way
Hello sunshine, won't you stay

You know I always liked that empty road
No place to be and miles to go
But miles to go is miles away
Hello sunshine, won't you stay
And miles to go is miles away
Hello sunshine, won't you stay
Hello sunshine, won't you stay
Hello sunshine
℗ 2019 Bruce Springsteen

Released on: 2019-04-26

Drums: Matt Chamberlain
Steel Guitar: Marc Muller
Conductor: Rob Mathes
Other: Sandy Park
Violin: Lisa Kim
Violin: Hyunju Lee
Violin: Joanna Maurer
Violin: Sharon Yamada
Violin: Annaliesa Place
Violin: Suzanne Ornstein
Violin: Liz Lim
Violin: Jung Sun Yoo
Violin: Emily Popham
Viola: Robert Rinehart
Viola: Vivek Kamath
Viola: Desiree Elsevier
Cello: Alan Stepansky
Cello: Nathan Vickery
Engineer, Producer: Ron Aniello
Engineer: Rob Lebret
Engineer: Ross Petersen
Engineer: Toby Scott
Mixing Engineer: Tom Elmhirst
Assistant Engineer: Joe Visciano


Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig


Bruce Springsteen’s  new studio album Western Stars takes his music to the American West, drawing inspiration in part from the Southern California pop records of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. The 13 tracks of Western Stars encompass a sweeping range of American themes, of highways and desert spaces, of isolation and community and the permanence of home and hope.

The album was recorded primarily at Springsteen’s home studio in New Jersey, with additional recording in California and New York. Ron Aniello produced the album with Springsteen and plays bass, keyboard, and other instruments. Patti Scialfa provides vocals and contributes vocal arrangements on four tracks. The musical arrangements include strings, horns, pedal steel and contributions from more than 20 other players including Jon Brion (who plays celeste, Moog, and farfisa), as well as guest appearances by David Sancious, Charlie Giordano, and Soozie Tyrell. The album was mixed by Tom Elmhirst.
Columbia Records will release Springsteen’s 19th studio album on June 14. 
Western Stars will be available for pre-order on Friday, April 26.

Western Stars Song Titles
1. Hitch Hikin’
2. The Wayfarer
3. Tucson Train
4. Western Stars
5. Sleepy Joe’s CafĂ©
6. Drive Fast (The Stuntman)
7. Chasin’ Wild Horses
8. Sundown
9. Somewhere North of Nashville
10. Stones
11. There Goes My Miracle
12. Hello Sunshine
13. Moonlight Motel
All songs written by Bruce Springsteen

For more info click here:

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