My friend Jersey City Benny is a huge Springsteen fan, but his friend Kevin is even huger. Kevin’s on a variety of Springsteen fan sites and message boards. Here’s a missive he found spinning around the Springsteen rumor mill:

About as certain as we can get at this point: The new album has been recorded with members of the E Street Band already having contributed. Additional tracks are being recorded with and without the E Street Band. As can best be described at this point is the album is a cross between TOL and The Rising with some “rock” songs and a number of songs pared down. Having trouble describing the sound, but a lot of production is being used wth the versions already recorded. Different versions of each song are being recorded (with and without members of the E Street Band) and the final versions of about half the album have not been settled on. It was agreed to go ahead with announcing a new recording since it is fully anticipated the final recording phases will go very quickly. The good news is a flurry of recording will be ongoing over the next few weeks with August to be the month of final production, etc. Although a given, the album will have a least 10 songs with a goal of about 13 being projected.

What is interesting is the most definitive and positive news relates to the tour, which will be the last for the entire E Street Band. Rehearsals for the tour are once again scheduled for Asbury Park around Labor Day. Look for the tour to kick off on or about 10/02/2007 in New York with a quick swing around the country until the end of November. All of the major cities, to include LA, DC, Philly, Boston, Chicago, etc. will be covered. The month of December will include a quick tour of Europe, about 10 shows or so. January and part of February look to be time off with a full world tour to begin in full effect during the Spring of 2008 (Feb/March) with outdoor arena shows scheduled for the summer of 2008. The U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia, will all be on the schedule. Bottom line is that we are now entering the final stages in preparation for the final E Street Band world tour. Stay tuned.

No Seattle on that list. I’m a little worried.

I’ve never seen the Boss in concert, with or without the E Street Band. I’ve been told it’s one of the most spectacular concert experiences in modern music, something you gotta see to believe. I’m going through a Sprinsteen rediscovery phase right now, too (The Wild, The Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle is BRILLIANT), so I feel like now is the time to fully connect with whatever the magic is that Bruce brings. Hopefully he brings it here.