Counting On A Package Deal, Part 7 - Dancing In The Dark Single

After over a year away, the Counting On A Package Deal series has returned.  For those not in the know, this is a series of posts that I went through in 2015, where I dissected the packaging of Springsteen's discography.  While seemingly discontinued after my Born In The U.S.A. post, I was fortunate enough to receive the following gift:

Yes, that leaping lothario is the Boss, posing for his "Dancing In The Dark" single cover.  This particular record is an unusual 12" single, featuring a dance club "Blaster Mix" version of the song.  But, I'm not here to break down the music, I'm just judging the aesthetics of the package.  This cover is easily Springsteen's most active.  Most albums just show his face, and on the rare moments of below-neck Springsteen shots, he's just leaning on cars (Tunnel of Love), walls (back of Wild, Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle), or bandmates (Born To Run).  Here, Springsteen is getting some serious air.  And the moves don't just stop on the front cover.

On the back, Springsteen gets right up on his tip-toes.  Perhaps a challenge to the King of Pop himself, who was also huge in the mid-80s?  He also tops off the move with a straightening of the jacket.  Nice work, Bruce.

Finally, the record itself varies in no way, shape, or form from all of Springsteen's other Columbia records.  I wore out this schtick in the previous six entries.

So, that'll do it for this installment of Counting On A Package Deal.  Hopefully, I can receive more random gifts like this one!

Want to start your own record collection?  Buy it on Amazon!

Past installments: 
Greetings from Asbury Park
The Wild The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Born To Run
Darkness on the Edge of Town
The River
Born In The U.S.A.

New Single Announced: High Hopes

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, we have a new Bruce single. Billboard (and various other outlets) reported today that Bruce's next single will release this Monday (11/25). The single is "High Hopes" and many are speculating that this gives truth to the rumors of an early 2014 album release. Nothing in today's announcement gives any indication of this track supporting a full album, so we advise against getting too excited about the prospect of an album. For now, just appreciate the new tune! Many have heard it before (I was nodding my head to it just this past weekend on E Street Radio) as it's been played live in concert and appeared in the documentary Blood Brothers. Interestingly, the track is a cover of a 1990 song by a band called The Havalinas. By my count, this makes it Bruce's third single that's a cover; following "War" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Here's the original song, I imagine we'll see its views skyrocket over the next week.



Edit, 11/19: The track has already leaked.