Bruce Springsteen has revisited his 2006 Sessions Band side project for his latest archival release. Rome, Italy – October 10, 2006 was recorded at the city's Palalottomatica venue and follows the two other Sessions Band shows released as part of Springsteen's ongoing monthly official bootleg drop. Previous Sessions Band live sets include Wembley Arena, UK – November 11, 2006 and Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans – April 30, 2006.
Springsteen's Sessions Band was named after his then-new album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. In addition to the Americana heavy set, the new 2006 release features such catalogue favorites as “Atlantic City,” “Growin' Up,” “Open All Night,” The River,” “Long Time Comin',” “Ramrod” and others.
Billy Joel told us he was a huge fan of Springsteen's 2006 folk-driven Seeger Sessions album and tour. He believes that one has to get into a very specific mindset to do any type of covers project — let alone one with such socio-political implications: “Sure, Pete Seeger wrote a lot of great stuff, but I think you kinda have to put yourself in that place. I think you kinda have to feel like Pete Seeger to do that. And I know that Bruce is very social-minded (and) political minded — and of course that's what Pete Seeger was. I don't think that way. I. . . I'm an abstractionist. The music comes first. The music is the message.”