HBO Documentary Film Series

The Ties That Bind (2015x31)

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Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 double album The River was a landmark achievement that inspired raves from critics and fans alike, and prompted an extended international tour that raised his profile dramatically around the world. The Ties That Bind features an inside look at the creation of this groundbreaking album, along with previously unreleased archival footage from The River Tour. Employing an intimate interview style, Grammy- and Emmy®-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny showcases Springsteen’s first-person take on his writing process. Offering an in-depth discussion on the origins of key tracks from his first double album, Springsteen shares how they were developed, from the notebook page to the studio to, most viscerally, the concert stage. Interspersed throughout the interview are his acoustic versions of several defining tracks from The River, including “Two Hearts,” “The River,” “Independence Day,” “Hungry Heart,” “Point Blank” and “Wreck on the Highway.” In addition to rehearsal clips from September 1980 and live performances from the legendary November 5, 1980 Arizona State University show in Tempe, Arizona, the documentary showcases more than 100 recently unearthed photos of Springsteen and The E Street Band during recording sessions for The River. Also presented are rare and previously unheard demos and outtakes from the 14-month recording process, including songs such as “Stray Bullet,” “Chain Lightning,” “The Time That Never Was,” “Cindy” and “Take ‘Em as They Come.” The River was released October 17, 1980 to critical acclaim. Rolling Stone called it “a rock and roll milestone,” and an “epic exploration of the second acts of American lives,” and included it on the magazine’s list of the greatest albums of all time.