Bruce Springsteen Scores A New Hit As Fans Prepare For A Deluge Of Music

Bruce Springsteen earns another hit single in the United Kingdom this week, though it’s a minor win for the rocker. “Rain in the River” launches a new era for the legendary musician, though not in the way many might have expected. The tune fronts an ambitious box set, not a standard studio album, and yet it still manages to find an audience – as does pretty much everything “The Boss” releases.

“Rain in the River” Debuts on the Charts

“Rain in the River” makes its first appearance on a pair of charts in the U.K. this week, though it only just barely manages to sneak onto both tallies. The new track opens at No. 96 on the Official Singles Downloads chart and lands one spot lower, at No. 97, on the Official Singles Sales list.

Both rankings are compiled entirely around pure purchases, and “Rain in the River” performs nearly identically on each. Its nearly-matching positions suggests that it was not a bestseller on physical formats, which can bring a title to different slots. Most tunes land in similar spaces, especially when they’re brand new.

Bruce Springsteen is Back in the U.K.

With his new hit, Springsteen extends his track record of bestsellers in the U.K. “Rain in the River” gives him his fifteenth placement on the Official Singles Downloads chart. The tune marks his milestone tenth appearance on the Official Singles Sales roster.

The First Taste of Tracks II: The Lost Albums

“Rain in the River” is not a standalone single. It serves as the lead cut from Springsteen’s upcoming box set, Tracks II: The Lost Albums. The massive release is made up of seven full-length efforts, all of which were recorded — and in many cases, even mixed and mastered — over the years, but never officially released.

Springsteen announced the expansive project earlier this year. The full box set is slated to arrive at the end of June, and it will be available in multiple formats. Fans who don’t want to shell out $350 for the full collection will still have options, and it begins with this first song. While it’s not a major smash, the fact that it sold well enough to chart at all is a sign that Springsteen’s new collection will also likely be a winner when it arrives.