The Lost Masters: Introduction

In the spring of 1996, word quickly spread of a 19-CD set called "The Lost Masters" consisting of studio outtakes, home demos, and rehearsal sessions from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band from the years 1977-1983. In addition to the 19 discs, two "Best of" sets would also be released and would include bonus tracks not found elsewhere in the set.The discs were to be released individually in groups of five or so and the first five surfaced in early summer.

The CDs can basically be broken down into 5 segments: Darkness outtakes (2 CDs), River outtakes (2 CDs), home demos (4 CDs), rehearsal sessions (5 CDs), and Hollywood Hills garage tapes (3 CDs).

Rounding out the set are the complete Nebraska sessions, Born in the USA outtakes, and "Big Expendables", which consists of studio outtakes from The River, home demos, and rehearsal sessions.