The Boss comes to Wal-Mart; fans up in arms
You’ve heard it right ladies and gentlemen, Bruce Springsteen is coming to the malicious and small town hungry Wal-Mart, and for a Greatest Hits disc no less! And to think, you thought his attempts with Starbucks years back was a big deal. Tsk. Tsk.
Due out January 13th and titled rather appropriately, Greatest Hits is focusing on all the E-Street Band material. So, for those of you like me, who love Nebraska to death, don’t go sprinting for “Atlantic City” or “State Trooper” because you won’t find it. But hey, it’s not too long of a stroll through bummerville. Here’s an idea of what you can expect….
01. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
02. Born to Run
03. Thunder Road
04. Darkness on the Edge of Town
05. Badlands
06. Hungry Heart
07. Glory Days
08. Dancing in the Dark
09. Born in the U.S.A.
10. The Rising
11. Lonesome Day
12. Radio Nowhere
All in all, it’s a promising disc and one that will sure help sales (and interest) for his “other” release. You know, the next studio album that’s coming out January 27th!? Working on a Dream? Let’s just say that won’t be an exclusive release. The only concern now is, why Wal-Mart? Really, Bruce? There’s some reasoning, however, and let’s digress some.
Ever since The Eagles’ reunion album, Long Road Out of Eden, hit it big in 2007, every major artist has been penciling in Wal-Mart for his or her’s next release. Just take a look at AC/DC’s Black Ice this year. The album’s been a major seller for both the band and the company, still eatin’ up the charts and slaying rock radio wherever rock radio still exists. With the failure of Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy deal at Best Buy, it looks like Wal-Mart has a future in this business.
But with good reason, though. The “boys [and girls] in blue” really cater to the artists, treating the new release like it’s some summer Hollywood box office spectacular. Everything from exclusive in-store shops (devoted entirely to the band) to “viral” marketing (e.g. In some cities, there were Rock N’ Roll Train-like buses sporting AC/DC advertisements) is used to push the release. So in other words, it makes sense to go with ol’ Wally. As for The Boss, don’t expect E-Street Bandwagons to prowl the city streets just yet, but don’t write that idea off either.
Greatest Hits is due out at Wal-Mart January 13th, while Working on a Dream will be available everywhere (let’s hope) on January 27th. All of this should be a wonderful trek to The Boss’ Super Bowl Half Time performance, scheduled for February 1st in Tampa, FL.
Think he’ll wear a Wal-Mart smock? Nah!
Check Out:
Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:15 am
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