Bruce Springsteen to be guest on John Mellencamp’s new LP

John Mellencamp’s upcoming album will feature an assist from Bruce Springsteen. “Bruce sings on the new record and plays guitar,” Mellencamp said on Saturday during the second installment of Clive Davis’ 2021 Grammy Virtual Gala, Billboard reported. “I finished the record a week ago today.”
In April, the buzz circulated online after a Tweeter claimed Springsteen and Mellencamp, a resident of Bloomington, Indonesia, were seen together at a restaurant in town.
Mellencamp did not specify the LP, which follows that of 2017 Sad Clowns and Hillbillies, during the event. But in mid-February, he teased his 25th album with a one-minute preview clip of âI Always Lie to Strangers,â a new folk song featuring an acoustic guitar, piano, and violin.
At the time, a statement on its website said Mellencamp had “already cut 10 tracks” and planned to record 17 more. A press release noted that the album “is expected to be released later this year,” although a release date has yet to be announced.
The singer also detailed plans for two other projects: a new live album and a documentary, both titled The Good Samaritan Tour, which chronicles a 2000 free hike where he performed on street corners and in public parks across the United States. Matthew McConaughey was to narrate the film.
Mellencamp also hoped to resume production of an “Untitled Original Play” directed by Kathleen Marshall, produced by Scott Landis and written by Naomi Wallace. During the Grammy event, he teased a jukebox musical titled Small town which he hopes will open in Birmingham, Ala., and eventually reach Broadway.
The musical focuses on a pair of children named, naturally, Jack and Diane; Mellencamp said he hasn’t written any new material for it. âI told them, I released 600 songs,â he said. “You can surely find 12 to 15 songs that will work.”